Israel and the Search for Meaning
People love to ask, “So why did you make Aliyah?” I have a plethora of answers. Sometimes I like to quote my good friend Avi Schaefer, z”l, who used to say, “Hummus, Goldstar and the Israeli girls.”
Eight Things You Should Know About Ulpan Etzion
By: Gila Harris I was the biggest homebody. I had lived in the same house my entire life. The thought of making Aliyah - leaving [...]
9 Best Posts on Instagram in 2017
It’s been quite a year for Aliyah. Nefesh B’Nefesh assisted 3,633 North Americans to discover greater possibilities in Israel 2017. We thank you for [...]
Northern Profile: Yehoshua and Chana Tibor
By: Hillel Kuttler Cars and delivery trucks clog the narrow, main street running in front of the home of Yehoshua and Chana Tibor. Such [...]
Northern Roundtable: Yokneam Illit
By: Hillel Kuttler On a cool November evening, Ari Teger has dropped by the home of his friends, Ben and Rachel Gould, on a [...]
All Aboard!
By: Hillel Kuttler A wool cap perched atop his noggin to fend off an early-November head cold, Robert Schrager stepped off bus No. 41 [...]
Part 3: Olim Know What They Left in Atlanta
This article is part 3 of a series. Click here for part 1 and part 2. By Mort and Edie Barr Mort and Edie Barr, [...]
Part 2: Smiling Through Aliyah’s Bureaucracy
This article is part 2 of a series. Click here for part 1 and part 3. By Edie and Mort Barr Edie and Mort Barr [...]
Part 1: Our Aliyah Adventure Begins
This article is part 1 of a series. Click here for part 2 and part 3. By Edie and Mort Barr Our efforts to live [...]
Northern Profile: Spiewack Family in Yokneam Illit
By: Hillel Kuttler Rafi and Rebecca Spiewack and their two sons made Aliyah in July 2017, and are happy where they live in Yokneam [...]
Northern Profile: Heller Family of Mitzpe Netofa
By: Hillel Kuttler When Rachel and David Heller moved to Israel in 2012, they sought a Montessori educational framework for their daughter, Adina. Problem [...]
The Draws of the North – This Month: Nahariya
By Hillel Kuttler The 10 people settle into couches, loungers and chairs on an early summer’s night in a living room looking out onto the [...]
Community Snapshot: Haifa
By Hillel Kuttler While it is Israel’s third largest city, Haifa tends to be excluded from conversations about viable landing spots for English-speaking immigrants. That’s [...]
Northern Profiles: Dan and Ellie Schlanger
By Hillel Kuttler Upon entering Dan Schlanger’s home on the first morning of summer, I hardly expected to see him sink his hand into [...]
Northern Profiles: Shlomo and Karen Strugano
By Hillel Kuttler Shlomo Strugano steers his white minivan into the driveway on a recent morning after driving his children to school. He gets [...]
Northern Profiles: Jonathan and Jessica Ben-kiki
By Hillel Kuttler For some people, a spiritual moment precipitated their decisions to move to Israel. For Jessica Ben-kiki, the moment was mundane: the rush [...]
Northern Roundtable: Haifa’s Kiryat Shmuel
By Hillel Kuttler It’s a Wednesday night, between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and several North Americans have gathered in a duplex apartment in [...]
Northern Profiles: Akiva and Tzivia MacLeod
By Hillel Kuttler Akiva and Tzivia MacLeod didn’t bring many belongings from Toronto upon moving their family to Israel in 2013. Most of what came [...]
Northern Profile: Len Pader and Tanya Fredman
By Hillel Kuttler Nine-month old Zoe had just fallen asleep as Len Pader welcomed a guest to the home he shares on Kibbutz Shluhot [...]
Lech Lecha is…
Anyone who has made Aliyah can relate to Avraham being told by Hashem to leave everything he’s ever known and to go to the Land that “I will show you.” There is a level of trust here that you can only understand fully when you experience it.
