In this episode of the Aliyah Story podcast, we explore how recovery didn’t just change Eric Levitz’s life — it gave him a mission that could only be built in Israel. Eric, the founder of AZ House Jerusalem, shares how his own near-death battle with addiction and his experience in a free, donation-based recovery center in Cleveland shaped everything he would later build in Israel. Arriving in Israel with no Hebrew, no money, and no plan, Eric followed what he describes as a faith-based ...

Tynan McArthur wasn't very satisfied with his career as a dentist in Johannesburg, South Africa. He made a bold choice to move to Israel to chart a new destiny, and it landed him in a whole new field - early childhood education. Find out about Tynan's Aliyah Story and how he made the transition and found a new direction in life in the Holy Land, with some inspiration about how you too can find a new direction in Israel. Production: Yazek Shrem Social Media Coordinator: Tehilah Sim...

Juda (Yehudah) Honickman is a fierce advocate for Israel, and made Aliyah back in 2012. Juda has a great story to tell, how he found himself as an addict in recovery, met his wife and made the move to Israel to work at a recovery clinic. Juda is a positive force on social media for Israel, and we are grateful to hear about his story. Production: Yazek Shrem Social Media Coordinator: Tehilah Simantov Follow us on IG @aliyah_stories

Comedian Deb Kaye is an Australian-born Oleh, sharing her Aliyah Story. After raising her kids, Deb discovered she had a knack for comedy, and became a stand-up comedian just a few years ago. Deb tells us how she was able to get back on stage after Oct 7, and about the fun and challenges of English-language comedy in Israel. Mentioned in this podcast: TLV Laughs comedy nights: run by Deb https://www.tlvlaughs.com/ Production: Yazek Shrem Social Media Coordinator: Tehilah Simantov Follow...

David is joined by Hillel Fuld, activist and tech leader, who shares his Aliyah story. Moving to Israel as a teen, Hillel found his way into activism and the tech world, becoming a leader in both. Hillel shares what he loves about Jerusalem, why its a religious imperative to make Aliyah and provides tactical advice on finding a job in the Israeli tech scene. Follow Hillel at: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HillelFuld/ Instagram: instagram.com/Hilzfuld X : twitter.com/Hilzfuld Linke...

We're back with a new season of Oleh at Large: Aliyah Stories, coming at you from an all new location - Tel Aviv! I finally made the move, and this Season 3 premiere episode is all about Florentin, the cool neighborhood where I spent the summer. Oleh At Large: Aliyah Stories is about my journey ("aliyah") as an immigrant (oleh") to Israel, and this season we also have a range of guests - coming up this season are Deb Kaye, Hillel Fuld, Judah Honickman and more. Mentioned in this p...

The "12 Day War" with Iran is over, but thousand of Israelis have been displaced with their homes destroyed by Iran's missiles. Within days, Eve Balensi formed "Rising Lions Volunteers" a grassroots organization to help mobilize Olim and connect them to the Israeli groups on the ground helping rebuild and help displaced citizens. I had the opportunity to volunteer myself, and wanted to share the work Eve is doing to encourage more support on the ground and from outside the country. Links to g...

This podcast features my very incredible and special niece Ruthie Abitbol, who made Aliyah as a young child, and has grown up to be an incredible woman. Not only is she an incredible mother to three wonderful boys, a devoted wife, daughter and granddaughter, but she is also a volunteer with the Israeli Home Front Command, trained to help out with mass casualty events, such as missile attacks. Ruthie shares what her Aliyah journey was like, and what its like to live in Modiin as a young family...

Dr Mark Shinar, educational leader and Times of Israel blogger, is our guest for a special Pride episode. Mark has become a good friend, and he shares his journey making Aliyah and also coming out once he made Aliyah. Mark has a special voice in the intersection of the Orthodox and LGBTQ community. Listen to a great story of a wonderful man and his family. And of course, a new Word of the Pod - Zorem.. go with the flow! Mentioned in this episode: Camp Moshava: https://moshava.org/...

On this episode, David interviews Oleh Shawna Goodman Sone, founder of Summer Camp Israel, an organization dedicated to supporting the creation of the Summer Camp experience in Israel. It’s not too late to send your 11-16 years olds to Summer Camp, here in Israel, so take a listen and get those trunks packed! And don’t forget our word of the Pod! Mentioned in this episode: Shawna Goodman - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawna-goodman-52a4a9140/ Summer Camps Israel - https://summercamps....

