Aliyah Diary 28: Yarkon River Tel Aviv Judaism
Introduction As a college student, at the interview with an Orthodox Rabbi with the big black yarmulke, I asked if we’d visit Tel Aviv. He said, nah, it’s just like an American city …...
Author: tostien
Aliyah Diary 27: Israel Healthcare Experience
Introduction I consider myself a moderate Republican – Susan Collins being my favorite Senator. If there’s ever anything that could move the needle towards socialism, here it is. Israel has four health care companies...
Aliyah Diary 26 Dead Sea Beer and Ice Cream
Taking Thursday and Friday Off At around diary entry 20 I thought it was time to wrap things up – things were getting more commonplace over here. A little over a month later and...
Aliyah Diary 25: Not cutting me off this time!
My favorite road sign Apologies for the low quality. I have been meaning to take a picture of this sign every time I drive to Jerusalem. For those who don’t understand the Hebrew or...
Aliyah Diary 24: Supermarkets & Highways
Fruit out of Season Shlomo HaMelech (King Solomon) was so rich that he had available to him fruit out of season. I use this as an example so show how rich we are today....
Aliyah Diary 23: The West Bank. (Shomron)
The Scary Place Little more than a mile from me is the barrier to the “West Bank”. Since I moved here, the barrier in my head has also moved: Month 0: “I’m never going...
Aliyah Diary 22: Seeing the doctor as a “Choleh” Hadash and cultural differences
Choleh (Sick) It’s been longer than usual since my last post because I’ve been a “Choleh” Hadash … a play on the term used around here for “Oleh Chadash” which is a “new immigrant”....
Aliyah Diary 21: It’s a free country??
Security in America Entering the apartment building to get to my college housing (not depicted above) with a box of heavy books in my hand – I head gestured over to the girl to...
Aliyah Diary 20: Tel Aviv Art Museum
Introduction The time came to visit somewhere North of Ben Gurion airport for the first time since I moved to Israel. To the right of me are secular communities. To the left of me...
Aliyah Diary 19: Taxes for Americans
Introduction I’ve just passed the three month mark since making aliyah and got around to talking to / finding an accountant before the end of the year. This wasn’t my first concern … it...