Resources
Everything here is browsable by anyone. If you have told us about your situation we move the relevant things up and say why, but we never hide the rest.
Theme
Kind
Language
Responsible ministry
235 resources
- CalculatorAliyah and IntegrationWe maintain this
Sal Klita estimator
Estimates your absorption basket from the 2026 rate table, itemised, with the source and check date on every line. Tells you plainly where a figure is missing rather than guessing it.
By AliyahuChecked 2026-07-21 - GuideExternal
A weekly practical olim column
Bituach Leumi, Israeli real estate, aliyah after 50, retirement economics and what to pack, sell or store. Consistent through 2026 and free.
The author co-founded a paid aliyah advisory, so the column doubles as marketing for it. The writing is genuinely useful and the commercial interest is real. Both are true.
By The Times of Israel BlogsChecked 2026-08-03 - OrganisationExternalpaid
AACI
Running since 1951 and open to any English speaker regardless of where you came from. Covers health funds, renting and buying, government offices, driving and retirement planning.
By AACIChecked 2026-08-04 - OrganisationExternalfreemium
AACI
The Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel, a long-running membership organisation supporting Anglo olim with services and community.
By AACIChecked 2026-08-04 - DirectoryExternal
AACI accountants directory
Around eight firms specialising in US and Israeli tax preparation and FBAR, curated by AACI. Community-curated, so a filter for the dual-system niche rather than a licence register.
By AACIChecked 2026-08-05 - DirectoryExternal
AACI lawyers directory
Lawyers by region (Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and centre, Haifa and north), showing where each is admitted to practise. Community-curated by AACI, a starting point to be checked against the Bar register.
By AACIChecked 2026-08-05 - OrganisationExternalfreemium
AACI: Americans and Canadians in Israel
Founded in 1951 and open to all English speakers regardless of origin, religion or politics. Jerusalem headquarters, plus branches.
By AACIChecked 2026-07-27EN, HE - OrganisationThe Jewish AgencyExternal
Absorption centres (merkaz klita)
There are 18 centres, but 13 serve Ethiopian olim specifically, so only about five general centres take roughly 2,000 olim a year. Places are far tighter than the headline number suggests.
By The Jewish Agency for IsraelChecked 2026-07-27EN, HE, FR, ES, RU, PT - GuideAliyah and IntegrationExternal
Absorption first steps (government handbook)
The Ministry’s English first-steps handbook, twelfth edition. Its imprint reads 2018, so it predates the 2026 Sal Klita rates, the March 2024 rental-assistance reform and the 2025 degree-recognition change.
Eight years old. Every number in it has been superseded. We link it for orientation only.
By Ministry of Aliyah and IntegrationChecked 2026-07-27EN, HE - GuideExternal
Adjusting your CV for the Israeli market
What Israeli employers expect on a resume and what to cut. The norms differ enough from the US and UK to cost interviews.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-07-21 - GuideJusticeExternal
Admission routes for foreign lawyers
Two paths depending on years of practice abroad, plus a lighter registration as a foreign licensed lawyer that avoids full requalification.
By Israel Bar AssociationChecked 2026-07-21EN, HE - GuideExternal
Aliyah flight luggage rules
Allowances, prepay prices and the cap of five suitcases per passenger. Olim are not exempt from overweight or oversize fees, which surprises people at the desk.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-07-27EN, HE - GuideExternal
Aliyah from within Israel
The guided route for people already in the country, ending with an in-person meeting where the Teudat Zehut is issued. Several exclusions apply, so read them first.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-07-27EN, HE - GuideExternal
Aliyah rights and benefits, all in one place
Roughly sixteen government benefits consolidated with real figures. The single best answer to "is this financially survivable" before you have a date.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-07-27EN, HE - GuideExternal
Aliyahpedia
Nine structured categories covering the whole process. A maintained reference library rather than a news feed, so judge it by revision rather than by post date.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-08-03 - GuideExternal
All About Aliyah
The highest publication rate in the category, several posts a week, written by olim rather than by an agency. Eligibility, first-week priorities, benefits, utilities, and a long run of "is X a good place to live" guides.
