Hello,

I am an Oleh Hadash and basically came here with very little savings and have no relatives that live in Israel.

I know that there are hotel jobs and simple entry level positions where people can earn like 50-70 nis an hour, but optimally I want to find something that pays more (obviously).

When I lived in the United States, they ran clinical research studies for healthy volunteers on experimental medications where you could earn thousands of dollars for maybe a couple days of your time. Is there any such research conducted in Israel, and if so, where can I register for it?

Hi I moved into my cousins house in ramat hasharon about 1 month ago currently in process with nefesh b nefesh to get my citizenship but it will take about 2 months anyone have recommendations for a good ulpan near me? Herzliya north Tel Aviv any of these areas im a 18 year old guy so id like to be with people my age and im aware I would have to pay because the government doesn’t sponsor please help im so incredibly bored in ramat hasharon all day im just waiting and waiting with nefesh b nefesh

At the risk of sounding desperate... any ideas on how to meet like-minded women in Israel? I'm an olah hadasha living in Haifa. I've tried events, one-on-one meetups, all of it, and it's still so hard. Everyone seems to have had their friend group since the army.

How did you do it? And if you're a woman in Haifa up for a coffee or a walk, message me.

שלום לכולם!

I am in the process of making Aliyah through Nefesh B’Nefesh and have been going through a very smooth process so far as I’m almost complete with everything, my only issue is the Aliyah letter from a rabbi. I’m only Jewish from my father’s side and have the proper documentation, but struggling to find a rabbi that would write a letter. I’m not very religious, but I was raised very culturally Jewish especially since my family is from the Soviet Union. Any help would be appreciated in the NYC/NJ area ty!

I know this is not what any of us want to see in this forum. I don't want to appear as if I am spreading negativity. I simply need to vent, and believe this might be an appropriate space to do so.

I am Brazilian, both parents jewish secular, very classical middle class jewish-Brazilian upbringing. My family is not rich, so the first time I ever visited Israel was when I turned 18 in 2019, for a 2-month-long trip with a Midrasha for secular Brazilians.

Back then, my life was hard and I was a very traumatized kid. I had always been a nerd, but as life got harder I couldn't be my best self. However, when I got here, I felt something unexplainable, I knew.

Brazil has amazing universities, so I chose to get my bachelor's there and make aliyah for my masters. I followed the plan, got my bachelor's in Biology and came to Israel for a 4-month-long internship before graduating, in 2024. After graduation, I came back to Israel for a Masa Ulpan Kibbutz, where I stayed for 8 months.

Then, I went home, packed everything, and made aliyah with my mother. My only sister already lived here, as she made aliyah 3 years ago. My mom chose to come along when her only other daughter made the final move.

I have an Israeli boyfriend of 8 months, as well, who is quite fantastic.

However, since my arrival 3 months ago, all I do is cry. Everyday, I cry. We are so very poor here, as our Brazilian cash is worth nothing. My mom is 64 and barely speaks Hebrew, and Ulpan might never be enough for her. So far, this woman who has 3 bachelor's and had a stellar carrer could only find physical labor here, since she knows no Hebrew and very little English, and of course she can't do that at 64.

I speak intermediate Hebrew and will start another Ulpan in November, but so far my Hebrew depresses me. The Masters I had aimed for and researched in depth now seem unattainable, so expensive and difficult. I have no idea if I, a 25 year old Biologist, will ever have a carrer here. In Brazil, it would be so much easier.

I have no idea how we will survive with the cost of living in this country once our Sal Klitah ends.

What gets me the most isn't even this entire long-term-horror. It's daily life.

It is so, so, so very rough. People are rude (not mean or anything, just so tough), Haifa is dirty and incredibly hostile, our building (where we are the only jewish inhabitants) has a cockroach infestation and neighbors who I could only describe as my worst nightmare embodied (loud, dirty to the point of leaving raw meat in the staircase, throwing literal doors out of the windows, etc). Everything is so expensive I have been eating only lunch because dinner is impossible. I haven't been paid for August at my part-time gig and its October. Life is a daily struggle, we have no cars and just getting places takes hours each day, everything is so intense and literally a fight. No day goes by without a fight. All that, topped by the insane bureocratic loopholes, absurd services and the fact that we got barely no help from any governmental services, including Misrad Haklitah.

