Living Israel Aliyah Supplement 2014 by Nefesh B'Nefesh

Dreaming Big! How Olim are rediscovering themselves, driving change and thriving on Aliyah.

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CO-FOUNDER’s NOTE

Not sleeping through Life and Destiny

NBN Founders: Rabbi Yehoshua Fass and Tony Gelbart.

s human beings, we often get so caught up in our daily activities that we get distracted from our personal objectives and spiritual goals. We too often do not have the time, or more truthfully do not make the time, to assess our accomplishments and shortcomings. It is maybe only on the rare occasion that we feel a jolt in our lives that causes us to awaken from our slumber and recalibrate our personal compass.

The Rambam explains that the objective of the Aseret Yemei Teshuvah and its accompanying shofar blasts is that we become truly aware of ourselves, retain that sensitivity to our spiritual path, and awaken—not only once a year or once in a lifetime, but rather hourly, daily. This is the ultimate personal awareness, the constant “ooro yishenim” (wake up from your sleep). As a nation, we have rarely been motivated and moved by the historic shofar blasts of the times. In the past 66 years, we have experienced three historic shofar blasts (in ’48, ’67, and ’73). And while we, in the

Diaspora, heard the distinct sounds of the “kol shofar chazak meod,” understanding the uniqueness of the miraculous moments of the birth of Israel and its subsequent victories, we were rarely galvanized to pick up and strengthen the Land by mass Aliyah. As we enter the Yamim Noraim and ask ourselves how we as individuals can be affected by the kol shofar, we as a nation must equally question when we will finally actualize our dream, our destiny—“bimshoch hayovel heimah yaalu behar.” May we all experience a year of Shalom and Bracha.

Rabbi Yehoshua Fass

Executive Director and Co-Founder, Nefesh B’Nefesh

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contentS 9 Graduate school in Israel: 5 programs you need to know Innovative Masters programs in Israel are internationally recognized—and won’t break the bank.

32 How to reinvent your professional self in Israel For risk-takers and innovators, Israel presents ample professional opportunities.

Playing the Newlywed game in Israel For Shev and Haysha, finding love meant moving thousands of miles away.

48 New Arrivals Meet nine of Israel’s newest citizens.

50 How Olim mobilized during Operation Protective Edge During this past summer, Olim launched campaigns to boost morale for their new community—and each other.

44 How women can have it all in Israel Women in Israel don’t need to choose between being good mothers and accomplished professionals because the workplace wants them to do both.

55 10 Reasons Why We’re Thankful to Be Living in Israel During the Chagim From seeing sukkot lining every street to the scrolling “Chag sameach” signs on buses, Olim share why they love the holidays in Israel.

living israel Special Supplement · Fall 2014 Senior Editor Rachel Sales | Sales IMP Group LTD - Gidon Katz - Dorit Basal- Einav Ecker Photography Michael Alvarez-Pereyre (Cover, 16-22, 29, 38-40, 52, 54) - Perry Bindelglass (4-6, 13, 15, 24, 36) Sasson Tiram (49) | Design www.verticalloop.com

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contentS

12 Why Israel could be the answer to the Jewish education crisis Israeli public schools offer progressive education at one-tenth the price of US day schools.

52 Starting Over in Israel How Deborah Fineblum moved to Israel at 61 and built her dream life from scratch.

16 Finding My Way How an Academy Award winner, a hi-tech entrepreneur, and a boarding school graduate created fulfilling lives for themselves in Israel.

36 36 Hours in Northern Israel, Tel Aviv and Southern Israel Follow locals as they experience Shabbat in communities throughout Israel.

Founded in 2002 by Rabbi Yehoshua Fass and Tony Gelbart, Nefesh Bâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Nefesh in cooperation with the Israeli government and The Jewish Agency for Israel, is dedicated to revitalizing Aliyah from North America and the UK by removing or minimizing the financial, professional, logistical and social obstacles of Aliyah. The support and comprehensive social services provided by Nefesh Bâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Nefesh to its almost 40,000 newcomers has ensured that over 90% of its Olim have remained in Israel. 1-866-4-ALIYAH | Email: info@nbn.org.il | www.nbn.org.il LIVING ISRAEL

Playing the Newlywed Game in Israel

ometimes finding love means moving thousands of miles away. Originally from Michigan and New York, Shev Zacks and Haysha Shatzman met and fell in love in Israel. After dating for a little over a year, the couple recently got married on Kibbutz Einat this past July. We decided to play the Newlywed Game with Shev and Haysha, and asked the couple to answer questions about how their love blossomed.

WHAT FIRST BROUGHT YOU TO ISRAEL? Haysha says: I wanted to deepen my Judaism before I went to college, and I thought Israel would be the best place to do it. I had spent a summer in Israel after ninth grade and I was excited to spend more time there with a little more independence.

Shev says: I came to Israel for seminary right after high school. I stayed in seminary for about half a year, and then left and moved to a kibbutz to work and learn Hebrew. That summer, having just turned 18, I decided to make Aliyah. I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really have a plan for what Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d do here, but I knew I wanted to stay in Israel. So I filled out all the papers, and called my parents to tell them I was staying here.

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WHEN DID YOU EACH KNOW THAT THE OTHER WAS ”THE ONE”? Haysha says: I don’t really believe in the romantic version of “the one” that you’re destined to marry. But I knew I was going to marry Shev before we started going out. I was speaking to a close friend when I was deciding if I should ask Shev out and my only concern was that if I did ask her out, I was going to get married within the year (I was only off by a couple of months).

Shev says: There was a random day, about four months into our relationship, when we went to Tel Aviv and just walked around for hours. We went to the old city of Yaffo, to the Tel Aviv shuk, to the beach, to a park—we just walked and talked the entire day. We had the most amazing time together. That night on the bus back, we kept making each other laugh. After a while, we just couldn’t stop laughing. I realized right then how amazing life would be if we could spend every day together.

WHAT DID YOU KNOW ABOUT EACH OTHER BEFORE YOU STARTED DATING? Haysha says: We were both madrichim (counselors) on a gap year program together so I got to spend a lot of time with her before we started dating. I knew that Shev was one of the most energetic and positive people I’ve ever seen. She was (and still is) creative, fun-loving, and extremely passionate about the Jewish people and Israel. And she was gorgeous!

Shev says: We met on a gap year program where we both worked as madrichim. We would mostly see each other at staff meetings, where he was always making everyone laugh and full of wacky, creative ideas. I knew he didn’t have a smartphone, that he had only gotten Facebook a month before, and that he played a lot of guitar in his room. I thought he was really down-to-earth and cool…and kind of a hippie. Which is still sort of true!

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE WEDDING PLANNING PROCESS? Haysha says: My favorite part of the wedding planning was the food tasting. Our hall, band, and photographer were already booked and there was no stress involved, just fun. We invited some of our family to join us and we had the most delicious dinner.

Shev says: Every part was fun in its own way. One thing I liked was seeing how the two of us worked so differently. When we were looking at halls, Haysha would read the entire website from start to finish, see how big the room was, watch videos of previous weddings, read testimonials of people who had gotten married there, etc. Meanwhile, I would look at two pictures of the place and decide if I wanted to get married there or not. In the end, the place where we got married was gorgeous and we both loved it!

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Want to meet your match? Learn about dating resources in Israel: dating@nbn.org.il or visit: seeyouinisrael.com

WHAT DO YOU BOTH LOVE ABOUT LIVING IN ISRAEL? Haysha says:

I love the way living in Israel makes me feel. Every aspect of my life is incorporated into my religiosity and Judaism feels more tangible and holistic for me here. Being a member of Am Yisrael, while living among Am Yisrael in our promised homeland brings me a deep sense of belonging and meaning. I feel truly privileged to have the opportunity that past generations could only dream of, and to be part of the future of the Jewish people.

Shev says: I love the feeling of closeness between everyone here. Wherever you go, for better or for worse, Israelis treat you like family. Aside from that, just knowing that we’re living in a Jewish country, one that we fought to obtain and are still trying to protect, fills every day with special meaning. I feel like I’m not watching Jewish history from the sidelines. I’m a part of it here. I can’t imagine living anywhere else.

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR LIFE IN ISRAEL WILL LOOK LIKE IN TEN YEARS? WHAT’S YOUR IDEA OF A PERFECT DATE NIGHT IN ISRAEL? Haysha says:

My perfect date night is just having a nice stroll on the beach, maybe with ice cream.

Shev says: We live very close to Tel Aviv, and there’s a lot of really nice things to do there. My favorite date night is taking a chad pa’ami (disposable) barbecue and a frisbee to the beach, and just hanging out there for hours.

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Haysha says: It’s hard to plan that far ahead in such a dynamic world. I’m still studying in university and could just as easily end up becoming a psychologist or a history teacher. I would want to have a couple of kids and be settled and living in the community where Shev and I would want to raise them.

Shev says: When I imagine the future, we’re living in some small yishuv (community) up north, maybe in the Golan. We have a huge yard and there are hikes and maayanot (springs) close by. Our kids speak Hebrew fluently and play outside with their friends. We both have jobs and are very happy!