By All About AliyahChecked 2026-08-03 - GuideHealthExternalpaid
Allied-health recognition without a degree
Under the temporary Fourth Amendment provision, the Licensure Division may recognise foreign non-degree studies for these four professions, provided the diploma came from a recognised institution and the origin country recognises it for practice.
By Ministry of HealthChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE - DirectoryExternal
AllJobs
Israel’s biggest general-purpose job board, with openings in every sector. Hebrew-first, so pair it with translation.
By AllJobsChecked 2026-08-04 - AppExternal
AllJobs
The biggest Israeli job board. Android app and web at alljobs.co.il.
The Android listing title was opened; the developer and iOS listing were not confirmed.
By AllJobsChecked 2026-08-05 - OrganisationExternal
Amidar
The government housing company. Eligibility itself is decided through the Ministry of Construction and Housing track, not by Amidar; Amidar is where the tenancy is then managed.
By AmidarChecked 2026-08-04 - GuideExternal
Apostilles and document authentication
Which documents need an apostille and the strict order of operations. Quebec documents must have been issued within the last five years, and authentication has been mandatory since 2019.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-07-27EN, HE - GuideExternal
Arnona: the reduced municipal tax for olim
A national benefit most olim never claim, usable within your first 24 months. Each municipality runs its own deadline, so the date is local.
The deadline varies by municipality. Check your own city, not a national date.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-07-21 - GuideNational Insurance (Bituach Leumi)External
Arriving near or past pension age
The ordinary old-age pension is payable from retirement age subject to income, and from age 70 regardless of income. Someone who first immigrates after retirement age falls instead into the special old age benefit track.
By National Insurance InstituteChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE, AR, RU, FR, AM - GuideExternal
Arutz Sheva: olim and aliyah
Free, ungated, updated several times a month and daily during the summer flight season. Religious-Zionist editorial slant, which is worth knowing rather than hiding.
By Arutz ShevaChecked 2026-08-03EN, HE, RU - DirectoryExternal
Beineinu: special-needs support directory
A parent-run directory of services, funding sources and support groups across Israel, the US and Canada, plus parent matching and an equipment exchange.
By BeineinuChecked 2026-07-27 - AppExternal
Bit
The dominant person-to-person payment app, roughly 80% of such transfers in Israel. iOS and Android.
By Bank HapoalimChecked 2026-08-05EN, HE, AR - ToolExternal
Bit and the Israeli payment apps
Bit is close to universal for person-to-person payments here. Background on what it is and why an Israeli bank account is the prerequisite.
Encyclopaedia background, not a how-to. Set the app up through your bank.
By WikipediaChecked 2026-07-21 - GuideExternal
Bituach Leumi for new immigrants
What national insurance covers, when contributions begin for a new oleh, and how registration connects to your health fund.
Written by a private firm. Confirm your own status against Bituach Leumi directly.
By CWS IsraelChecked 2026-07-21 - GuideExternal
Bituach Leumi rights, in plain English
The clearest free walkthrough of what National Insurance actually pays you and when, from a service that also answers questions by phone.
By Chaim V'ChessedChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE - OrganisationNational Insurance (Bituach Leumi)External
Bituach Leumi: the official olim section
Child allowances, disability, income support, pensions and long-term care, from the National Insurance Institute directly. Call *6050.
By National Insurance InstituteChecked 2026-07-27EN, HE, AR, RU, FR, AM - ToolInterior / Population AuthorityExternal
Booking an Interior Ministry appointment
Almost nothing at the Population and Immigration Authority happens without an appointment booked first, including the permanent ID card that replaces the temporary one you were handed on landing.
The booking site returned a 502 error when we checked, which reads as a transient fault rather than a block, and the Authority pages behind it are 403-blocked to automated checking. Unverified.
