My Israel Home

14/04/2026

In honor of Yom Hashoah, let me introduce you to Paul Gruninger, who saved thousands of Jewish lives as Europe descended into madness.

Streets in Jerusalem and Petach Tikvah bear the name of Paul Gruninger, a Swiss police officer who stood as a beacon of humanity during one of history's darkest chapters. In 1938, Paul Gruninger chose to defy heartless government policies with acts of extraordinary bravery, saving thousands of Jewis...

12/04/2026

When my family made aliyah over two decades ago, our greatest concern was whether we could recreate the communal infrastructure that had shaped our family.

When my family made aliyah over two decades ago, we left behind in Bergenfield, NJ, a synagogue that played a central role in our religious and communal lives. We loved our shul, our rabbi, and the close-knit community that formed around it.Our greatest concern wasn’t employment or language. It wa...

27/01/2026

In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, let me introduce you to Moshe (Miklós) Krausz, a man whose extraordinary heroism during the Holocaust had gone largely unrecognized for decades.

In 2015, a quiet street in Jerusalem was named for Moshe (Miklós) Krausz, a man whose extraordinary heroism during the Holocaust had gone largely unrecognized for decades. A Hungarian Jew and leader of the Palestine Office of the World Zionist Movement in Budapest, Krausz orchestrated one of the la...

12/10/2025

A powerful history lesson on the origins of Hakafot Shniyot.

Tel Aviv’s Florentin neighborhood is undergoing dramatic change. Named for David Florentin, a Greek Jew who had purchased the land in the late 1920s, the neighborhood suffered for many decades from urban decay and poverty. Its present turnaround is being fueled by younger residents and aspiring ar...

24/04/2025

24/04/2025

In honor of Yom Hashoah.

Streets in Jerusalem and Petach Tikvah bear the name of Paul Gruninger, a Swiss police officer who stood as a beacon of humanity during one of history's darkest chapters. In 1938, Paul Gruninger chose to defy heartless government policies with acts of extraordinary bravery, saving thousands of Jewis...

03/04/2025

People often reach out to us for guidance on buying a home in Israel. The 1st step is defining your goal. Are you making Aliyah, seeking a vacation home, or investing? Your answer will determine location, size, and other key factors.

People often reach out to us for guidance on buying a home in Israel – where to buy, what to buy, and how to navigate the process. Many already have a preferred city in mind, but if you’re unsure, how do you decide?The first step is defining your goal. Are you making Aliyah, seeking a vacation h...

13/01/2025

The Kiryat Hayovel street signs (countries that supported the UN Partition Plan) made me consider the current global support for Israel. Sadly, the number of countries consistently backing Israel in the UN can be counted on two hands.

We recently closed a deal in Jerusalem’s Kiryat Hayovel neighborhood. As you drive through Kiryat Hayovel and its neighbor, Kiryat Menachem, you’ll notice a unique feature: many streets are named after Latin American countries, such as Colombia, Guatemala, and Panama.These street names commemora...

10/10/2024

While standing at the intersection of Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai Streets in Tel Aviv during the Three Weeks, a friend remarked that this crossroads could serve as a remedy for Sinat Chinam, or baseless hatred, a divisive force within our people since ancient times.

In Israel, many streets bear the names of the sages Hillel and Shammai, who, despite their famous legal disputes, shared deep mutual respect. While standing at the intersection of Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai Streets in Tel Aviv during the Three Weeks, a friend remarked that this crossroads symboliz...

23/09/2024

Since October 7th, grassroots campaigns have taken place to educate the public about our heroic warriors who died Al Kiddush Hashem protecting our nation. The medium used is the humble bumper sticker.

I often write articles about people whose names adorn street signs in cities across the State of Israel, to learn about individuals who have left their mark on the Jewish nation. Nowadays, new names are emblazoned in public areas across our country, and their legacies are inspiring our country.Since...