Israelis in Berlin Signal Middle Class Struggles at Home

Seven decades ago, Gil Mincberg’s grandmother immigrated to Israel after surviving Nazi persecution. Two generations later, Mincberg has left the Jewish state -- for the capital of Germany.

“I feel like I have better opportunities” than in Israel, Mincberg said, raising his voice to be heard over the indie rock soundtrack at Kindl Stuben, a cafe in Berlin’s scruffy Neukoelln neighborhood. Just as important, the 26-year-old software developer notes, “my cost of living has gone down dramatically.”