By Population and Immigration AuthorityChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE - DirectoryNational Insurance (Bituach Leumi)External
Branches are closed to walk-ins
The official branch locator carries a live notice that, owing to the security situation, branches are closed to the public and those holding an audience appointment receive telephone service. Every guide telling you to walk in is out of date.
This is an operational notice tied to the security situation, so it can lift without warning. Treat anything older than a fortnight as stale and re-check the page.
By National Insurance InstituteChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE, AR, RU, FR, AM - CourseExternal
BuildHaifa: Citizen AI
A Haifa reskilling program teaching people to build AI agents, automations and products over 16 weeks, ending in a project deployed inside a host organisation rather than a certificate. Aimed at displaced tech workers, new graduates, immigrants and career-changers.
Founder-affiliated and pre-launch. Listed on its merits with the connection stated, the same way Israel of Gold is.
By BuildHaifaChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE - GuideExternal
Buying a home: the ten steps
Evaluation, negotiation, the preliminary memo, financing, contract, mortgage finalisation, registration and tax. Notes that mortgage pre-approval is valid three months but the rate is locked for only twelve days, which is the real clock.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-08-04 - AppExternalfreemium
Cello (formerly Cellopark)
Automatic street-parking payment, car parks, Route 6 tolls and Rav-Kav top-up. iOS and Android.
The Android listing was opened; the App Store listing and the exact language support were not confirmed on this pass.
By Cello GroupChecked 2026-08-05HE, EN - OrganisationAliyah and IntegrationExternal
Centre for Integration in Science
The Ministry of Aliyah unit for immigrant and returning-resident scientists, with discipline-specific desks and doctoral and post-doctoral scholarships.
The unit page carries a 2023 date, so confirm current desk contacts before relying on them.
By Ministry of Aliyah and IntegrationChecked 2026-08-05EN, HE - Official formJusticeExternalpaid
Checking title (Nesach Tabu)
How to obtain a Land Registry extract and read it, from the Ministry of Justice. Covers the three extract types and how to find your Gush and Chelka.
By Ministry of JusticeChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE - CalculatorNational Insurance (Bituach Leumi)External
Child allowance, 2026 rates
Paid to the mother, into an Israeli account in her name, and enrolled automatically once the aliyah process completes. A further ₪113 per child applies for the third and fourth where a parent receives income support, maintenance, or an old-age or survivors’ pension.
By National Insurance InstituteChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE, AR, RU, FR, AM - GuideExternal
Children with special needs
How the eligibility committee works, what to file and when, and the separate route for adults over 21. Getting the timing wrong can cost a full school year.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-07-27EN, HE - GuideExternal
Choosing an Israeli credit card
Two independent comparisons of Israeli cards, written by olim, covering the fee traps and which cards are worth asking for by name.
Community write-ups, not financial advice. Card terms change often, so confirm current fees with the issuer.
By Blue & White Finance, No FryersChecked 2026-07-21 - GuideExternal
Choosing between the four health funds
What Clalit, Maccabi, Meuhedet and Leumit each offer, and how to register.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-07-21 - AppExternal
CHP
Grocery price comparison by store and by product, with barcode scanning. Web and mobile.
The website was opened; the mobile app listings were referenced, not opened.
By CHPChecked 2026-08-05 - AppExternal
Clalit
The member app for Clalit Health Services. iOS and Android.
Listing opened; real-world English usability is reported as limited rather than confirmed by us.
By Clalit Health ServicesChecked 2026-08-05 - OrganisationExternal
Clalit: the no-English-site trap
Clalit covers roughly half the country and provides excellent care, but its member web presence is effectively Hebrew only. The page named "englishrights" renders in Hebrew. If you cannot read Hebrew, factor the self-service gap into your choice of fund rather than discovering it later.