Elliott Smus UK Psychology

Josh Scher South Africa Business Administration

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Graduate School in Israel:

Programs You Need to Know

tarting off your Aliyah with graduate school is a great way to give yourself a framework in Israel, build your resume and get to know Israeli society from the inside—before diving into the job market. Israeli programs are high level, lower cost and internationally recognized, offering excellent alternatives to the increasingly exorbitant price tag of American universities. Here are five Israeli programs that you’ll want to check out:

MBA IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION

Hebrew University of Jerusalem

@ Hebrew University This one-year program offered in the heart of the “Start-Up Nation” provides its students with the core business curriculum, including courses in finance, accounting, and management, elective courses in entrepreneurship and innovation, as well as a hands-on, supervised internship in a leading high-tech company, consulting firm or start-up. Students gain value beyond the classroom by networking with faculty and exploring the Israeli business sector.

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Graduate School in Israel 5 Programs YOU Need to Know Photographer: Dani Machlis.

MSC IN INFORMATION SYSTEMS ENGINEERING WITH SPECIALIZATION IN CYBER SECURITY @ Ben Gurion University Israel’s university in the Negev offers students high-level training in issues that both affect our everyday life and have severe implications on defense, scientific, and industrial concerns in the future. Created in coordination with Israeli security personnel, this program combines an intensive course load with a research thesis, and prepares its students to find their niche in one of Israel’s most important industries.

MA IN ENGLISH LITERATURE WITH A FOCUS ON LITERARY TRANSLATION

Students at Bar Ilan University

@ Bar Ilan University

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Although thousands of Israeli books are published each year, only a handful ever reaches an international audience. This program provides bilingual literature connoisseurs with the training to expand the reach of Hebrew books across the world. In addition to taking literature courses and participating in translation workshops, students receive one-on-one mentoring with faculty members with the goal of completing a creative thesis. This program may be free for eligible Olim. Francine Makbili, who made Aliyah 19 years ago, is an English teacher who has a passion for translation. “My experience on the March of the Living had a great impact on my decision to make my life in Israel. Now I plan to translate a book about the Holocaust for my thesis.”

International students on IDC Herzliya campus.

MA IN ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR AND DEVELOPMENT

MA IN CREATIVE ARTS THERAPIES WITH A SPECIALIZATION IN ART THERAPY

@ IDC Herzliya

@ University of Haifa

Through this interdisciplinary course of study that combines research, theory, and an emphasis on personal development, students become well-versed in diagnosing organizations’ weaknesses and creating effective models for improvement. With courses in business and psychology, a two-year practicum to develop professional counseling skills, and workshops focused on coaching and group facilitation, students gain the confidence and competence to strengthen the operations of diverse workplaces.

Israel is a leader in developing innovative treatments for therapeutic care, and art therapy is one of its fastest growing fields. This one-year degree combines courses in psychotherapy and art therapy, research, and 600 hours of supervised field training. In addition to preparing students to work in diverse settings with multi-age clientele, this graduate program empowers its students to use their passion and knowledge to further develop the field of art therapy.

Julie Kiss, who previously worked in the fashion industry in New York, chose to pursue this degree during her first year in Israel because she liked that it gave her the opportunity to study at a top Israeli university in English. “I knew that I wanted to study psychology and that combining that with business would open more doors for me.”

Want to learn about the dozens of graduate programs offered in Hebrew and English? Speak to an NBN Student Aliyah Advisor to find out which ones may be right for you. Contact students@nbn.org.il LIVING ISRAEL

Why Israel could be the answer to the Jewish education crisis

ith three children in Jewish day schools in Canada, Stephen Epstein found the tuition prices prohibitive. “In the United States and in Canada, you either have to be really poor and get all or some of the education subsidized, or you have to be really rich so that you don’t have to depend on it,” said Epstein. “Making sure our kids got a great Jewish education was a major factor in why we decided to make Aliyah.” With the cost of Jewish day school tuition often exceeding $20,000 a year in North America, many families are struggling to provide their children with a quality Jewish education—if they ultimately choose to do so. “In America, you have to make a decision about whether Jewish education is a part of your values, whereas in Israel, it’s a way of life,” said Avi Silverman, Nefesh B’Nefesh’s Education Specialist. Some families, like Epstein’s, are considering Israel’s religious school system, which provides education at public elementary schools for an annual tuition price of 1,000 NIS a year ($280). Alternatively, semi-private options have tuition prices that range from 3,600 NIS to 10,000 NIS ($1,000 to $2,800) per year. Though these

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tuitions are much lower than those at North American Jewish private schools, it is important to note that Israeli salaries are not as high. In addition to its low cost, Israeli education is known for its progressiveness. “Education in Israel goes far beyond the classroom,” said Silverman. “It’s extremely experiential, with volunteer work, holiday activities, intergenerational programming, and field trips woven into the regular curriculum.” With all schools partly run by the government, Israel is home to diverse Jewish schools for children in grades 1-8 that offer strong secular curricula, a range of religious study options, as well as staff support for new Olim.

PUBLIC RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS Tuition: 1,000 NIS a year After moving to Israel in 2005, Epstein and his wife opted to send their children to Mamlachti Dati schools, Israel’s public religious schools. Mamlachti Dati schools, also called Mamad schools, often have students that range from secular to Orthodox. While some schools separate students by gender in elementary schools, others do not.

At Tachkemoni, Epstein’s daughter’s elementary school, teachers accompany the students for two years in order to forge a closer connection to the students and to ensure a higher level of learning continuity. In addition to the secular and religious curricula that the school provides, there are also school trips, staff members who make themselves available to parents, daily prayer services, Rosh Chodesh celebrations, and a special program for gifted children. After making Aliyah from New York, where she sent her daughters to a private Jewish day school in Manhattan, Lois Lebowitz opted to enroll them in Efrata, a Mamlachti Dati school in Jerusalem. “The class sizes are larger, but students can still do very well, especially if the parents stay in touch with teachers by phone or email.” Because the school has a large presence of English-speaking Olim, it offers a strong English educational program, as well as a dedicated counselor to help students with their Hebrew. Another type of religious public school in Israel is the Mamlachti Dati Torani school. These schools offer a stronger emphasis on Torah studies and a focus on developing a more rigorous religious atmosphere. In these schools, boys and girls study in separate classes, and attend separate schools after fifth grade. Tova Goldfine, an Olah who sent her daughter to a Mamlachti Dati Torani school in Har Nof was impressed to see how committed the teachers were to her daughter’s welfare, encouraging her to call them at home if necessary. “I feel like the teachers really appreciate the choice we made to move to Israel,” said Goldfine.

SEMI-PRIVATE ORTHODOX SCHOOLS

Tuition: 5,000 NIS - 10,000 NIS a year Many parents who previously sent their children to liberal modern Orthodox day schools may find that semi-private Orthodox schools best fit their values. Schools like Hartman (with separate schools for boys and girls) and Pelech (for girls) have strong secular curricula, with diverse subjects that include Yiddish,

Arabic, and theater, as well as Jewish studies programs, which encourage students to challenge and question tradition while respecting it. The schools, which are both located in Jerusalem, also strongly emphasize community service. Richard Saffern, who made Aliyah with his family in 2003, chose to send his daughter to Pelech after attending its open house. “We were impressed with the school’s creativity and seriousness,” he said. “We also liked that it encouraged out-of-the-box thinking and focused on instilling good values in its students.” Pelech seeks to inculcate its students with the values of Orthodox feminism, and sees many of its graduates join the army instead of Sherut Leumi, Israel’s National Service.

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SEMI-PRIVATE ULTRA-ORTHODOX SCHOOLS

SEMI-PRIVATE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

For families looking for schools that offer a more stringent observance of Halacha and provide a secular education, Mamlachti Dati Chardal schools may provide a good option. Boys’ schools have a central focus on Torah studies, and all students take the Bagrut matriculation exams. Upon graduation, boys continue onto Yeshivat Hesder, which combines fives years of Torah study with army service. Girls participate in Sherut Leumi.

To meet the needs of families who are looking for a pluralistic environment, a handful of community schools have popped up in the last 20 years—many of which can be found in areas with high Olim density.

Tuition: 3,600 nis a year

Following her Aliyah from Long Island four years ago, Miriam Schwartz and her family settled in Ramat Shilo, a town right outside of Ramat Beit Shemesh, and enrolled their three children in the Mamlachti Dati Chardal school, Rappaport. With a strong commitment to Zionism, Torah learning, Hebrew and secular studies, as well as extracurriculars that range from gardening to chess to robotics, the school offered what the family was looking for. It also didn’t hurt that the school has a large English-speaking student body. “The teachers show tremendous understanding for what Olim are going through,” said Schwartz. “It’s amazing to see how much warmth and care they show their students.” Schwartz also expressed appreciation for the teachers because they do not overburden the students with homework and instead recognize the children’s need for playtime—both of which have not negatively affected the school’s emphasis on academics. Last year, Schwartz’s son’s second grade class ranked in the 90th percentile in Israel’s nationwide Hebrew test.

Tuition: 5,000 NIS - 10,000 NIS a year

Yachad, one such school, which is located in Modiin, “is dedicated to promoting Jewish dialogue and education in an environment that integrates children from different Jewish backgrounds,” according to its website. Students at Yachad come from households that range from Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, secular, traditional, as well as a mixed background. While Yachad provides a core Jewish curriculum, students and their families have the independence to define the extent of their religious study and practice. For example, in the morning, students can choose to attend a traditional prayer service or a “siach shacharit,” a facilitated discussion about contemporary events. Having made Aliyah from Toronto six years ago, Michal Nefsky decided to send two of her children to Yachad because it was similar to the multi-denominational school that they had attended in Canada. “Yachad gives the students a Jewish framework, but they’re not forced to do more than they’re comfortable with,” said Nefsky. “So it really gives them the accessibility of the religion and also allows them to make their own decisions.” In keeping with its value of inclusivity, Yachad has an Olim Coordinator on staff to provide support for Olim students. Families are also invited to take part in the greater Yachad community through their minyan, Tu B’Shevat Seder, Purim party, as well as a range of activity clubs.