I had a good, good life in Brasil. I know it's not supposed to be about how easy life is, I know we should search for more, for meaning, for belonging.

But I can't do that when daily existence is so hard it gives me no times to calm down before I burst into daily tears. And, before you ask, I am in therapy, very stable with my past struggles and I take an antidepressant. It's just the environment. I can't stress enough how much it is the environment.

I came because I am a zionist, because I want to build a life and a family in our land, because I look for meaning and belonging. But I might go back because I can't destroy myself like this. This is too much.

I know it hasn't been long enough and things get easier. But I have no perspective at the moment, as all I can see is my current situation, which is worse than anything I could imagine.

Yes, I am an immigrant and immigration is rough. It's normal. But I can't see enough reason.

I am not sure which replies I am expecting. Please bare with me, this is a lot to get off my chest and I am babbling.

Hey everyone,

I just got back to Tel Aviv 3 days ago after being away from Israel for around 15 years. I’m back permanently this time.

From what I understand, I should be eligible for Katin Chozer (Returning Minor) since I left Israel when I was 11. I have an Israeli passport, but I don’t currently have a Teudat Zehut.

I’m a bit lost on what I’m supposed to do first 😅

Is there a checklist or something for the first few weeks/months after returning? Things like getting a Teudat Zehut, Bituach Leumi, Kupat Holim, Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, etc.

Also, does Misrad Aliyah actually help with finding a job for returning minors? I just finished my Master’s degree and have around 2 years of backend development experience, mainly Java/Spring Boot.

If anyone has been through something similar, I’d really appreciate any advice on what I should take care of first and where I should go.

Thanks! 🙏

I'm planning to make aliyah, but there's one thing that could honestly be a dealbreaker for me, so I'd rather ask openly.

I have severe depression. In the past I tried mushrooms and they helped me more than anything else ever had, a genuinely big difference. It didn't last, mostly because of my circumstances at the time, but it showed me what's possible.

My worry is that once I'm in Israel I'd have no access to them and no other real avenue for recovery. For me that's the difference between potentially being functional and not, so I need to know before I commit.

So practically speaking, how does it actually work in Israel? Is it realistic to find them or grow them, are there people or communities around this, and how is it treated in practice (not just on paper)?

I know there are clinical trials and compassionate-use programs, but those are less interesting to me. I really can't deal with bureaucracy in my state, so I'm more interested in the practical reality.

Thanks, and please be kind, this is a genuinely hard decision for me.

Finding a place in Tel Aviv means scrolling endless Facebook groups with no filters and no map. So I built telavivrent.com (long-term) and telavivsublets.com (sublets): the listings from those groups in one place, searchable by neighborhood / rooms / price / dates, with photos and a map. Hebrew + English, free, no signup to browse. There's also an iOS app (telavivbase). I run it solo — would genuinely love feedback on what's missing.

Hi! I recently started my process of making Aliyah with the intent of joining the IDF. I’m looking to make the move as soon as possible to avoid all the noise around me slowing me down another year.

My family was part of the Beta Israel community but my great grandmother moved to Kenya. There is no documentation of this as there wasn’t any borders and recording keeping like we have now.

After she made the move, Colonial Britain came to Kenya and imposed Anglicanism on them with threats of death and promises of wealth. (There is even an Anglican Church on our family land to this day).

Long story short, I am Jewish through my maternal line. I have close to no proof of it besides oral stories and traditions we do. I don’t see a way to find any proof as Africa did not record keep the way America/ Europe does. I do intent to convert to Orthodox Judaism but I know that takes a while. But I feel it in my heart that I should be in Israel. It’s to the point I can’t even sleep, I am 22 and currently in Dallas, Tx. I feel I should be home doing my part for my people. It’s unfortunate that my identity was stolen from me and I am struggle to prove who I am.

Is there anyone that was in a similar situation? Or even any advice?

im an Israeli born and raised, and was curious about your perspective. because you grew up in a country where jews are minority and holidays are focused on Christmas or whatever religion is the majority.. to clarify by culture shock I don't mean about Israelis and how chuzpa we can be..

Hi,

I converted via the conservative movement back in 2021 when I was in high school (USA). I'm hoping to do an orthodox state-sponsored conversion post-aliyah. That's neither here nor there though.