By Clalit Health ServicesChecked 2026-08-04 - DirectoryExternal
Community guide: where olim actually live
Profiles of the main olim destinations. Depth varies a lot between cities, and NBN is explicit that it does not endorse specific places.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-07-27EN, HE - Official formTransportExternal
Convert a foreign driving licence
The official service page for licence conversion, including the medical declaration form.
By Ministry of TransportChecked 2026-07-21EN, HE - Official formTransportExternalpaid
Converting your driving licence
Five or more years driving: no theory and no practical test. Two to five years: practical only. Under two years: both, and you are treated as a new driver. You are exempt from driving lessons throughout while the foreign licence is valid.
By Ministry of Transport and Road SafetyChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE - GuideExternal
Converting your licence: the practical walkthrough
The steps in order, the medical form, the test-exemption rules, and the difference between how long you may drive on a foreign licence and how long you have to convert it.
By Nefesh B'Nefesh, Do-IsraelChecked 2026-07-21 - GuideExternal
Customs benefits and the three-shipment rule
What you may bring tax-exempt, and how splitting a shipment can quietly cost you an exemption.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-07-21 - GuideExternal
Customs benefits on your lift
The definitive English breakdown of the olim customs exemption. Postal packages of clothing only, sent from 30 days before arrival to 3 months after, are exempt and do not burn one of your three shipments. Items over $75 including shipping attract 18% VAT.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-08-04 - GuideExternal
Degree recognition and the 2025 rule change
Olim arriving from January 2025 apply through the Ministry of Aliyah portal and receive an ishur within 45 working days. Earlier arrivals go via the Ministry of Education. Online health and psychology degrees are usually rejected.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-07-27EN, HE - GuideNational Insurance (Bituach Leumi)External
Disability pension: who qualifies
Four tests. Residency or an A/5 visa, aged 18 to retirement age. Income under 60% of the average wage, ₪8,261 as of 1 January 2026, for 90 consecutive days in the 15 months before the claim. At least 60% medical disability, or 40% with multiple impairments where one reaches 25%. Earning capacity cut by at least half.
By National Insurance InstituteChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE, AR, RU, FR, AM - GuideExternal
Disclosure rules for olim from 2026
The ten-year exemption on foreign income stands, but the exemption from reporting it does not for anyone becoming resident from 1 January 2026. The two are constantly confused.
Tax position is personal. Orientation only, not advice.
By AACIChecked 2026-07-21 - DirectoryExternal
Drushim
A large general job board, strong across administrative, retail, logistics and professional roles. Hebrew-first.
By DrushimChecked 2026-08-04 - AppExternal
Drushim
A large Israeli job portal. Android app and web at drushim.co.il.
The Android listing title was opened; the developer was not confirmed.
By DrushimChecked 2026-08-05 - AppExternalfreemium
Duolingo (Hebrew)
Gamified language practice with a Hebrew-from-English course. iOS, Android and web.
By DuolingoChecked 2026-08-05 - OrganisationExternal
Electricity: transfer the account on day one
Opening or transferring an Israel Electric Corporation account. Consumption is billed every two months. Emergency and service line 103.
By Israel Electric CorporationChecked 2026-08-04 - OrganisationExternal
Employment and recruitment services for olim
Placement support, employer connections and sector guidance, at no cost. One of the most concrete free services in the whole pipeline.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-07-21 - OrganisationExternal
Employment services and career retraining
The employment hub: CV adaptation, recruitment submission and short-term training programmes aimed at getting olim into Israeli roles faster.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-07-27EN, HE - DirectoryExternal
English listing sites and housing groups
Consolidated map of where listings live, split English versus Hebrew, plus roughly 30 city housing Facebook groups. English options named: Janglo, OnMap and Buy It In Israel.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-08-04 - GrantAliyah and IntegrationThe Jewish AgencyExternal
Entrepreneurs Fund for new immigrants
A Ministry of Aliyah and Jewish Agency business loan for olim, applied for through a MATI or MAALOT centre where a counsellor tests feasibility and prepares the plan.