Sound Bites “This passport represents so much more than a few pieces of paper. It represents a birthright that my ancestors could only dream and yearn of fulfilling. And here I am, doing it.” - Shterny Isseroff

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TEEN ULPAN

Tuition: 400 NIS a year When Susan Levin moved from Maryland to Gush Etzyon in 2006, she was concerned that her 13-year-old son would have trouble transitioning to a regular Israeli school. So, she decided to enroll him in Teen Ulpan, a pluralistic school setting, which provides immersive Hebrew classes focused on reading, writing and conversational skills. In addition to Hebrew study, students also take classes in history, math, and Torah studies. At Teen Ulpan, teachers provide students with individualized attention according to their needs, and encourage students to transition to regular high schools once they have determined that the students are sufficiently prepared. At all schools, new Olim children are entitled to six hours of “Oleh hours” in which they receive extra help in Hebrew and other subjects that may be new to them. With hundreds of schools that offer diverse Jewish curricula, Israel makes it possible to find a school that fits any family’s values and financial needs.

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Israel offers a wide range of affordable schools. Speak to an NBN education specialist to find out which schools may be right for your children. Contact education@nbn.org.il

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Finding My Way to Israel

he road to Aliyah is rarely a straight line. For many, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s that first trip which plants the seeds for the dream. For others, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a desire to be on the front lines of Jewish destiny that compels them to move to Israel. For some, the dream sneaks up on them unexpectedly. Here are the extraordinary stories of an Academy Award winner, a Christian boarding school graduate, and a struggling jazz musician turned hi-tech entrepreneur who left their old lives behind to create fulfilling lives for themselves in Israel.

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Finding My Way to Israel

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From Hollywood to the Holy Land Academy-Award Winning Designer Launches New Career as Jerusalem Wedding Dressmaker

alk throughthe bustling Machaneh Yehuda market, past the produce sellers shouting their daily deals and the locals pushing their overflowing carts, and take a left down a quiet side street. In a golden stone apartment tucked into Jerusalem’s artsy Nachlaot neighborhood, Chana Studley’s studio is an oasis. From her balcony, sunlight streams into the room, reflecting off the white tulle fabric of a wedding dress, its belt’s silver gems sparkling.

In her dressmaking studio, surrounded by petticoats and pins, Chana looks right at home. A tall, impeccably dressed woman, Chana emanates a confident and no-nonsense vibe. She has a full day ahead of her—three back-to-back sewing classes, as well as brides coming in and out to try on dresses during the rest of the week.

But until five years ago, living in Israel was not a part of Chana’s plans, and until 10 years ago, being an Orthodox Jew was also not a part of her reality. Back then, Chana was an Academy Award-winning animatronics model designer living in Los Angeles.

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Finding My Way to Israel

LIVING THE HOLLYWOOD LIFE Originally from England, Chana studied embroidery at the University of Manchester and got her start designing costumes, props, and lifelike animal puppets for plays and television shows. After winning an Academy Award for her work on the movie, Babe, Chana packed her bags and relocated to Los Angeles in 1994. “To get a green card, you have to prove that you’re one of the top five in your profession in the world,” Chana explained. “When you stick on fur and feathers and make weird things, it’s possible.” In Los Angeles, Chana, who had always worked as a freelancer, was in high demand. From John Travolta’s wings in Michael to the tiger in Dr. Doolittle to the lion in George of the Jungle, Chana’s projects were dynamic, requiring her to spend time observing animals to replicate them perfectly, as well as months on international sets where she managed her puppets. In her field, Chana was at the top of her game, but personally, she was not satisfied. “I had always been searching for answers and truth—like a lot of people in California—and I’d done the usual types of things that people do, like yoga and meditation classes. But it just never had any meaning for me,” she said. Chana, who had not grown up religious, began attending a synagogue with high profile actors and directors, like Dustin Hoffman and David Mamet.

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But having Judaism in her life only on the weekends wasn’t enough for Chana. She wanted to devote herself to it full-time.

GOODBYE, HOLLYWOOD GLAMOUR The first movie that Chana turned down was Stuart Little. “I remember hanging up the phone and thinking, what do I do now?” Chana knew that once she said no to a project, people would stop calling. But she never regretted her decision. Because Chana had previously volunteered in the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, she knew she liked to teach. After becoming involved in the local Orthodox Jewish community, Chana met the principal of Ohr Eliyahu Yeshiva day school who asked her to be the school’s art teacher.

one summer when Chana spent a few months at Neve Yerushalayim, a seminary in Jerusalem’s Har Nof neighborhood. “I loved being able to sit and learn with other women who were also there to learn,” said Chana. “I thought, this is what I want to do.” But Chana had no idea how she’d afford to return. Then she learned about a Los Angeles-based business owner who is committed to paying for women’s flights to Israel so that they can study in seminaries. Chana was worried about asking for money, but the man was happy to hear from her. “He was so excited to help me,” said Chana. “And he didn’t want anything in return.”

While living with a host family in Har Nof, Chana spent the next year immersed in her studies, waking up at six in the morning to teach herself Rashi and prepare for her morning Chumash class, and then completing her homework well into the night. Known as a “frum illiterate,” Chana enrolled in advanced classes in Jewish law and in beginner classes in Jewish text. Knowing she wouldn’t survive a year without her sewing machine, Chana had asked a family who was making Aliyah from Los Angeles to include it in their lift. When she went to retrieve it from their home, the mother asked her to tutor her children in art once a week. To this day, Chana is still very close to the family.

Chana taught there for five years, teaching her students to create religious items, like sukkah decorations and seder plates, as well as training them in the basics of painting and drawing. “Being in an atmosphere that valued integrity and honesty was incredible,” said Chana. “It was a privilege to work in a place where I could learn and grow early on in my religious life.”

DISCOVERING ISRAEL By her mid-forties, Chana had been living an observant lifestyle for several years, but still had never had the opportunity to formally study Jewish texts. This changed

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STARTING OVER IN ISRAEL In 2009, Chana had only been in Israel for three months when she knew she wanted to make it her permanent home. “I went to my rabbi and said, ‘I don’t think my neshama (soul) will be able to get on the plane,’” said Chana. When Passover rolled around, Chana was even more confident in her decision. With transportable skills, Chana planned on teaching sewing and doing alterations. With the help of Nefesh B’Nefesh, she began her Aliyah paperwork in Israel, and returned to Los Angeles to pack and collect the rest of her documents. Chana was set on arriving in Israel in time for Rosh Hashanah, but the Israeli Embassy was on strike until a week before the holiday began. As soon as her Aliyah was finalized, Chana called El Al to book her ticket. The agent told her, “Hashem must love you very much. You just got the last seat on the plane.” A few months into her new life, Chana found an apartment where she could see herself living and working. It was perfect, but not inexpensive and Chana knew she needed to start building her business. “I had always been self-employed, so I was used to the reality of not knowing where my next check was coming from. But living in a foreign country where I didn’t speak the language added to my stress,” said Chana. She started telling everyone she met that she could sew and little by little, people started bringing her clothes that needed alterations. She advertised her services in Nefesh B’Nefesh’s listservs and in other online communities for Olim.

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“To this day, I have not spent a single cent on ads,” said Chana. “All of my customers have come because of word of mouth.” Then one day, a friend from seminary who had just gotten engaged asked Chana to make her a wedding dress. “I thought, why not? If I could make talking tigers and 1800s-style dresses for Les Miserables, I could definitely make a wedding dress,” said Chana. Her friend drew her a picture of the design she wanted and as Chana was fitting her, she realized that she could start a wedding dress gemach (rental warehouse). “I felt like Hashem had tapped me on the head,” Chana said. “I asked my friend, ‘Do you want to give the dress back to me when you’re done with it?’ I had given her a good deal, so she agreed.” During that next year, Chana made 24 gowns—or two each month— in addition to doing alterations, teaching, and studying Hebrew in a local Ulpan. Chana also participated in the MATI course, a highly subsidized program offered to Olim who want to start businesses in Israel.

It’s a privilege to live in Israel, surrounded by Jewishness. And it feels like home.” Now with 30 gowns—and two new ones added to her stock each year— Chana, owner of Chana’s Gowns, is known as the Jerusalem wedding dressmaker. Her clients are Israeli and non-Israeli, and wear the dresses both in Israel and

internationally, returning them after their weddings. Chana has transformed dresses—adding hoops, petticoats, belts and buttons—according to her clients’ visions, and even once started and completed the alterations for a dress within 90 minutes for a wedding that was being held the next day. “I’m not a seamstress by trade. I’m a costume maker,” explained Chana. “So I can think outside the box, make the changes the women want, and take part in their happy days.” Four years into her new life in Israel, Chana said that it feels like a dream. From her window, she often sees Israeli soldiers walking beneath her balcony. When she goes to buy fabric, she usually needs to move a tallit to see what she wants or wait for the store owner to take off his tefiilin before he can help her. “It’s a privilege to live in Israel, surrounded by Jewishness,” said Chana. “And it feels like home.”

