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 52-826-8286
Leket Israel - Nation's Food Bank - https://www.leket.org/en/about-leket/

Follow David on IG @aliyah_stories for pics and tips on day to day life in Israel.
Please comment and subscribe for upcoming episodes!

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 upcoming episodes!
 

In this premiere episode, David discusses his background and why he has chosen to become an immigrant to Israel (an 'Oleh') and start the immigration process (make 'Aliyah'). You also get an Israeli word of the day and a preview of future episodes. 

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 Levine
IG: @aliyah_stories
www.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 Lightboat Media 
IG: @Oleh_atlarge,  @Levineatlarge
www.lightboat.media

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 @levineatlarge or @oleh_atlarge or LinkedIn. 

Yom Hazikaron, or Remembrance Day, is the Israeli day to remember the fallen soldiers and victims of terror. Join David in his first one, at a special memorial service at Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem, sponsored by the Michael Levin Base. Speakers included the mother of fallen lone soldier Rose Lubin and the parents of hostage Omer Neutra.

Michael Levin Base: Charity that supports lone soldiers, but also lone b’not sheirut (young women carrying out national service, ‘Sheirut Leumi’) from both Israel and abroad. We aim to provide practical and emotional support for these young adults, as well as assistance to their families throughout the world. #yourhomebase
Support the base: https://causematch.com/thebase-donate

Omer Nutra: https://www.timesofisrael.com/taken-captive-omer-neutra-long-island-born-natural-leader/
@bringomerhome

Rose Lubin: https://www.timesofisrael.com/staff-sgt-rose-lubin-21-fought-hamas-in-south-fell-in-jerusalem/

IG: @levineatlarge
A Dellett Production for Lightboat Media
www.lightboat.media

It's Eurovision Night and I'm heading into Tel Aviv to watch the Grand Finals! Here's the quick lowdown on Israeli contestant Eden Golan and her incredible song "Hurricane" - against a LOT of hate, Eden crushed the semi-finals and has a chance at taking the prize! 

Eurovision: https://eurovision.tv/event/malmo-2024
Eden Golan: https://eurovision.tv/participant/eden-golan-2024

IG: @Levineatlarge
Dellett Production for Lightboat Media
www.lightboat.media

What’s Holocaust Remembrance Day like in Israel? Find out as David experience’s his first in Israel as the journey to becoming a citizen of Israel continues, including a visit to Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Museum. 

Here are some of the links referenced in the episode. 

Yom Hoshoah Siren 2024:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU-Bo3mlPCw

Yad Vashem:

https://www.yadvashem.org/index.html

Broadcast of Torchlighting Ceremony:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QTVPL5sbFY

Please subscribe and thanks for listening. 
IG: @levineatlarge
Dellett Production for Lightboat Media
www.lightboat.media

In this episode, I chat with Yoni Cooper, my Aliyah Advisor from Nefesh B'Nefesh (NBN) the main organization that helps North Americans make Aliyah (immigration to Israel). You'll hear about the requirements and the services NBN offers new olim (immigrants), and Yoni's Aliyah Story.
For more information about Nefesh B'Nefesh please visit nbn.org.il
Thanks for listening and subscribe for weekly episodes. 

IG: Levineatlarge
www.lightboat.media
Dellett Production for Lightboat Media

In this episode, David discussed the Law of Return as the basis for his aliyah, and some of the key elements to begin the process, including receiving a letter from a Rabbi. 

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/

Mark Shinar: https://www.markshinar.com/; Facebook - Mark Shinar

Times of Israel: https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/author/mark-shinar/

Havruta: https://havruta.org.il/en/%d7%93%d7%a3-%d7%94%d7%91%d7%99%d7%aa-english/

Produced by Dellet Studios for Lightboat Media

Social Media Coordinator: Tehilah Simantov

Edited and Mixed by: Yazek Shrem

www.lightboat.media

IG: @aliyah_stories

© Lightboat Media Ltd. 

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.co.il/

Instagram: @aliyah_stories

Produced by Dellet Studios for Lightboat Media

Social Media Coordinator: Tehilah Simantov

Edited and Mixed by: Yazek Shrem

www.lightboat.media

© Lightboat Media Ltd. 

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://themichaellevinbase.org/ 

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.labayitgifts.com/
- Bamba at Trader Joe's - https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/bamba-peanut-snacks-058373

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 community
https://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 donuts
We 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