Northern Profiles: Jonathan and Sarah Kemp
By Hillel Kuttler The previous night’s out-of-the-blue rainfall had soaked their Sukkah downstairs, so Jonathan and Sarah Kemp instead greeted a breakfast guest at [...]
Northern Roundtable: Retirees in Hadera
By: Hillel Kuttler A glorious, early-autumn afternoon blankets the new Hadera development of Nisanim, where several residents have yet to take down their Sukkot five [...]
The Call of the North: “Play Ball!”
By: Hillel Kuttler In 2014, shortly after moving from Toronto to Israel, Marshall Deltoff and his son Periel were entering a mall in the northern [...]
Cholim Chadashim
I want to take a moment to address a misconception I believe a lot of people have about the Israeli climate. Israel has winter. Winter in Israel brings with it the usual crop of sniffles, the flu and the standard homegrown cold. In addition to all the standard ailments, a lot of olim are surprised to find themselves feeling ill for longer periods than they are used to or getting sick more often than they did back in their native countries.
Go North’s 9th Annual Picnic
By Hillel Kuttler A guide at Chai Park had just pointed out Gilad and Chris, two frolicking residents of the orangutan enclosure. Eyal and [...]
Northern Roundtable: Migdal HaEmek
By: Hillel Kuttler It’s late on a Tuesday afternoon, and four-year-old Elisha Muller and his two-year-old sister Gefen sit quietly on a sofa, watching [...]
Northern Profile: Beth and Shraga Hymowitz
By Hillel Kuttler If the living room’s wood paneling, fireplace, M&M’s figurines and Pennsylvania license plate aren’t indications enough of the American roots of [...]
Community Snapshot: Karmiel
By Hillel Kuttler When the teenaged Klaris Slizak and her family moved from Argentina to Israel 30 years ago, integrating was hard. Few services [...]
Northern Profile: Todd and Amy Kesselman
By: Hillel Kuttler Does life get any better than this? This being the imposing, three-floor house with six bedrooms; an expansive dining room; a [...]
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Olim
Written by: Ro Oranim It was my first week in Israel as a newly minted Olah Chadasha and the time had come for me to [...]
Community Snapshot: Pardes Chana-Karkur
By: Hillel Kuttler For many English-speaking Olim, Pardes Chana–Karkur’s appeal lies in its small-town, old-time, down-to-Earth aura that evokes a simpler era, with neighbors [...]
Moving Your Aging Parents to Israel?
Moving Your Aging Parents to Israel? Helping All Those Involved Improve Quality of Life The decision to help move elderly parents to Israel is made [...]
Northern Profile: Kfir and Galia Fisher
By: Hillel Kuttler “It’s just a mile away, so we’ll come pick you up,” Galia Fisher tells a caller who asked how to get [...]
The Draws of the North: Tzfat
By: Hillel Kuttler On a hot July night in most of the country, the soft breezes gracing Tzfat make the third-floor porch in Efrayim [...]
Acclimate, Integrate & Thrive in Israel!
We sat down and spoke with Nefesh B'Nefesh's Benji Davis about Aliyah and the amazing resources available for new Olim. NBN: Tell us about yourself [...]
Try It, You’ll Like It
"Try it, you’ll like it” went the famous 1971 commercial for Alka Selzer. Gary and Rose Scharlat, who made Aliyah in 2015, put this advice [...]
Paging Dr. Google
Rachel Oranim made Aliyah with Nefesh B'Nefesh in 2012. She currently lives with her husband in Jerusalem and bakes the most delicious cupcakes! In our [...]
With Love and Gratitude
M. Burg, an Olah living in the center of Israel, is grateful and joyous to be living in her homeland From the moment the Pesach dishes are stored [...]
5 Ways to Prepare Your Family for Aliyah
Dr. Aviva Goldstein is an educational consultant and family counselor. Her private practice focuses on child and adolescent development, parenting and family cohesion. After making Aliyah [...]