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Finding My Way to Israel

LIVING ISRAEL

How a Christian Boarding School Grad Became the Marketing Director of Israel’s Top Tourism Company

arah Hindman’s goal while growing up in Boston was to be blond, athletic and Protestant—the all-American girl. As a redheaded Jew who wasn’t very into sports as a child, this was not an easy feat. But she gave it her best try.

LIVING ISRAEL

She attended tennis camp, dyed her hair blond, and spent Sundays with her friends at the church dancing school. When her mother asked her to come home to light candles on Friday night, Hindman begrudgingly agreed. But she refused to go to Hebrew school unless her mother waited for her outside. “I was afraid of being left alone in that world,” Hindman explained. After her bat mitzvah, Hindman dropped out of Hebrew school and enrolled in a Christian boarding school. “I always told people, ‘I’m Jewish, but I’m not religious,” said Hindman. But even while distancing herself from it, Judaism continued to play a role in Hindman’s life. During weekly chapel services, Hindman felt strange participating in the Christian prayers, so she sang “Shehechiyanu” under her breath, one of the only Jewish blessings she knew by heart. Before Jewish holidays, she dreaded standing in front of her class to explain why she had to go home. “I felt like Judaism was a burden, and I always had to apologize for being this way,” said Hindman. When Hindman received early acceptance to Trinity College because of her rowing skills, she knew she couldn’t be in an all-Christian environment again, so she chose USC in California, where she believed she could start anew. But once again, being Jewish proved a challenge to Hindman. When a rowing match fell on Yom Kippur, Hindman’s coach told her she needed to choose between Judaism and the team. For once, Hindman chose Judaism. At the same time that Hindman’s

LIVING ISRAEL

ideas about her personal identity were beginning to unravel, a man with a thick accent barged into one of her classes. “If anyone wants to come to Israel, meet me outside,” he told the class, slamming the door behind him. Hindman had never wanted to go to Israel, but she was craving an adventure that would get her out of her rut. She skipped out of class and put her name on his sign up sheet. That summer, she landed in Israel with Birthright.

Israel is a place that allows you to take your passion—whatever that is—and run with it." She fell in love immediately—with the people, the sites, the language, and the history. “For the first time, I felt accepted. I didn’t have to explain myself to anyone. Everyone was Jewish, just like me,” said Hindman. While Hindman sang “Am Yisrael Chai” at the Mega Event with thousands of people from all over the world—all who knew every single word—she realized she would have to come back. After spending the next year studying Hebrew at USC, Hindman returned for a summer to work in Israel through Career Israel, an internship program. Newly interested in photojournalism, Hindman got an internship at Sderot Media Center, where she was responsible for documenting the havoc that the rockets had wreaked on the city. “I saw Israel’s bruises, but I still loved the country,” said Hindman. “The experience made me realize that I wanted to help repair Israel and contribute to it in my own way.”

She also discovered how welcoming Israelis could be when her co-worker, Itzik, an Israeli college student from Bat Yam, invited her to his family’s home for Shabbat. Now that that co-worker is her husband, Hindman considers that weekend their first date. But as a junior in college, even though Hindman knew that her future would involve Israel, she wasn’t sure what form that would take. She decided to study abroad at Hebrew University to find out if she could actually see herself living in Israel. She spent that semester working at an Israeli advocacy organization and at the Israel Experience, the same tourism company that ran Career Israel, hoping that one of these would turn into a professional opportunity once she made Aliyah. Hindman believed that a successful Aliyah entailed going through the process of growing up again. “First you go to school to gain skills, then you make friends, and then you get a job,” she explained. “In Israel, I needed to do the same thing.” She enrolled in Ulpan, strengthened her Hebrew, found her community, and started working. Only a year and a half into her Aliyah, Hindman nabbed a marketing job at the Israel Experience where she would be able to use her photography and writing skills, as well as her Zionism to promote the same experiences that had changed her life. By the time she was 25, Hindman was promoted to be Marketing Director of the Israel Experience. "Israel is a place that allows you to take your passion—whatever that is—and run with it.”

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Finding My Way to Israel

LIVING ISRAEL

An Unconventional Start-Up Nation Success Story

porting a big, bushy beard and tchelet (blue fringes) on his tzitzit, Gary Levitt is not your typical hi-tech entrepreneur. After all, this man who built—and sold—an email marketing company halfway around the world from its main office, still refers to himself as a “hippie Oleh.” But being unconventional is exactly how Levitt became so successful.

FROM STRUGGLING ARTIST TO MUSIC ENTREPRENEUR After growing up on a farm in South Africa, Levitt moved to Boston at age 19 to study jazz bass at the Berklee College of Music. Then, with his degree in hand, Levitt did what many aspiring artists do: he relocated to New York to launch his career as a jazz musician.

to make it as an independent artist, he launched a commercial music company, with hopes of composing scores for television and radio shows, in addition to advertisements. To attract customers, Levitt sent previews of his music to local media executives. Very few people even responded. Until The Oprah Winfrey Show called.

But making it wasn’t easy, and Levitt soon realized that he needed another job in order to feed himself. For many years, he worked as a busboy, juggling his passion with menial labor that paid the bills.

In 2006, the show’s producers commissioned Levitt to score a film set in South Africa because of his own South African roots. They didn’t end up using the score, but they hired him as a composer for the show. Though Levitt had a stable and well-paying job for the first time in years, he was not happy. He still dreamt of becoming a professional jazz musician.

Levitt couldn’t live that way forever, though. In 2005, after years of trying

“I was like a gourmet chef working as a caterer,” said Levitt.

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FAILING AND STARTING OVER Levitt decided that it was time to take matters into his own hands. If he wanted his music to reach a bigger audience, he needed to create a tool that would make it possible. Though he had no technical skills, Levitt decided to build a web platform that would enable musicians to create virtual press kits and help them promote their own music. He borrowed $7,000 dollars, hired two famous developers—and failed miserably. Levitt took the blame for the disaster. “I knew nothing about software development,” he said. “I didn’t know how to express my idea.” Still, he wasn’t ready to give up. In his second attempt, Levitt created a business plan, raised $100,000, and began building the product from scratch. Halfway through, he realized that the platform would actually make an excellent email marketing service. Levitt understood the importance of email marketing, because that’s how he had landed the Oprah gig. So he switched gears and began building a platform that was simple and easy to use. “It was the most basic thing you could imagine,” said Levitt. “A lot of people who used it told us it was exactly what they wanted.” In April 2008, Levitt launched Mad Mimi. While paying customers trickled in, Levitt focused on building a company that paid close attention to detail, employing a talented staff, and making customer service his number one priority.

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Levitt hired his brother, Dean Levitt, to manage the company’s culture and communications. Since then, almost every employee at Mad Mimi, regardless of status, has started out in a customer support position.

You need to be resourceful to live here, so you end up thinking freely and outside the box.”

THE TRIP THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING In 2009, only a year after Mad Mimi’s founding, Levitt took a month-long trip to Israel with his wife. This was not his first time in Israel. While working as a busboy, Levitt had traveled to Israel with Birthright, which had inspired him to become religious. This trip to Israel made Levitt realize that Israel was where he needed to be. “New York’s bricks are pretty, but they are not our bricks,” he explained. Four days after returning, he began his Aliyah application with the help of Nefesh B’Nefesh. During the next three months, Levitt focused on putting together a capable management team, who, together with his brother, would oversee the company’s day-to-day affairs. Once everything was in place, Levitt and his family made Aliyah.

STRIKING GOLD IN THE CITY OF GOLD In Jerusalem, Levitt created a life for himself that enabled him to focus on his passions—Torah study, music and philanthropy—while he continued to work on building Mad Mimi’s strategy. Even with the company’s visionary living in a different time zone, Mad Mimi continued to get great customer approval ratings—surpassing those of Amazon and Apple. GoDaddy, the world’s largest domain registrar, took notice and in late August 2014, acquired Mad Mimi and put Levitt in charge of integrating the product into its catalogue. “It’s my first salaried job since being a busboy,” laughed Levitt. Levitt, who could never have foreseen the turns his life has taken, believes that living in Israel has helped him get to where he is today. “Israel brings a lot of bracha (blessing). You don’t get stuck in the herd mentality here,” he said. “You need to be resourceful to live here, so you end up thinking freely and outside the box.”

Looking to find your way to Israel? Speak to an NBN Aliyah Advisor to start your Aliyah planning. Contact prealiyah@nbn.org.il

HOW TO REINVENT YOUR PROFESSIONAL SELF IN ISRAEL

srael isn’t called “The Start-Up Nation” simply because of the hi-tech success stories that come out of it. It’s a hotbed for the entrepreneurial spirit, and provides the perfect playing field for risk takers and innovators. If you’re coming to Israel midway through your career, you may not be able to find the exact same job in your field. But if you feel comfortable exploring new terrain, adapting to a new environment, and grabbing opportunities when they present themselves, Israel can be an incredibly energizing place. Here are four Olim who came to Israel with certain professional skill sets—and then recreated themselves in Israel.

