The Struggle that I Go Through Living in Israel as an American – A Story about the People in Israel

My name’s Claude Massey I’m a life coach in Tel Aviv, Israel. In this short article / video, I want to talk about the struggle that I go through living in Israel as an American.

I’m writing this for several reasons. First, is to express myself of course 🙂 In addition, the second reason is to help people living in Israel that moved from America to understand that they are not alone in their struggles.

I think they may be able to relate with some of the struggles that I’m going through.

Struggle #1 that I deal with in Israel is Racial Prejudice

Yes, I experience racial prejudice in Israel. As an African-American living in Israel, I can tell you I have experienced prejudice many times.

Most of the minorities that you’ll find in Israel are Africans, Filipinos, and Indians. I promise you that if you meet any one of these ethnicities here in Israel, they will have a story of how they’ve experienced racism at some point.

I am 100% sure of this because a majority of the people living in Israel are light-skinned and the people I just mentioned are not light-skinned in that way.

Unfortunately, people tend to find the minorities in their group and remind them of this fact. Israel is not an exception to this natural “rule”.

Don’t get me wrong, I have experienced prejudice in America but it is a completely different ball game in Israel. In Israel, minorities are very, very few and far between.

Meaning, you are able to go for large periods of time without seeing any minorities when you travel throughout the country. If you’re on the roads driving, mot chances you will not see any other minorities on the road driving besides you.

Struggle #1.5 that I deal with in Israel is Religious Prejudice

Israel is a Jewish state and the majority of people who live here are Jewish.

Quick Side Note:

No, I’m not Christian but I have read the New Testament of the Bible. No, I’m not Muslim but I have read the Quran. And no, I’m not Jewish but I have read the Torah.

I have read these religious texts word for word. I have also read other texts, including the Book of Mormon, The Dhammapada, and various other Hindu, Buddhist, and Daoist writings.

I choose not to take any religious stance and yes, I have experienced backlash in Israel because of this.

When I give the response that I’m not Jewish upon questioning, I can sense a deep disconnection of a preferable commonality. I’ve been asked questions about my religious beliefs during border crossings and job interviews.

I had many religious discussions in the workplace, as religion is a major factor in the country of Israel. So, the fact that I am not religious in a very religious country remains a struggle of mine.

Struggle #2 Living in Israel as an American…

Another struggle that I go through in Israel as an American is the loss of holidays. Whenever people are born and raised in a certain location (in my case California), they get used to that lifestyle. They get used to their holidays.

I lost Christmas. I lost Halloween. I lost Thanksgiving. These are great holidays in the US because there’s a sense of bonding amongst the civilians inside the country when these holidays happen. The decorated stores and houses, and TV advertisements exist of beautiful messaging of unity.

Part of my struggle is missing out on the holidays and every time they happen, I think back to when I was living in the US enjoying these holidays with my family and friends which leads to the…

The Third Hardest Thing about Living in Israel as an American

I live super far from my family. I can’t blame it on anybody else as I voluntarily moved away from my family… but part of the struggle of living in Israel is that I miss them a lot.

Icing on the cake is that because they are in the West Coast, there is a massive and extreme time difference between the two countries. Although I am not super close with my family, I miss them.

About Claude Lee Massey – Life Coach and Career Counselor

My name is Claude Lee Massey, I’ve been living in Tel Aviv for 10+ years… and what an adventure it has been! I remember the day I arrived in Israel, I had NO money – NO friends – and NO job. So, how exactly did I become a life coach and career counselor in Tel Aviv, Israel?

Here is my story…

About five years ago (after 15+ years of soul-searching), I had a realization: That I was put here on this planet to teach and to share the knowledge I have. Along with that powerful revelation, I had a powerful insight: “I want to open my own consulting business”.

As the start-up capital of the world, Israel has plenty of new companies with growing English speaking sales teams. Therefore, with my 15+ years of experience in the field of sales, I decided to open a sales training/consulting company.

I never thought that I would open my own business in Israel…but I did!

At once, I went to an accountant to file the proper paperwork to legally operate my NEW sales consulting company. Afterwards, I began to use all of my spare time (at this point I had a full-time job for a high-tech company) after work and before work creating materials and trying to acquire clients.

Most importantly, I knew what I had to do and whom I wanted to target.

I started cold calling companies in Tel Aviv, Herzliya, Ramat Gan, Jerusalem, Bat Yam, and Holon. I was working like a madman. I was sending emails and doing everything in my power to try to generate momentum in my business.

It was, and is brutal being an entrepreneur, but great news! I was able to find my first few clients!

Something I immediately noticed, was at the conclusion of my sales training workshops (where I focused on selling through telling stories, and teaching specific sales techniques), two things would happen consistently happen:

Firstly, I would receive feedback that the sales training workshop provided massive value. Secondly, one or two of the students in the course would privately approach me.

They would speak with me about their struggles, not only in sales but also in life.

Then one time, a female student offered to pay me for a one-on-one sit down session outside of the office. She asked me to help her figure out a better career path. As a struggling entrepreneur, I accepted.

Another student, at another company, approached me and offered to pay me for my time to help prepare him for a job interview. Yes, he was planning to leave the sales job that he was at.

Similarly, another student from another workshop, at another company me to help them work with their confidence and being able to communicate efficiently. This would happen again, and again…

Each person with his or her own challenge. They knew I was not certified or professionally trained. Still, they would approach me and offer to pay me for my time.

To sit with them and help figure things out, and to give them my guidance. These first clients called me their “Life Coach” or “Career Counselor“.

Moreover, I was able to help them! At the conclusion of our 3 to 5 one-on-one sessions, they each had taken took massive steps forward towards the results they wanted.

Eventually, enough people paid me to sit down with them, and called me their Career Counselor or Life Coach… that I began to call myself a “Career Counselor” and ”Life Coach”.

Most people set out to become a trained and certified life coach or career counselor before ever having a client. However, I never said I wanted to be a life coach or a career counselor,