Voices of Olim

Navigating Israel’s healthcare system as an oleh

The experiences of olim navigating Israel’s healthcare system— stories that are often frustrating and relatable, sometimes amusing, and at times even inspiring.

|ByBATSHEVA SHULMAN
View of a Maccabi Health Center in Modi'in, on January 26, 2021.
The Jerusalem light rail is temporarily out of service, forcing commuters onto already crowded buses or scrambling for alternative ways to get around.

Surviving Israeli public transport as an oleh

Diving headfirst into the chaos of the Israeli public transport system amid a heatwave and the temporary shutdown of Jerusalem's light rail.

|ByBATSHEVA SHULMAN
Hebrew language (Illustrative).

Lost in translation: the joys of learning Hebrew

Many olim learning Hebrew can attest that they have at one point or another embarrassed themselves profusely either by misunderstanding, mishearing, or mispronouncing a word.

|ByBATSHEVA SHULMAN
Israeli drivers and roads are notorious for being among the worst worldwide.

Deemed unfit to drive by Israeli bureaucracy

Getting a driver’s license in Israel can feel like surviving an obstacle course - it’s not just a test of driving skill but also of patience, resilience, and pure willpower.

|ByBATSHEVA SHULMAN

Bureaucracy battles: how do olim deal with the Israeli postal service?

Another common hurdle that nearly every oleh has encountered.

JULY 25, 2025ByBATSHEVA SHULMAN
Illustration of an Israeli post truck. March 6, 2023.

Bureaucratic battles: The struggles of new Israeli olim at the Interior Ministry

Daily bureaucratic obstacles can really take a toll on new immigrants who are trying to find their footing in a new country.

JULY 16, 2025ByBATSHEVA SHULMAN
THE EXPECTATION that citizens should roam the length and breadth of the country in order to find an appointment slot somewhere to renew a passport is preposterous.

Shifra Jacobs: Adjusting to life in Israel as a young olah

From Manchester to the IDF: a young woman’s journey of aliyah, adaptation, and finding her voice in a new country.

JULY 13, 2025ByBATSHEVA SHULMAN
Shifra Jacobs.

Heshy Engelsberg: A bumpy and painful aliyah journey, but with no regrets

Despite the challenges of daily life in Israel, with his apartment, and the culture-shock of adjusting to a new country, former New Yorker Heshy Engelsberg has no regrets.

JULY 2, 2025ByBATSHEVA SHULMAN
Heshy Engelsberg