Israel has tons of great job opportunities for new Olim. Speak to one of our experienced employment advisors to explore options in your field. Contact employment@ nbn.org.il

MAYER REICH RankAbove, CEO

“Because Israel is a small country, it’s easy to build new relationships and get in front of the people who matter.” Before Mayer Reich made Aliyah with his family in 2003, he had a promising career in construction management. Yet, in Israel he soon discovered that he could either get a degree in engineering or choose a new field. He chose the latter, and decided to immerse himself in Israel’s growing tech field. From his first position as sales manager for a US-based internet company, Reich learned everything he possibly could about online marketing before founding his own interactive marketing agency. Two years later, he sold the business and then launched RankAbove, a company which provides support in search engine optimization.

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JOANNA SHEBSON Fun in Jerusalem, CEO

“In Israel, you can find a need that hasn’t been met, and if you have the right skills, you can create the right opportunities and fill those needs.” Following successful stints in the marketing department of Barnesandnoble.com and at a marketing consulting firm, Kellog Business School graduate Joanna Shebon made Aliyah with her family and decided to take some time to acclimate her children to their new home. While showing them Israel’s historical sites and presenting them in a kid-friendly way, Shebson began to blog about their experiences. That blog, Fun in Jerusalem, soon turned into a profitable family tourism website that shares events, activities, and attractions perfect for English-speaking families in Jerusalem.

MICHAEL SKLAR

M.S. U.S. Tax Services, Ltd., President “Today the world economy is global. It doesn’t matter where you are.” When Michael Sklar made Aliyah in 2005, he figured he would work remotely as an accountant for a short time before pursuing new opportunities in Israel. Before he left, Sklar helped his clients install webcams so that they would not feel like he was any less accessible. Not only did Sklar’s US-based clients continue to work with him, but once settled in Israel, he also discovered a new clientele: Olim who needed to file their US taxes. Sklar now has a thriving accounting firm in Bet Shemesh.

MARCI AND HAROLD RAPP MarSea Modest Swim & Casualwear, Owners ”The availability of so much assistance to Olim, including business consulting courses, mentoring services, and loans gave us the confidence to start our business in Israel.” Past owners of a kosher cheese business in Toronto, Marci and Harold Rapp spent their first year of Aliyah cooking up a new business idea. Having moved from a country where summer is only two months long to Israel, where there is summer weather for the majority of the year, Marci realized that she couldn’t find anything suitable to wear. Existing companies that made modest swimwear didn’t offer apparel for curvier women, so the Rapps decided to start their own line. Since 2010, they have grown to include over ten distributors in Israel, and another ten distributors worldwide.

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5 Tips for Finding Your

Professional Place in Israel

n Israel’s thriving economy, there are tons of opportunities for skilled English speakers. Coming with a great professional background and resume can certainly help. But launching a career in Israel also requires you to adapt to the Israeli marketplace. Here are five tips that will help you develop your career in Israel.

1. RESEARCH THE MARKETPLACE.

Before relocating to Israel, check out your industry’s needs. It is possible that some of your skills will be more relevant, and some less so. Zero in on fields and companies where you could make your mark.

2. NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK.

In Israel, finding a great job is often all about who you know. In addition to responding to job ads, meeting new people who are in your industry can be helpful for your job search. Because Israel is such a small country, people will be willing to pass on your resume to others who may be able to help you. Make a lot of connections. They will pay off.

3. PREPARE FOR YOUR MEETINGS.

Speak to people in the field in advance to know what to expect. Also find out who you will be meeting with and Google them. It helps to know who you will be speaking to and what will impress them.

4. MAKE SURE YOU MATCH THE WORK ENVIRONMENT.

The Israeli workplace is less formal than that in the US—both in dress and in communication. Before meeting an Israeli company, choose an outfit that shows that you’re on the same page. Conduct your conversation in a way that feels natural for the company.

Visit the NBN LinkedIn Job board where over 200 news jobs are posted each week. Search LinkedIn: Nefesh B’Nefesh Group > Jobs

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5. ANSWER THIS QUESTION: WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?

In Israel, companies don’t want to hear “the history of you.” They want to know how you could be an asset to their company. Tweak your resume to highlight the skills that make you the perfect job candidate.

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36 Hours in

Northern Israel

n the lush Galilee, families spend Shabbat soaking up their surrounding nature. After living for many years in New York City, Daphna and Chaim (Cary) Tamler show us what their familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Shabbat looks like in Yuvalim, a small town in the Misgav Region in Northern Israel.

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FRIDAY 9:00 AM

Making Challah On Friday mornings in Misgav, children have no school so our kids sleep late. When they wake up, I’m already preparing the dough for the challah. It’s been my tradition to bake challah since they were born. Because Friday is both the day to prepare for Shabbat and to get errands done, we spend the morning cleaning up and getting organized. Our oldest son, who was a contestant on The X-Factor in Israel, practices his guitar, while singing.

12:30 PM

Baseball in Israel Our family heads to the baseball field in Misgav to watch our 14-year-old son pitch. His team is a part of an Israeli baseball league, and last year they won the Israeli championship. Most of the teams throughout Israel are made up of American Olim kids, but in Misgav, all of the kids are Israeli born except for our son.

synagogue, which is a one-room building in Yuvalim. Before we arrived, there were only a handful of people who attended services except when there was a bar mitzvah. But with my husband and two sons, we brought another three. My husband created a weekly Friday night kiddush, with fruit, vegetables, dip, smoked fish, and of course, some alcohol for a L’chaim. Now there’s a guaranteed minyan.

9:00 PM

Shabbat Dinner My mother who lives in Haifa is staying with us for Shabbat, and when everyone comes home, we sit down to a huge Shabbat dinner of homemade challah, salatim, Moroccan fish, schnitzel, and dessert. As always, there are tons of leftovers. After dinner, we sit around drinking tea and talking. Our seventeen-yearold son heads out to meet up with some friends in the area.

Shabbat

4:00 PM

9:00 AM

The health club is a state-of-the-art complex where just about everyone in Misgav has membership. On Fridays, Chaim takes the kids swimming there. There are outdoor and indoor pools and tennis courts. It’s a beautiful place and they always run into people they know, especially our daughter, who’s in first grade.

Chaim goes to synagogue and our sons join him a little bit later. One man in the community always reads Torah, and my husband usually reads the Haftarah.

Misgav Health Club

7:00 PM

Beit Knesset Chaim and the kids go to the

Beit Knesset

11:30 AM

ROSH CHODESH BRUNCH Once a month someone in the community hosts brunch to celebrate Rosh Chodesh. It’s a dairy potluck and there is more than

enough delicious food to go around. While the kids play, the parents sit around talking late into the afternoon.

4:00 PM

Hike in the Valley Across the road from where we live, there’s a downhill that leads to a beautiful valley in the forest. It’s an easy walk and full of trees and colorful flowers. Sometimes we even run into a few cows there. We bring a picnic with us and sit in the middle of the quiet nature and eat, enjoying our calm surroundings. While many people travel from all over Israel to hike in this area, it’s part of our everyday life. Life in the Galilee is casual and freeing, with tons of fresh air.

6:30 PM

Playground We take our daughter to the playground. Because it’s a small community, she inevitably runs into classmates in the park. Our sons find their friends and spend the last few hours of Shabbat hanging out with them.

8:00 PM

Motzei Shabbat After Shabbat, all of the technology is switched on again. Our kids finish up their homework and go on the computer. In the winter, we head to the mall after Shabbat ends to finish up the errands we couldn’t get done on Friday. But in the summer, there’s nowhere to go. We can just relax before the week begins again.

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36 Hours in

Tel Aviv

or singles in Tel Aviv, the weekend is all about catching up with friends, tanning on the beach, and eating good food. Alex Simone, 26, a recently released lone soldier originally from Maryland, tells us about his Shabbat in Tel Aviv.

LIVING ISRAEL

FRIDAY 10:30 AM

Espresso Bar It’s the beginning of the weekend, so I sleep late before meeting my friends at Espresso Bar, a neighborhood cafe. We choose a seat outside at one of the tables situated beneath a large, white umbrella. I scan the menu before ordering toast dripping with fried egg, sautéed spinach and Swiss cheese, along with a large cafe hafuch (cappuccino).

1:00 PM

Food Market at Dizengoff Center Time to eat again! Located on the bottom floor of the mall, the space is always teeming with stands and spicy scents from around the world. I make the rounds, trying anything that catches my eye before buying my favorites: the Iraqi dish of meatballs, pinto beans, and spinach, and kubeh (matza ball with meat inside).

2:30 PM

Dizengoff Yotzer Fair At the flea market, I roam around eyeing the tchotchkes and posters. When I touch a Hebrew typewriter, the merchant shouts that it could break. I ask him how much it costs, and he tells me that it’s in great condition.

4:00 PM

Frishman Beach After heading home to drop off my purchases, I quickly grab my beach bag, which holds a camel pack, blanket, towel, sunscreen, and book and head to Frishman Beach. It’s the easiest one to direct people to because it’s in front of the colorful Dan Hotel. I drop my stuff off near a wooden gazebo so that I can easily get in the shade if the sun becomes too intense. In between running in and out of the water—and avoiding the jellyfish, I jump in on a game of beach volleyball. While tanning, I love watching the dancers and singers performing on the promenade. Just as the sun begins to set, I start to walk home.

7:30 PM

Shtiebel and Dinner Some of my friends like to head to the popular synagogues for young Olim, but I prefer to pop into one of the small shtiebels (one-room shuls) scattered on Tel Aviv’s side streets. After the service, I go to dinner at another lone soldier’s place with wine and dessert in hand. There are ten people at the meal and we need to move the furniture aside to make room for all of the chairs. The dinner is loud and full of laughter.

