I'm quitting Southend to join Israeli army

11:00pm Monday 18th August 2008

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A JEWISH man has sold his business and is leaving friends and family in Southend to emigrate to Israel and follow a “burning desire” to be part of his new nation’s culture.

Philip Burns, 22, is due to leave the UK today and will immediately be enrolled in the Israeli army for a minimum of six months as part of the country’s national service.

Philip said: “I am going for ideological and Jewish identity reasons. It’s difficult in Southend because there is not a big Jewish community.”

Mr Burns of First Avenue, Westcliff, is following in the footsteps of his friend Joshua Marcon, 21, also from Southend, who moved there a month ago.

They are joining around 150 people from the UK who are leaving their jobs, families and friends and moving to Israel to pursue their ideological convictions. The concept is called Aliyah in Judaism and means “going up” in Hebrew – referring to the physical and spiritual journey to the Jewish homeland.

Philip added: “It’s like a burning desire in me to go there. I love the culture, society and people. I have been teaching about Judaism and I thought it’s time to actually live it myself and be among my own people.”

The move is organised by Nefesh B’Nefesh, who facilitate immigration to Israel from the UK and North America. Philip has sold his children’s entertainment business to his brother and will fly to Tel Aviv where he will get his passport. From there he will go north to Haifa for six months to learn the Hebrew language and help in a Kibbutz and teach in schools.

He said: “After that I hope to get a job and be involved in the Maccabi Games, which is like the Olympics, but for Jews.

“Because of the instability of the Middle East people think I’m mad to do this, but it’s a bigger thing that’s behind it all. It will be difficult to leave, but my family are supportive.”

Philip used to be a pupil at King John School in Thundersley and a student at South East Essex College. He has been to Israel many times, including a gap year where he taught in schools before going to Leeds University.