Making Aliyah | igoogledisrael.com

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, [...]

March 08, 2010 | Simona | Comments 6

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 [...]

March 06, 2010 | Lauren | Comments 0

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, [...]

February 20, 2010 | Ashley | Comments 0

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 [...]

February 18, 2010 | Simona | Comments 2

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.” [...]

February 09, 2010 | Lauren | Comments 2

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 [...]

February 06, 2010 | Simona | Comments 0

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? [...]

February 02, 2010 | Lauren | Comments 0

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 [...]

January 25, 2010 | Lauren | Comments 2

Lauren’s story of how she made aliyah to Israel

Time for another new columnist to be launched into the realms of super-stardom, we thinks! Welcome to the world of Lauren, originally from the US, who describes how and why she gave up the good life back home to make aliyah to Israel, and what it’s like living in the Holy Land for a newbie…if [...]

January 19, 2010 | Lauren | Comments 4

Israeli celebs - not such a big deal after all

My friend twisted my arm to make sure I was watching with bated breath, as she was. We watched in awe as he rode by, pedaling his shiny new bike, dreadlocks flying. I remember feeling ecstatic as I realized who it was. Israeli singer Idan Raichel was traveling down Ben Gurion St., signature head covering [...]

January 17, 2010 | Simona | Comments 4

Ten Israeli Fashion Inspirations from 2009

You might say that living among a different people, a different language, a different culture for 2 years now is what has inspired this American-born girl here in Israel. But really, it was the fashion! From smartly dressed celebs to street fashion galore, here’s what stylish pieces, places, and people have inspired me style-wise [...]

January 03, 2010 | Simona | Comments 7

A (First) Year in the Life of an Oleh Chadash

‘Tis the season. For looking back and Top Ten lists, I mean. Especially this year, as we say good riddance bye to the aughts. I’ll spare you my thoughts on the decade, because you’ve probably read a jillion recaps already and plus, it doesn’t make sense for this column. Most of [...]

December 27, 2009 | Scott | Comments 8

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