LIVING ISRAEL

Shabbat 11:00 AM

7:00 PM

After a quick breakfast at home, I head for a run on the promenade to Jaffa, passing drum circles and performance artists. In the morning, the beach is quieter, and the water is calm. On my way back, I run into friends. We head to the sand and play matcot (paddleball), trying to stay out of pedestriansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; way.

For a friendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birthday party, I go to a bar on Hayarkon Street. The table is packed and we order a few Goldstars. Though northern Tel Aviv bars are known to be pricey, this place has fair prices and great energy.

Jaffa

Thinking about moving to Tel Aviv? Speak to an NBN Aliyah Advisor to get your questions answered. Contact prealiyah@nbn.org.il

LIVING ISRAEL

2:00 PM

Shawarma with friends My friend volunteered to make shawarma and hummus in his kitchen and some army friends and I go there to indulge. The food is good and the conversation is great. We were all in the same draft class and continue to look out for each other even though our service has ended.

birthday party @ MASH

9:00 PM

Rabin Square Not everyone goes out on Saturday night because there is work the next day, but many still do. A friend and I get dinner at one of the charming restaurants on the strip facing Rabin Square. We sit at a table under the portico and enjoy the background music and cosmopolitan vibe. Over a cafe hafuch (cappuccino), we enjoy the last few hours of the weekend.

36 Hours in

Southern Israel

or families in the South, Shabbat is a time when community members open up their homes to one another. After making Aliyah from Westbury, Connecticut, Sarah and Zelig Bergman and their four kids show us their first Shabbat in Even Shmuel, a small town in Southern Israel.

FRIDAY 10:00 AM

Laundry at Our Neighbor’s Having just made Aliyah on Tuesday, we’re still pretty jetlagged and in desperate need of doing our laundry. The only problem is that we don’t yet have a washing machine. Luckily, we made some friends when we took a pilot trip earlier this year who have told us that we can use their washing machine! The Weisbergers made Aliyah two years ago from Cincinnati and really paved the way for American Olim in Even Shmuel. We’re thrilled that our kids are already becoming friends with their kids.

12:00 AM

Pizza Lunch in Kiryat Gat Even Shmuel is just residential so we head to Kiryat Gat for lunch. It’s only a five-minute drive in our rental car. The pizza place is selling pies for 20 NIS each. We order two.

LIVING ISRAEL

1:00 PM

Hanging Up Laundry Having come from the U.S., where we had a dryer, our kids aren’t used to hanging up their laundry. But in the South, where the air is very dry, almost no one has a dryer. So the kids have yet another new experience—and help me hang the laundry on the clothesline.

2:00 PM

Ice Cream in Kiryat Gat My husband takes the kids back to Kiryat Gat for some ice cream. He gets an ice coffee, which in Israel means crushed ice with tons of sugar. The kids tell the shopkeeper that they are new Olim and she gives them free candies. We’ve been telling everyone that we’re new Olim and getting tons of discounts wherever we go.

5:00 PM

Fresh Tomatoes from the Garden Our neighbors, the Nachshons invite us to pick some tomatoes from her garden. Their kids don’t like tomatoes, and mine do. Now we’ll have some fresh vegetables for Shabbat! The kids spend the rest of the afternoon playing with some neighborhood kids and their dogs. Because we visited with the kids in May, they had a chance to make some friends before we moved here permanently.

7:15 PM

Shabbat Dinner with Our Neighbors We bring Shabbat in early and head to the Weisbergers for Shabbat dinner. That morning, we’d gotten

three more invitations for Shabbat meals, but we were already booked! The Weisbergers make special desserts in our honor: Magen Davidshaped cookies and chocolate cake with blue and white frosting. Delicious!

Shabbat 9:00 AM

Even Shmuel Beit Knesset Only my husband wakes up in time for shul. The rest of us are fast asleep. The shul has a very warm Sephardi crowd. During the Torah reading, my husband gets an Aliyah and the men throw candy at him to celebrate our recent Aliyah.

11:00 AM Kiddush

Every week, people in the community host kiddushes for all sorts of occasions—whether just to be social or to celebrate someone’s homecoming from reserves. Although we are all too jetlagged to make it to a Kiddush this week, we look forward to going to them in the future!

12:30 PM

Lunch with Neighbors The Hascaloveci family, who are Olim from Canada, invite us over for a huge lunch. The parents’ married daughter and grandchildren are there, as well as another family from the community. The first course of salads is so filling that we can barely eat anything else. But we manage. After lunch, three of our kids head to the daughter’s house to play with her kids. My husband and I take our baby girl home and nap.

5:00 PM Park

It’s finally cooled down enough to go to the park. Because Even Shmuel is a religious community, we can all walk through the streets without worrying about cars. The kids run around and tire out.

7:00 PM

Seudah Shlishit at Home Our neighbors had invited us to Seudah Shlishit, but we’d let them know that we may be a little too exhausted for it during our first Shabbat in Israel. We head home and eat some challah, hummus, tehina, and fresh tomatoes. When Shabbat is over, we do Havdalah. My husband’s one complaint since moving to Israel is that Israeli grape juice isn’t as good as the American kind!

9:00 PM

Unpacking While we’re organizing our house and setting up my husband’s office, our landlord pays a visit with his son-in-law, who speaks some English. We provide a list of all of the things that still need to be repaired, and our landlord promises to fix them in the coming weeks.

Go South with NBN and receive employment assistance, social programming, ongoing staff support, and financial grants. Speak to an NBN Aliyah Advisor to find out more. Contact gosouth@nbn.org.il

LIVING ISRAEL

ow Women Can Have It All in Israel

hen Yael Maizels was a research fellow at Cornell University, she knew she wouldn’t be having children in the US. Twelve-hour work days were the norm, and women held off pregnancy until completing their PhDs.

Israel’s pro-natal policies and workplace laws do not simply protect pregnant women and mothers. They also encourage women to have children and build their careers simultaneously. From the planning stages to the time after the baby is born, Israeli society provides much support for a family to thrive.

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Israel is a family-oriented society, offering special benefits to parents. Speak to an NBN Aliyah Advisor to find out what you can expect to receive. Contact prealiyah@nbn.org.il

But after making Aliyah and getting married, Maizels gave birth to her first child as a PhD student at Hebrew University. “My advisor said to me, ‘B’sha’a tova’ (at the right time) and I got three months maternity leave,” Maizels said.

PLANNING FOR A BABY If you’re a married woman without children, chances are you’ve been asked, “When are you going to have kids?” If you don’t have a good enough answer, the next question will be, “Well, what are you waiting for?” Though it may sound somewhat abrupt to the American ear, this question underlines the many benefits that are in place to make it possible for anyone to have children in Israel. According to Daniella Slasky, Nefesh B’Nefesh Director of Human Resources, there’s a well-known story of a woman who was fired from a company only to learn that she’d been pregnant at the time. Because of Israel’s strict laws protecting pregnant women, she legally had to be rehired.

As soon as a woman is five-months pregnant, she begins to reap many benefits that protect her in the workplace. These include 40 hours over the course of her pregnancy that may be spent out of the office

getting pregnancy-related tests. Pregnant women are also exempt from working overtime. “Israelis don’t want to lose good employees,” said Slasky. “Half of the employees are women so they want to accommodate them.” Once pregnant, women have a straight-forward protocol to follow, which includes monthly tests, ultrasounds and follow-up appointments. Women can opt to do these at their local health insurance provider or with outside doctors, with costs at a minimum. “I don’t think I paid a dime the entire time I was pregnant in Israel,” said Debbie Schuval, who gave birth to her fourth child about a year after making Aliyah with her family. “There are a lot of pregnant women in Israel so things run smoothly. You go through the process like everyone else.” For couples facing fertility issues, the path to motherhood is often more complicated, but Israel has a lot of benefits in place to make

the process as smooth as possible. While in the US, procedures like in vitro fertilization can cost between $10,000 to $15,000, in Israel, they are mostly subsidized. Women who need fertility treatments also have the right to receive extra time off from work. In addition, Israel has support networks in place to help couples through the difficulties of dealing with fertility treatments. Through the Puah Institute, couples can receive medical and halachic counseling, as well as referrals and support, free of charge. Created in 1990, the Institute offers assistance to individual couples as well as to the public to spread awareness of fertility concerns through lectures, seminars and training courses. Merkaz Panim, a center that provides emotional and physical support to women and couples facing fertility issues, is located off of Emek Refaim in Jerusalem. Founded in 2011, the center has offered an array of services including yoga, reflexology, marriage counseling, and movement therapy to over 700 couples at highly subsidized costs. “Israel is a society of children and childbearing, as well as hi-tech scientific advances,” said Rachel Hain, Merkaz Panim’s founder. “So it makes sense that the organization started here.”

DELIVERING IN ISRAEL Last year, 171, 207 babies were born in Israel. With 27 hospitals in Israel, the system needs to run smoothly in order to keep up with the mothers. In Israel, midwives, instead of doctors deliver the babies. According to Dr. Benny Chayen, the head of the

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Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center in Bnei Brak, this makes a huge difference in ensuring the health of the mother and her baby. While working as a chief resident in a hospital in New York, Chayen got used to seeing all types of patients come into the hospital ready to give birth. While uninsured patients who had not received prenatal care throughout their pregnancy were seen right away, the patients with private doctors often had to wait hours before their doctors arrived at the hospital to treat them.

tors. “They just want to understand the issue, and then their ruling goes hand in hand with our recommendations,” Chayen said. Some hospitals also offer maternity hotels for the family after the mother has given birth. While staying in a spacious suite, the family can continue to receive support from nurses and doctors, as well as three meals a day and courses focused on nursing, nutrition, and bathing their newborns.