A Call to Imagine Greater
It all begins with our ability to imagine things differently, to challenge the immutability of the status quo. And then to build a plan for success.
Michael Schachter: Puzzle Master
It is the year 1172, and we find ourselves in Cairo, working together with the famous scholar and doctor, Maimonides. Being the personal doctor to [...]
Writing Your Israeli Resume: The Do’s and Don’ts
Writing Your Israeli Resume: The Do’s and Don’ts Melissa Lousky Bienenfeld When writing your first Israeli resume (or CV – they are the same thing [...]
Creating the Perfect Profession
If you happen to be strolling around the downtown streets of Jerusalem, you may run into Tovah Presser’s studio. Tovah is a glass artist and ceramicist, who is following her passion of ceramics and glasswork, and making it her career.
From NGO to Startup Pro
Who doesn’t guiltily sit in front of their computer every now and them to take a “Which Ice Cream Flavor Are You?” type-quiz? These bites of online entertainment have become a fun part of our everyday lives as we interact on social media. Little do we know- Playbuzz, an Israeli startup, is the format creator of much of this style’s online content we interact with on a daily basis!
From Typist to Teacher
Let’s face it. In this day and age, if you can’t use a computer, it’s hard to get by! Although the concept of technology may be easy for some, for many elderly people, it is hard to wrap their head around. Rochelle Gilbert has decided to change that one client at a time. Travelling around Jerusalem, Rochelle offers private computer lessons, mainly to elderly citizens.
Baking Her Way to Sweet Success
Baking cakes may sound easy, but wait until you see the creations of Devorah Altman, and you will think twice! Devorah transformed her home in Bet Shemesh into “The Kosher Cakery,” a bakery that provides customized cakes, cupcakes and cookies to people across Israel. Think “Ace of Cakes” with a Middle Eastern twist-- The Kosher Cakery bakes up people’s dreams with delicious cakes, frostings, and elaborate decorations!
Marsea Modest Swimwear
Work... Making it Work! Career Building Inspiration A blog from the Nefesh B'Nefesh Employment Department Marsea Modest Swimwear Name: Marci Rapp Originally from: Toronto, [...]
WeWork Be’er Sheva
I am not a hi-tech person at all but every time I go to the Gav-Yam Advanced Technologies Park in Be’er Sheva, I am truly inspired. Just from the parking lot I get views of the lovely residential neighborhood of Ramot, the impressive Negev Brigade Memorial, and the recently completed bridge connecting the park to the train station and Ben Gurion University. I find it amazing that I’ve watched an area go from nothing to something before my very eyes.
Yom Siddurim – Addressing the Challenges Faced by Lone Soldiers
The vision that comes to mind when one thinks of a soldier in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is usually bold and heroic. Young men and women bravely defending their homeland and the future of the Jewish people.
7 Reasons to be Thankful for Living in Israel
Thanksgiving is a great opportunity to take a couple of minutes and reflect on some of the things we are thankful for – above and beyond just getting to live in our Homeland!
The Last First Kita Alef
The waning days of summer in Israel are a flurry of activity. Last minute camping adventures and hikes through crisp, shady rivers begin to give [...]
An Aliyah Full Circle
Have you ever looked forward to something that you figured would happen one day, playing and replaying the potential scenes in your head? This morning, [...]
Aliyah-versary Financial Checkup
Happy Aliyah-versary! You’ve made it through your first year! Now… it’s time for that first year financial “checkup,” and to move from adjusting to thriving [...]
Life without Cruise Control
Marc RosenbergNBN, Director of Pre-Aliyah Every Oleh/Olah has those things they miss from their lives in North America. It is just a fact [...]