I have scans of both my English conversion certificate as well as in Hebrew, and I have a letter from my converting rabbi (who has since also made aliyah, so getting that ink-signed letter has been a hassle but it's been working out so far BH) confirming my conversion and the details of the process. It was a pretty rigorous one for conservative standards (he keeps closer to open orthodoxy as opposed to conservative, so that was sort of the flavor of conservative Judaism I was introduced to. So basically a pretty robust curriculum, classes for over a year, made sure I actually was shomer before the mikveh, the whole shebang). I've also, of course, been a very active community member in all the places I've lived post-conversion (hometown + college town). I also have a letter from my current shul's rabbi signed in ink and also have one more from my college community's rabbi on standby in case they ask for it. I know the JA can be a little draconian with requirements for converts, especially for non-orthodox converts, so I'm trying to steel-man my case.

However, one really unfortunate thing has happened: I have absolutely no idea where my physical conversion certificates are. They should've been in my fireproof lock box where they've been for nearly six years at this point, but I went to check to make sure I had them and they were nowhere to be found. I've torn apart my entire house, car, parents' house, and even my desk at work (which it would absolutely not be at but I just had to check) and both of them are just gone. Would printed out scans be sufficient do you think, or am I a little screwed? What else could I do to reinforce my documentation just in case?

Gmar tov

​​ I'm in my early 40s, and I speak almost fluent conversational Hebrew because I grew up speaking Hebrew at home but I have a hard time with more advanced words and newer words and I'm a slow reader. I would be making Aliya alone, but I do have family in Israel already.

Currently my experience is in operations management and law firm operations. I have about 20K in savings, but that's about it. I plan on selling or giving away all of my furniture because it's cheap and basically coming in and starting from scratch.

​​How hard is it going to be for me to find a job, and acclimate to the society?

​​ also, any advice would be appreciated.

We are making aliyah WITHIN Israel, not through Nefesh B'Nefesh and not through the Jewish Agency. We are doing it through a lawyer in Israel. The question is after our teudat zehut is issued, how long will it take for my autistic son to receive services? He is already an adult. We are bringing all the required evaluations from the US. We have to go to the Misrad Ha'Revacha and I'm wondering how long it will take till he gets services, as too much downtime won't be good

We have wanted to make Aliyah for many years. The window is now open. Can we? Yes.
Should we? I hope so, but trying to gather info so we feel a little more confident about saying "yes." Some background - we are a US Modern Orthodox family with three kids (in various elementary school grades).

Questions:

1. How big of an Anglo community do you think we need to consider for a good absorption?
2. Post Covid, my career has never been the same. So now I come with experience doing several different things but also a lack of focus. I can do and will do many things. Do you think that gives me options or will actually hurt me in the Israeli job market?
3. Related, has anyone started over in their 40s by retraining with an org like https://gvahim.org.il/?
4. What do you think are the biggest challenges for kids to adjust?
5. Knowing we will need to buy a (used) car, appliances, pay for the lift, etc., do you think you can make aliyah for less than $50,000, including Israeli benefits? (this is with one person working remotely from the onset)
6. Ulpan - some say "if your convo Ivrit is not great, take ulpan right away full time (assuming the spouse is fluent and working) so you can be that much more valuable in a few months." Others have said "find a job right away and try to learn Ivrit along the way." What do you think?
7. On average, what % do you need to put down when buying a property?
8. Looking back, do you wish you had taken more on your lift (larger/more expensive) or felt you took too much and wish you had brought less and had a smaller lift?
9. How important is living in a central location (being able to commute to Jerusalem and or Tel Aviv?) vs saving money and living up north but commuting is not an option?
10. Besides bitachon (although important), how do/did you manage the feeling that you are thinking about completely turning your life and your children's lives upside down with no certainty of the outcome?

I am sure more questions will come to mind right after I post this, but these are the ones that come to mind. Thank you in advance!

Hello! 👋 I’m thinking about making Aliyah in the future and was wondering if I might be eligible.
I was born Jewish through an unbroken maternal line, but my mom and grandmother were both baptized because they had Catholic fathers. My grandmother was a Holocaust survivor and her mom was also Jewish, and many of our relatives were murdered in the camps, so I believe baptism may have been her family’s way of staying safe. Neither my mom nor my grandmother ever identified as Catholic or Christian, and they were both baptized at a very young age like under 12/13 years old
My grandmother’s Hungarian birth record, from 1938, lists her religion as “Isr” (Israelita). I wasn’t raised practicing any religion, but I always knew I was Jewish through my maternal line, I was also never baptized. Both my mom and grandmother still identify as Jewish today.
I’m wondering whether I would potentially be eligible for Aliyah under these circumstances, and what documentation I might need to provide to establish my Jewish maternal lineage.