In addition to offering courses for new mothers, Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center has hospital rabbis on staff whom they can consult with before medical procedures. The hospital also has a rabbinical medical committee, whose members give their viewpoint on medical issues that arise. In his 24 years at the hospital, Chayen does not remember one time when there was a clash between the committee and the doc-

CARING FOR A NEWBORN Unlike in the US, maternity leave is a right that all working mothers in Israel are granted after giving birth. Everyone is entitled to 14 weeks of paid leave from Bituach Leumi, Israel’s National Insurance Institute, and up to an additional 28 weeks of unpaid leave. Some companies even allow women to take off up to a year

“When there are midwives on shift, as well as doctors and even specialists, that never happens,” said Chayen. “Midwives do an excellent job, and there’s no reason for a doctor to do the delivery unless there’s a problem.”

Senja Lauder, who gave birth to her fourth child in 2007 at Hadassah Ein Kerem, a year after making Aliyah from Teaneck, New Jersey, described her midwife as unbelievable. “I had never met her before, and she was so nurturing and caring,” she said. “While doctors are always running from room to room, my midwife was literally in the room with me for eight hours straight.”

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with the promise that their jobs will still be waiting for them when they return. Maternity leave is a time for the mother to focus entirely on taking care of her newborn, without needing to consider the stress of bringing in an income. According to Romi Sussman, a mother of six who lives in Neve Daniel, the experience of paid maternity leave in Israel is glorious. “For the first six weeks, you’re in a completely different state and then you have time to enjoy the little guy,” she said. “I would hang out with my friends who were not working or on maternity leave, go to the mall and figure out where we could nurse there, and enjoy the fact that I didn’t have to rush out of the house first thing in the morning as most parents usually do.” During this time, families also start bringing their newborn to the Tipat Chalav, well-baby clinics that provide community public health benefits, including vaccinations, routine check ups, and health education. With staff that include physicians, dieticians, health consultants and social workers, the clinics are equipped to meet babies’ health needs, as well as provide advice to parents on sibling rivalry concerns and support for postpartum depression. “The great thing is that the level of care is quite high and you don’t pay anything extra for it,” said Dina Katz, who works at the Tipat Chalav in Ramat Beit Shemesh Alef. “And not only do you not have to pay, but you get paid!” From the time the baby is born until age 18, parents receive a subsidy for each child from Bituach Leumi.

The great thing is that the level of care is quite high and you don’t pay anything extra for it. And not only do you not have to pay, but you get paid!”

GOING BACK TO WORK Returning to work after maternity leave can be a jarring experience for many mothers. Not only do they need to separate from their babies for the first time, but they also need to readapt to the workplace. Israel has many daycare options including the Maon, the subsidized daycare for infants and babies, which has hours from early in the morning until the afternoon. The cost per month depends on the mother’s work day and salary. “The Maon is run through the employment department in order to encourage women to enter the workforce,” said Maizels. In addition, mothers are entitled to take off one hour a day from work for four months after they return from maternity leave in order to nurse. Women cannot be fired from their jobs until sixty days after returning to work. Parents also may take off an additional eight days a year to care for a sick child. Many offices offer flexible hours for parents, allowing them to leave at three and finish their work at night from home. “Between email and Skype and conference calling and every other gadget that allows you to work at home, there’s no

reason why an employer shouldn’t be accommodating,” said Slasky. “If you don’t want to lose your amazing women workers, you’re going to want to.” Schvual said that the experience of returning to work in the US after maternity leave was very different than it was in Israel. “When coming back to work in the US after maternity leave, there’s an expectation that everything is the same as it was before,” said Schuval. “People are not as flexible. I always felt a little insecure about taking time off to take my kids to the doctor.” During the summer, there are three to seven kids in Schuval’s office in Israel on any given day. “At my work, everyone is a parent and has two to four kids,” said Schuval. “There’s an understanding that you can’t always do everything. Family is a big priority.” In Israel, life continues after a baby is born, but laws ensure that parents can parent while achieving professional success. After giving birth to her first three children while a PhD student in Israel—and taking three-month maternity leaves each time, Maizels found herself on the job market while pregnant with her fourth child. During her interview at a start-up, she let the staff know that she was three-months pregnant. It made no difference to the company. They were eager to have Maizels join the team. “The culture in Israel is more accepting of working mothers,” said Maizels. “I think it also pushes people because you’re expected to do both, and there are things in place to make it possible.”

LIVING ISRAEL

New Arrivals Meet Nine of Israel’s Newest Citizens

ORLY (18) SCHLESSINGER Orly Schlessinger’s father and grandfather had always wanted to move to Israel and join the IDF, but were never able to. Surrounded by a strong sense of Zionism while growing up in Chicago, Schlessinger decided that when she was older, she would fulfill their dream. After graduating from high school, Schlessinger enrolled in Garin Tzabar, and joined other new Olim who will also be serving in the army and living in Regba, a moshav in Northern Israel. “When Operation Protective Edge started, people asked me, ‘Are you still going? Or will you wait until the conflict is over?’ But that wouldn’t keep me away. The reason I’m joining the army is to defend Israel and the Jewish people.”

AARON BLADY (22) Having grown up in Solomon Schechter and Camp Ramah, Israel had always been a part of Aaron Blady’s life. But it was when Blady visited the concentration camps

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during his semester abroad in the Czech Republic that he realized he wanted to join the IDF and play his part in protecting the Jewish people. After graduating from the University of Maryland, Blady joined Garin Tzabar and moved to an absorption center in Ranaana with other new Olim who will also be serving in the army. “Moving to Israel during this conflict reinforced the fact that I was making the right decision. Just seeing what was happening in Israel— and to Jews around the world—made me even more motivated to come.”

EITAN & LEAH MOSENKIS (25 & 24) Even before they met, Eitan and Leah Mosenkis knew that they were each only interested in marrying someone who also wanted to make Aliyah. They both believed that Israel was the place where they wanted to create a life and raise their future children. With a 22-month-old and a six-month-old in tow, the Mosenkis family made Aliyah this summer. Eitan Mosenkis, who worked at Google in Boston has transferred his job to the Google offices in Haifa.

“Israel is where the Jewish family exists, and it’s the place where we will raise our own Jewish family. Especially now that we’re here, I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”

AMY (28) OPPENHEIMER From working in a New Yorkbased consulting firm to creating a documentary film focused on religion and state in Israel, Amy Oppenheimer comes to Israel with a diverse professional background. She has made Aliyah to take on the role of director of North America and overseas relations at Bat Melech, an organization that provides female victims of domestic violence with support, shelter, and legal services. Amy is also joining her parents and sisters in Israel, who all made Aliyah during the last decade, as well as her fiance, David. “I know that there will definitely be challenges to living in Israel and the conflict is a part of that. It’s an important reality check. I’m not making Aliyah to Disneyland, but to be in a place where I can do meaningful work and live alongside my family.”

KALMAN (66) & BARBARA (65) FEINBERG Having lived in Teaneck, New Jersey for forty years, Barbara and Kalman Feinberg watched each of their children move to Israel. When their eldest child and his family made Aliyah two years ago, the Feinbergs decided that it was time for them to make the move and join their three children and thirteen grandchildren in Israel. Kalman, who had worked in consulting engineering, and Barbara, who had worked in real estate sales, retired and the couple found an apartment in Jerusalem. Having traveled to Israel many times before, the Feinbergs feel comfortable in their new home—and are especially happy that they will now be able to see their grandchildren grow up.

Thinking about your own Aliyah journey? Speak to an NBN Aliyah Advisor to get your questions answered. Contact prealiyah@nbn.org.il

“We always liked coming to visit Israel—whether to tour or see our family, but saying goodbye to our grandchildren at the end of each trip was difficult. Now, we’re here permanently, which means that we can get on the bus and be with our children in fifteen minutes. It’s wonderful to have our family reunited.”

ILANA BARTA (22) Growing up in a Zionist home, Ilana Barta always knew she wanted to make Aliyah. It was just a matter of when. After becoming engaged to Akiva, an officer in the IDF’s paratroopers unit, who had been a counselor with Barta at Camp Moshava, she decided to make Aliyah this summer. Barta packed her bags after graduating from the Macaulay Honors College at Queens College, and moved to Israel. Until the ground operation in Gaza ended, Barta was not able to speak to her fiance, but 25 days after making Aliyah, the couple got married. Barta will begin medical school at the Technion University in the fall.

“When I made Aliyah, I said, I’m coming to be with Israel through thick and thin. I’m here to be a part of this country and this nation.”

JOSE (88) LEVKOVICH Jose Levkovich dreamed of making Aliyah for his whole life. Raised in the Hovevei Zion youth movement, Levkovich survived the Holocaust in his teenage years and later worked on helping orphan survivors reach Israel and on hunting Nazis and bringing them to court. After meeting his wife in Argentina and later relocating from Colombia to New York to Toronto, Levkovich decided that it was finally time for him to make Aliyah. He turned 88 on the Nefesh B’Nefesh flight to Israel. His grandson, who was then serving in Gaza, was allowed out in order to welcome his grandfather to Israel. “People asked me to postpone my trip. But I believe that, as the Yiddish saying goes, whatever will happen to Klal Israel will happen to Reb Israel. I’m the wandering Jew and I have finally come home.”