The only published terms (a maximum around NIS 100,000, a grant component capped near NIS 5,000, a 6-year term) sit on a legacy site served over plain HTTP and are almost certainly historical. Confirm current terms by phone before relying on any number.
By Ministry of Aliyah and Integration / Jewish AgencyChecked 2026-08-05 - OrganisationExternal
ERAN: emotional first aid for olim
Run with the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration. Phone *3201, plus online chat, in English, Hebrew, Amharic, Spanish, French and Russian.
By ERANChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE, AM, ES, FR, RU - OrganisationExternalfreemium
ESRA
Running since 1979 and volunteer-led, strongest across the Sharon region. The antidote to the loneliest part of year one.
By ESRAChecked 2026-08-04 - OrganisationExternal
ESRA: English Speaking Residents Association
Israel’s largest English-speaking volunteer organisation, running since 1979, including educational support for around 250 university students a year.
By ESRAChecked 2026-07-27EN, HE - DirectoryNational Insurance (Bituach Leumi)External
Every benefit, indexed
Illness and disability, injury, pregnancy and birth, families and children, ceasing work, reserve service, old age, long-term care, burial expenses, survivors and the international conventions.
By National Insurance InstituteChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE, AR, RU, FR, AM - Official formTax AuthorityExternal
Extending your customs window
Olim over 18 who were outside Israel for six consecutive months or more during the eligibility period can apply to extend it. The system checks your time abroad and extends accordingly.
By Israel Tax AuthorityChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE - DirectoryExternal
Finding an English-speaking therapist
Listed therapists must hold post-graduate mental-health training from an accredited university and comply with the association’s ethics code. Includes programmes for soldiers and gap-year students.
The directory shows no page date and references a 2023 edition, so confirm a given practitioner is still listed and licensed before booking.
By Israel Association of Mental Health ProfessionalsChecked 2026-08-04 - Official formAliyah and IntegrationExternal
Foreign degree evaluation
Recognition of a foreign degree, which affects public-sector rank and salary. The route changed in 2025, so older guidance you find elsewhere may be wrong.
By Ministry of Aliyah and IntegrationChecked 2026-07-21EN, HE - OrganisationExternal
Garin Tzabar
A support framework for young adults serving without parents in Israel, covering housing, community and the practical side of lone soldier status.
By Garin TzabarChecked 2026-07-21EN, HE - OrganisationExternalunknown
Garin Tzabar intake and timing
Kibbutz-based absorption with a built-in peer group, run on two annual cycles. Solves housing and belonging at the same time as the draft.
The FAQ page itself carries a 2020 copyright, so confirm the current cycle dates directly before planning around them.
By Tzofim Garin TzabarChecked 2026-08-04EN, FR, ES, RU - CommunityAliyah and IntegrationExternalunknown
Gaya
Launched in mid-2026 with an $800,000 grant from the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, built and run by the Nevo Network team.
Gaya now has its own LinkedIn presence, linked here; deeper intake still runs through its operator, Nevo Network. Existence, funder and audience are verified; the full intake mechanics are not all published.
By Nevo Network / Ministry of Aliyah and IntegrationChecked 2026-08-14 - GuideEducationExternal
Gifted and talented programs (mechunanim)
Israel screens most children for giftedness around 2nd to 3rd grade. Those identified join either a dedicated gifted class or a weekly pull-out enrichment day, run by the Ministry of Education’s Gifted and Outstanding Students division.
Availability of gifted classes varies sharply by city, and access runs through the school and municipality. Confirm locally.
By Ministry of EducationChecked 2026-08-06 - AppExternal
Google Translate
Text, camera and offline translation across nearly 250 languages, Hebrew included. iOS, Android and web.
By GoogleChecked 2026-08-05EN, HE, RU, FR, ES - GrantAliyah and IntegrationExternal
Government mortgage assistance for olim
The state-backed mortgage track, separate from a commercial bank mashkanta and available for years after aliyah.
