All Entries in the "Getting to Israel" Category

February’s a record breaker!

Wow, another record breaking month for Israeli tourism! They just keep on coming! February 2010 saw another fine month for tourist visits to the Holy Land - in fact, February saw the highest ever number of tourists for a February, ever! Some 222,000 tourists stopped over in Israel, that’s some 46% up on February 2009, [...]

The high street battle for your fashion budget: Castro vs H&M

Many Israelis have always told me that they believe Israel is the 51st state (or is it 52nd after Puerto Rico?!). I heard this story through a friend the other day and now I must relay it to you because it is the perfect example of the “commercialization” and “Americanization” of Israel.
The friend, [...]

Making Aliyah: Paying for stuff (Hora’at Keva and Tashlumim)!

Hora’at keva is the term used for payments that are deducted straight from your bank account automatically.
For example, your health insurance/kupat cholim. Your phone bill. Your internet payment. Your electric bill. Your water bill. I think you get the idea. Pretty much the way things work here is that you need a credit card [...]

Size Doesn’t Matter - a new Israel advertising campaign

Not sure what to make of this advert, which actually promises to be the first in a series by new blog on the block Size Doesn’t Matter. I love the look and feel of the blog, though this little clip is pressing the wrong buttons. Or maybe it’s not…what do you think?

If you enjoyed this [...]

Even more ways to fly to Israel!

So, as tourism to Israel moves on up in the right direction, those of you interested in joining the party have yet more flight options available. Over the last few days, various airlines throughout Europe have announced expanded services, and even new flights (the first scheduled flights from Scandinavia to Israel!), between Europe and the [...]

Making Aliyah: First steps upon arrival in Israel

When you arrive as an oleh, the first government office you meet with is Misrad Haklita. They have an office in the airport, and when you arrive you go to them. They give you your teudat oleh (the booklet that you use when you use your zechuyot (rights) for things like lifts, a car, [...]

Israeli Fashion: Castro reveals 2010 Spring/Summer Collection

While we wait with eagerness for H&M to get to Israel in March, much loved Israeli brand Castro has revealed its new Spring/Summer 2010 collection complete with its annual Fashion Show which took place early in the morning at Hangar 11 in the Tel Aviv harbor.
Castro, as you may know, is arguably the most popular [...]

Another record breaker for Israeli tourism

I’m not going to say “I told you so”, but my optimistic forecast for tourist numbers to Israel this year looks like coming true. January 2010 was a record January, up some 62% from last year with some 212,000 tourists visiting the Holy Land. That’s quite a nice leap in the right direction…
As Tourism Minister [...]

Making Aliyah: The Flight (part II)

This is a bit more personal than the other entries as of yet. The actual making aliyah—the flight, the ceremony, the welcome…it’s something you can’t really depersonalize.
We were told to get on the flight. So we did—there was no boarding according to groups, seats, rows—none of that. It was “Board when you get there.” [...]

Gap comes to Tel Aviv!

We’re all waiting with bated breath for H&M to open its doors in Tel Aviv’s Azrieli Mall, Jerusalem’s Malcha Mall and Haifa’s Grand Canyon in March, but did you know another big retail chain from America is also making a spot for itself in Tel Aviv?
A huge billboard prominently displayed on Ibn Gvirol (central street [...]

Making Aliyah: The Flight (part I)

Now the exciting part: The actual making aliyah…
I actually wasn’t quite sure when I became Israeli—when I got on the plane? When I landed? When I got my teudat oleh? It was confusing for a while, because I had my flight date and details, but I hadn’t actually made aliyah so was I an olah? [...]

Beginning the Aliyah Process

So continuing on with the aliyah process…
There is a lot that has to be done before you actually MAKE aliyah. There are applications to fill out, forms to give in, pictures to take, letters and proofs of…things (birth, residency, marriage/divorce if applicable, Jewishness). As you know, I went through an amazing organization called Nefesh [...]