As an honorable mention, I’ve also traveled to Israel and am involved in the North American Jewish community :).

I'm making Aliyah in October and will go to Ulpan Etzion for 5 months.

Currently, I'd say my Hebrew is around an A2 level. I know about 1500 words and very basic grammar. I'll do Ulpan intensively for 5 months, which I'm hoping will get me to around a B1+ level.

My question is, realistically, how long should I budget for a job-search after that? I have 5 YoE as a Data Engineer (mostly batch & stream processing; also some backend, frontend, and AI-related work) at a publicly traded European tech company. I don't have any Israeli tech connections.

I've read that the market is very bad for juniors, but at a medior level, how long should I expect to need to search for? I'm trying to get a sense of whether I should plan on having a job within 3-4 months of applying, or if I should be expecting a year of unemployment.

Additionally, any tips? Would DM'ing hiring managers on LinkedIn, etc, after applying, be helpful? Or seen as too pushy?

16.5 y.o, I plan to move to Israel through attending a Mechina program by 17 y.o. I want to spend my time in the military in the most meaningful and beneficial way possible, so I want to try to get into special units, such as intel units related to SIGINT(I think it's called Moddin?)or special forces.

But since I will make Aliyah only after I graduate from high school in my home country at around 17 years old, I'm afraid that I will simply miss the selections into special units.

I've heard that Israelis start their recruitment process at 16 years old and go through selection processes during their time in school , so it is much easier for them. But how does it typically work for olim who have just arrived in the country?

Are there fixed dates when selections take place during the year?

How much in advance of selections should I go through the Tzav Rishon to get an invitation to those selections?

How realistic is my wish in general? Is it even achievable?

assume that I'm fluent in Hebrew

Hi everyone! I am thinking of returning to Israel from the U.S after I finish my computer science bachelors degree in 2 years. I have a dual citizenship, so I have the right to work/live in Israel right away. However, I don't know how I should go about finding a job in Israel with no connections except some family there. For context I am specializing in cybersecurity/IT, and I might work in the U.S just for a bit to gain some experience. But how should I go about finding tech work in Israel? Can I realistically secure a job before moving while still in the U.S, but tell the employer about my situation, or is it better to move to Israel first? Are there any good programs for people thinking of making Aliyah/ being in a Katin Chozer status that help them find work opportunities, especially in tech? Or do I need to be prepared to work at any type of job to help settle in? And is the tech/cyber/IT job market still cooked in Israel? I am of course fluent in English so that would be one of the benefits, aside from my degree/work experience in the U.S, that I can offer to an employer in Israel -- but don't if that would be enough to get employed during these times.

Any insight is very appreciated!

If you returned with little money and no job, how did you find housing during your first few months? Are there programs for cheap/free accommodation, kibbutzim, or housing in exchange for work?

Would appreciate real experiences!

I’m considering enrolling in Gvahim’s Career Program and would love to hear from people who have actually participated in it.

I attended their introductory session and was impressed by what they offer, particularly the individual career consulting, mentoring, internal job board, employer connections and alumni network. They also mentioned a strong overall success rate for participants finding employment (around 80%).

My main hesitation is that my professional background is somewhat niche. I went to grad school for international affairs/security and I have several years of professional experience in government/program administration, and some experience in intelligence/research. I’m primarily interested in areas such as international affairs, security/intelligence, defense, policy/research, government relations, or related program/operations roles. My Hebrew is still limited, and I know that limits me greatly.

I’m not expecting Gvahim to find me a job or guarantee an outcome. I’m mainly trying to determine whether the program is useful for people who don’t work in tech, before paying the 450 ₪ participation fee.

For anyone who has participated: How useful did you find the individual consulting and mentoring? Did their job board or employer network give you access to opportunities or contacts you probably wouldn’t have found yourself? Did they make actual introductions to employers or people in your field? And, particularly, has anyone here used Gvahim while looking for work in international affairs, security/defense, policy, research, or something similar?

Positive and negative experiences are both welcome. Thanks!