By Ministry of Aliyah and IntegrationChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE - AppInterior / Population AuthorityExternal
GoVisit
Appointment booking for PIBA offices that use GoVisit rather than myVisit. Web.
Referenced via the official scheduling guidance, not opened directly on this pass.
By Population and Immigration AuthorityChecked 2026-08-05EN, HE - GuideAliyah and IntegrationExternal
Guide for the New Immigrant
The government rights guide. Comprehensive on process and mechanics. The edition currently published is dated 2022, so treat any figure in it as needing a second check.
The published edition is dated 2022. Figures move annually.
By Ministry of Aliyah and IntegrationChecked 2026-07-21EN, HE, RU, FR, ES, AM - OrganisationExternalpaid
Gvahim
Subsidised career programmes with mentoring, workshops, employer introductions and an alumni network. Tracks include an online morning course, an intensive evening course, a Jerusalem programme with the municipality, and a tech track for engineers and data scientists.
By GvahimChecked 2026-08-04EN, FR, HE, PT, RU, ES - AppExternalpaid
Haaretz
Israel’s oldest daily still in print, generally regarded as left-leaning. Mostly paywalled.
By HaaretzChecked 2026-08-05 - GuideExternalpaid
Haaretz: aliyah
Immigration demography, the post-2022 Russian wave, Israeli work culture as new immigrants experience it, and emigration. The reporting nobody selling aliyah wants to publish.
Hard paywall: roughly three in five items need a subscription. Worth knowing it exists even if you never subscribe.
By HaaretzChecked 2026-08-03EN, HE - Official formNational Insurance (Bituach Leumi)External
Health fund registration and the 90-day rule
Olim with no income, or under NIS 688 a month as of January 2026, are exempt from health contributions for six months, extendable to twelve while receiving Misrad HaKlita support.
By National Insurance InstituteChecked 2026-07-27EN, HE, AR, RU, FR, AM - DirectoryHealthExternal
Health professions licensing: the index
Covers medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, psychology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, nutrition, optometry and more, plus fee payment and the licensed-practitioner lookup.
By Ministry of HealthChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE - OrganisationAliyah and IntegrationExternal
Hebrew and support for physician olim
Run by the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration. Registration for the physicians’ Hebrew proficiency exam, administered by the Ministry of Education, opened in June 2026, and proof of Hebrew is required to obtain a licence or begin an internship.
By Ministry of Aliyah and IntegrationChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE - GuideHealthExternal
Hebrew proficiency for foreign-educated nurses
You may sit the licensing exam in several languages, but a Hebrew proficiency requirement follows within three years. Nurses routinely underestimate this.
By Ministry of HealthChecked 2026-07-21EN, HE - AppHome Front CommandExternal
Home Front Command
The official Israeli civil-defence app (Pikud HaOref): location-based Red Alerts and life-saving instructions in an emergency. iOS and Android.
By Home Front Command, State of IsraelChecked 2026-08-05EN, HE, AR, RU - AppExternal
HopOn Rav-Pass
Ministry of Transport licensed pay-as-you-go transit, daily and monthly passes included. iOS and Android.
By HopOn MobilityChecked 2026-08-05EN, HE, AR, RU, UK - GuideExternal
How Israeli healthcare works
The four funds are legally identical at the basic level: doctor visits, diagnostics, hospitalisation and subsidised medication. Adult dental and optical are not in the basket. Bring a three-month supply of any regular medication, and note that cannabis-based products cannot be imported at all.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-08-04 - AppExternal
i24NEWS
An English, French and Arabic broadcast newsroom with a free live stream, broadly centrist.
By i24NEWSChecked 2026-08-05EN, FR, AR - GrantExternal
Ideation (Tnufa) grant
The most relevant Israel Innovation Authority track for someone with an idea and no company yet. Funds prototype, IP protection, business development and consultants; salaries and overhead are not eligible. Repaid via royalties only if you commercialise.