How Olim Mobilized During

Operation Protective Edge

ven before the reservists were called up to protect Israel in Operation Protection Edge, Olim started asking, “How can we help?” After the three boys were kidnapped, one group of Olim launched a fundraising drive to support the soldiers searching for them—an effort that spurred their Israeli neighbors to get involved.

In cities throughout Israel, many Olim opened up their homes to become collection drop-off centers, where hundreds of Olim brought snacks and clothes for soldiers, and toys for children facing the worst of the rocket fire. In bi-weekly trips, Nefesh B’Nefesh staff drove down south to deliver the goods, making stops at army bases, immigrant absorption centers, trauma centers, and hospitals, where they visited wounded soldiers and their families. When summer camps were cancelled in Beer Sheva, the local Olim banded together with community members, organizing afternoon camps in homes with safe rooms.

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In this time of need, Olim greatly boosted morale for their new community—and for each other.

Support our soldiers and friends in Southern Israel. Speak to an NBN representative to find out how you can get involved and make a difference. Contact postaliyah@nbn.org.il

Starting over in Israel

t 61, Deborah Fineblum, mother of three and grandmother of eight, decided that now was the time to make Aliyah. So, she packed her bags and left Sharon, Massachusetts for Israel. Several months later, she had created a community for herself and met the man she would marry. This is her Aliyah story.

LIVING ISRAEL

WHAT LED YOU TO MAKE ALIYAH RECENTLY? Deborah Fineblum:

Each Shabbat as we read the Torah portion for that particular week I kept seeing a neon green flashing arrow over its letters and hearing a thundering bass intoning: “See this land I gave your forebearers, the place on Earth you were destined to dwell in, inherit and pass to your children? This is where you belong. So, nu, what are you doing still hanging out in Sharon, Massachusetts?” In addition to that arrow and that voice, I had recently slogged through a divorce and was at a place where the prospect of starting life anew in the holiest of lands made so much sense and just felt right. I had always loved being here whether it was for professional or personal reasons, and I had always felt somehow whole here. I began noticing that winter that just the thought of being in Israel (flashbacks of shopping in the shuk or standing on the shore of the Kinneret or browsing through the candle factory in Tzvat) would cause me to break into a goofy grin.

WHERE DID YOU CHOOSE TO LIVE IN ISRAEL? WHAT HELPED YOU MAKE THAT DECISION? DF: I chose to move to Raanana (or it chose me) after Rabbi Ronen Neuwirth spoke at our shul. Afterwards I told him I was hoping to make Aliyah and had a list of possible towns. He smiled and said, ”Take them all off the list and put Raanana on it.” Which is just what I did. It worked out beautifully, as the community was amazingly friendly and warm to me... In fact, I realized that during my 10 months there, there was precisely one Shabbos that I didn’t have an invite for a meal. Or on rarer occasions, that I wasn’t hosting one myself. It’s just that kind of town. I have friends from there that I hope to keep for life. Note: I have been staying with friends in Jerusalem this summer which has been wonderful in very different ways than Raanana and am planning to move to Maale Adumim in the next few weeks.

WHAT DID YOU DO PROFESSIONALLY BEFORE MOVING TO ISRAEL? WILL YOU BE WORKING IN ISRAEL? DF: I’m a writer, editor, journalist, book author and ghost-blogger, which is a pretty portable profession, for the most part. And being in Jerusalem gives me easy access to personal profiles. I’m a stringer for the Jewish News Service in the States and also a frequent contributor to Hadassah Magazine for many a year. In addition, I just wrapped up ghostwriting a full-length memoir of a 91-year-old Holocaust survivor. Hired by her family to record her life, I interviewed her fourteen times for four hours at a time, and managed to gain the trust I needed to both elicit and tell her story, a profound privilege. I’ve won awards for my articles but nothing comes close to bearing witness for a survivor and giving her and her powerful story a voice.

WHAT WERE THE CHALLENGES YOU FACED BEFORE MOVING TO ISRAEL? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME SOME OF THOSE CHALLENGES? DF: Of course speaking Hebrew is a huge plus for a new Olah. And not speaking it is ... a challenge. But Ulpan (the State of Israel is invested in our making ourselves at home here so the year of free Ulpan is the gift that integrates) is both a powerful immersion and a wonderful way to sense your own small role in the miracle that is modern-day Israel. Through it you also meet other new Olim from a multitude of backgrounds.

Sound Bites ”I want to live in the country that was built on pure will and hard work. In Israel it doesn’t matter what background someone comes from, every Jew is welcomed.” - Liz B.

LIVING ISRAEL

Starting Over in Israel

MAZAL TOV ON YOUR UPCOMING MARRIAGE! HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR FIANCE? DF: I met Richard through the J-Wed site. Out of the maybe 30 men in Israel in my age range, there was something about that face that I liked. When it turned out that he knows my son-in-law Gershon from Baltimore and Gershon (a tough judge of character) was suitably impressed, it seemed to bode well for us.

DESCRIBE A REGULAR DAY FOR YOU IN ISRAEL. DF:

When you are a freelance writer, there is nothing remotely akin to a ’regular day.’ It may mean interviewing people in the Old City for a story about fasting or students at a seminary or yeshiva about their experiences for a Jerusalem not-for-profit client, then hunkering down to write up these interviews, which is (don’t tell my editors or clients) actually a lot of fun in its own right. Evenings often find us walking around the neighborhoods, admiring the old buildings and breathing in the extraordinary Jerusalem night air.

WHAT’S THE BEST PART OF LIVING IN ISRAEL? DF:

Thinking about retiring in Israel? Speak to an NBN Aliyah Advisor to get your questions answered. Contact retirement@nbn.org.il

LIVING ISRAEL

Hands down, it’s living every day in the land G-d promised our forefathers, working together toward the goal of being the people we swore we would be and just having a bit of the way to go till we get there....If you are wanting to be where Jewish history is being written and be a part of that writing, to throw your life and the life of your family into that exciting and dramatic destiny, this is the place.

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10 Reasons We Love Celebrating the Chagim in Israel

uring the weeks leading up to the Jewish holidays, all of Israel becomes wrapped up in their preparations. We asked Olim what they love most about celebrating the Chagim in Israel. Here’s how they responded:

That you hear the singing from people’s homes in the streets and see people walking in the streets. -Shulamit S. Magnus

Sukkot are everywhere. The radio talks about Jewish holidays and the newspapers have special holiday sections. -Reva Van Leeuwen

I love the community celebrations during holidays in Israel. -Dovid Singer

The weather. -Ben Stern

I love feeling like a part of history while making history. -Jessica Rozental

No school! -Itamar Gnatt

That in order to receive the wish of a chag sameach, one only needs to glance at a Coke bottle or the electronic banner of a passing bus. -Jody Werner Parente

Just being in a place where everyone is celebrating, regardless of level of religious observance. The holidays are national and you feel it. -Erica Kane

That I’m not weird or different. I’m part of the entire country. I don’t have to explain why I’m taking the day off or why I don’t have a Christmas tree. It feels great to be part of one big family in Israel. -Lauren Helfand

I love that Jewish holidays with deep biblical roots are truly celebrated as a nation. People’s approaches are vastly different, but everyone knows it is a holiday, and revels in it! -Sara Lapping

Life Insurance in Israel… the American Way Donny Fein explains how acquiring American life insurance prior to Aliyah will save you money and widen your options.

What’s the advantage of having an American life insurance policy rather than an Israeli one?

DF:

An American life insurance policy is fixed. That means that if you buy in at a young age, the price will stay incredibly low for the entire term period. In contrast, Israeli policies go up in price every year until age 75 -- making them drastically more expensive in the long run. There are also more options in terms of the types of policies you can buy. In the U.S. there are term options as well as permanent/whole life insurance options.

Q: DF:

Why is it even better to buy the insurance before you make Aliyah?

Buying life insurance before you make aliyah will save you a lot of money. If you decide you want American life insurance once you’re already living in Israel, you will have fewer companies to choose from. In contrast, if you purchase it while still living in the States, you get to pick from the top twenty companies.

Q: DF:

What do you love about living in Israel?

I’m a tremendous advocate of Aliyah. I have a deep connection to the land and kiss the soil every time I come back from a trip abroad! Since I moved here, I’ve taken up mountain biking and running which enables me to explore the beautiful and diverse Israeli landscape at a whole new level. ________________________________

Donny Fein, of DF Life Insurance – a subsidiary of Sossin Financial Group based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida – is an independent life insurance agent offering American life insurance policies to American Olim and Israeli residents. Originally from Brooklyn, Donny lived with his wife and four boys in Long Island prior to their Aliyah in 2009.

OVER 10 YEARS OF NEFESH B’NEFESH ALIYAH

40,000 Olim 3,800 Pioneers

to Israel’s Periphery

183

Communities throughout Israel

5,000 Oleh Soldiers

680

Scientists & Medical Professionals

Chartered Aliyah Flights

90%

Over Retention rate

700 Marriages

4,500

Babies born

440 510 Educators

Physicians & Psychologists

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