From Law School to “LinguistIt”
Overlooking the quiet streets of Modiin, Sarah Davis sits in her office with two side-by-side screens in front of her. She vigorously types - eyes on one computer, fingers flying on the other, as pages of words are pumped out onto her screen. Petite and soft-pitched, some mistakenly think she is “too young,” or “non-credible…” But take a minute to sit with Sarah and you will see that she is nothing of the sort!
Overheard at JFK Aliyah Chartered Flight Boarding
32 families, 95 children, 53 singles, and 12 IDF Lone Soldiers are ready to board their Aliyah flight. Here is some of the excitement and [...]
From Synagogues to Millionaires
From the hi-tech and academic hub of Israel’s north, meet Maurice Ross- the Special Donor Relations Coordinator for the Technion. Smart, sweet, personable, and articulate- it is no wonder he has successfully integrated in his field of non-profit, post-fundraising support.
Cooking Up Success!
If you are an aspiring chef, or even just a finger-licking, lover of food, culinary expert or private chef, Zissie Spivak is the woman you want to meet!
From Selling Phones to Selling Homes
Work... Making it Work! Career Building Inspiration A blog from the Nefesh B'Nefesh Employment Department From Selling Phones to Selling Homes Meet the [...]
Paul the PC Guy
Paul the PC GUY’s website reads, “Meet Paul, the PC Guy (and, hard as it is to believe, he is even friendlier than he looks!)” His website is true to its word- Paul is truly a friendly, personable guy, with a cool brand and a great business! It is no wonder he has found small-business success working with people by servicing their PC computers throughout Jerusalem.
Galloping Her Way to Success
Work... Making it Work! Career Building Inspiration A blog from the Nefesh B'Nefesh Employment Department Galloping Her Way to Success This woman's seriously [...]
The A, B, C’s of Transferring your Career to Israel
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From Blood Tests to Blogging
Starting from scratch, Shirley had to think of new assets and skills, as well as an entirely new profession to pursue. She traded in her stethoscope and thermometer to develop blogging and content marketing skills.
Living in the Now, Out Loud
Marc RosenbergNBN, Director of Pre-Aliyah Journalist David Horovitz wrote an interesting book in 2000, A Little Too Close to God. He retells a fascinating [...]
I Have No Other Country
Laura Ben David. Formerly the head of social media at Nefesh B'Nefesh, Laura recently started her own business, LBD Creative You know those [...]
“No” is Just the Start of Negotiations
Marc Rosenberg, NBN Director of Pre-Aliyah[/caption]One of the biggest lumps that Israel takes from visitors is often the lack of customer service. You will [...]
Coming to Israel with tons of professional experience? Here are 5 ways to land a job!
Rachel Berger NBN Director of Post Aliyah Making Aliyah with years of experience in your field can be a great thing — you [...]
Keeping it in the Honeymoon Phase
Maya Liss, NBN Aliyah Advisor It happened. I just celebrated my fourth Aliyahversary. After spending a year and half in Israel I decided to [...]
8 Awesome Things To Do In Tel Aviv During Chanukah
Sara Klaben, Founder of Nativertravel.com Chanukah is here and it’s time to celebrate with holiday parties, fried Jewish delicacies, and overall “simcha.” You don’t [...]
Starting Your Own Business in Israel: Real Life Examples
Rachel Berger NBN Director of Post Aliyah Most Anglo Olim follow this path: They arrive in Israel. They network. They land a job. [...]
When Do You Stop Calling Yourself an Oleh Chadash?
Marc Rosenberg, NBN Director of Pre-Aliyah When do you stop referring to yourself as an Oleh Chadash? It’s a good question, one that [...]
Ani Lo Maveen Ibrit
Marc Rosenberg, NBN Director of Pre-Aliyah As an Aliyah professional, I am often asked what is the most important skill to integrating – [...]
5 Resources for Developing your Career in Israel
Rachel Berger NBN Director of Post Aliyah Finding a job that’s right for you is integral to making you feel at home [...]
The Long Road Home
It has been a long road, both literally and figuratively, to our aliyah -- to home.