In advance of 'Yom Hazikaron,' Israel's National Remembrance Day, David interviews Shira Brown from The Michael Levin Base, annual host of an English-language event to commemorate the day. Shira shares about her own Aliyah journey, how the Michael Levin Base came to be and how it serves lone soldiers and b'not sheirut. And Shira provides the "word of the pod" - TASH. Find out about: Yom Hazikaron event: https://causematch.com/tmlb-yomhazikaron2025 Michael Levin Base: https://themichaell...

February draws to a close, with a return to fitness! Find out about the gym scene in Israel, what its like to run the Tel Aviv Marathon (well, just the 10K), a special 'pop vox' interview with my friend and recent oleh Shlomo, and how the recent weeks have been with the return of the Bibas family. And the word of the podcast.. "Bamba" Discussed in this episode: - Tel Aviv Marathon - https://www.tlvmarathon.co.il/MenuDefault_en.aspx?Id=8947 - La'Bayit Gifts - https://www.labayitgif...

January is about to end, but Hebrew lessons have just started. Find out about "ulpan" - the Hebrew language course in Israel, and David's first impressions. Learn two more new words in this episode as well - "yofeh" and "mitzuyan."Discussed in this episode: - Lillenblum 7 - the Hebrew language boutique communityhttps://www.lilienblum7.com/- the 172 bus - https://www.tel-aviv.gov.il/en/Live/Transportation/Pages/PublicTransportaiton.aspx

Happy New Year, Hannukah and Christmas! It's been a while since I uploaded an episode, here's a brief update on what's been happening since the last one:- I moved to Holon- I bought a car- My benefits ended :( - I've run into bomb shelters many times- Eaten a lot of donutsWe have two words for the podcast this time - Sufganiyot and Sylvester. Thanks for listening, please like and subscribe, with hopefully more to come in 2025.#wrapped #newyears #israel #bringthemhomenow #zionist

On this episode, Liz Morley shares her Aliyah Story and about her work with Sar El - the Israeli organization that brings volunteers from around the world to help the Israeli Defence Force.Find out more about Sar El here: https://www.sar-el.org/Please subscribe for more about the journey of moving to Israel (Aliyah) as a new immigrant (Oleh) during Israel's most challenging time. Follow on IG: @levineatlarge and @aliyah_stories

Welcome to Ep 2 of this season of Oleh at Large - chronicling David's experiences as a new immigrant "Oleh" and his process of immigration "Aliyah" to Israel during wartime in 2024. In this episode, we visit the Nova Festival site on the Gaza border - hallowed ground and volunteer at two sites, about which you can find out more and donate to here: Shlomi Ohaon Food Truck: Via Paybox - +972 52-826-8286Leket Israel - Nation's Food Bank - https://www.leket.org/en/about-leket/Foll...

Oleh At Large is back with a new season of David's experiences as a new immigrant "Oleh" and his process of immigration "Aliyah" to Israel during wartime in 2024. In this episode, David tackles not one but TWO of Israel's most challenging government offices, the Ministry of Absorption and the Department of Motor Vehicles, and has an absolutely unexpected experience! Follow David on IG @aliyah_stories for pics and tips on day to day life in Israel.Please comment and subscribe for upc...

The adventure continues, as David shares how he was able to transport Dolly, his 7 1/2 year old Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog, from London to Tel Aviv. How many mistakes did he make? A few.. did she get there in the end? Tune in and find out! And check out the new IG profile @aliyah_stories for regular updates from Israel. A Dellet Production for Lightboat Media Ltd. Contact:David LevineIG: @aliyah_storieswww.lightboat.media

In a special episode, just in time for Pride, David interviews Roy Freeman, the founder of LGBT Olim, an organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ people who emigrate to Israel. Hear about how Roy started the group, the reactions he got from the immigration authorities, and all the activies the group does. How will Pride play out this year in the current situation? Find out. For more about LGBT Olim visit https://lgbtolim.org/ Please like and subscribe!A Dellet Production for Ligh...

It was a big week - Independence Day and David's final interview for his citizenship papers! Find out how to navigate an Israeli BBQ, how the appointment went down, how it almost didn't happen and what happens next!Oleh at Large: Aliyah Stories is a podcast about one person's immigration journey to Israel in 2024, for anyone interested in making the move or just what it's like to change countries in challenging times. Please reach out to David with any questions or comments on IG @...