By Israel Innovation AuthorityChecked 2026-08-05EN, HE - Official formNational Insurance (Bituach Leumi)External
Income support, and why filing late costs you
Assessed across the whole family unit, means-tested, and usually conditional on reporting to the Employment Service. Those waiting on a disability decision can claim it in the interim. Form 5619, paid on the 12th of the month.
By National Insurance InstituteChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE, AR, RU, FR, AM - Official registerJusticeExternal
Israel Bar Association: lawyer lookup
Membership is mandatory for every licensed advocate under the 1961 Bar Association Law, so this register is the definitive check. Search by name in English.
By Israel Bar AssociationChecked 2026-08-05EN, HE - GuideExternalfreemium
Israel from the Inside
Near-daily essays on Israeli politics, society, religion and the war, written for English speakers who live here or are about to.
Some posts are for paying subscribers.
By Daniel GordisChecked 2026-08-03 - AppExternal
Israel Hayom
A widely-circulated daily, generally regarded as right-leaning.
By Israel HayomChecked 2026-08-05 - DirectoryExternal
Israel Innovation Authority: all programmes
The full English index. Everything except Tnufa and the incubators effectively assumes an incorporated Israeli company.
By Israel Innovation AuthorityChecked 2026-08-05EN, HE - AppExternalfreemium
Israel of Gold
A curated discovery map in 11 categories, with filters, optimised routes and a Google Maps handoff. Web app, with an offline atlas.
By Israel of GoldChecked 2026-08-05EN, HE - CourseExternalpaid
Israel Tech Challenge (ITC)
Intensive developer and data-science programs aimed at people eligible for aliyah, roughly 18 to 30, that launch a career in Israeli hi-tech. Recognised by the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, with MASA and new-immigrant scholarships. A common route for US, UK and other graduates into Startup Nation.
Scholarship amounts and program lineup change; confirm on the ITC site before applying.
By Israel Tech ChallengeChecked 2026-08-06 - GuideExternal
Israeli bureaucracy: a survival guide
An oleh’s account of how the offices really work, the circular dependencies, and the habits that shorten a two-hour visit.
One family’s experience, not an official procedure.
By The Times of Israel (blogs)Checked 2026-07-21 - OrganisationExternal
ITIM: The Jewish Life Advocacy Center
Help facing the religious establishment, disproportionately relevant to olim from the former Soviet Union with status questions. Runs its own Giyur K’Halacha conversion courts.
By ITIMChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE - CommunityExternal
Janglo
Daily classifieds for English speakers: rentals and sales, jobs including non-office work, community requests, free items and local advice. Free to read and to post.
By JangloChecked 2026-08-03 - DirectoryExternal
Janglo job center
English-language classifieds and jobs concentrated in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, running since 2001, with a weekly newsletter reaching more than 50,000 addresses.
By JangloChecked 2026-07-27 - Official formNational Insurance (Bituach Leumi)External
Joining a health fund: routes and the closing window
Register at the Ministry of Aliyah desk at the airport on landing day, at any post office branch, or online. The online route opens roughly three weeks after arrival, once Interior Ministry data propagates, and shuts at 90 days.
By National Insurance InstituteChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE, AR, RU, FR, AM - OrganisationExternalfreemium
Joining Meuhedet
Funds must accept every applicant with no condition on age or health. Transfer via the Bituach Leumi site or any post office. Ages 18 to 18.5 transfer immediately without waiting for a transfer date.
By Meuhedet Health FundChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE - OrganisationExternal
Kav LaOved (Worker’s Hotline)
A hotline, reception hours, a "calculate your rights" tool and legal advocacy for wage theft, unfair dismissal and unsafe conditions, for any worker in Israel.
By Kav LaOvedChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE, AR, RU - OrganisationExternal
KeepOlim
A mental-health and crisis-support movement for olim from any country, with over 500 olim currently in subsidised care, free for lone soldiers.
By KeepOlim in Israel MovementChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE, RU, FR, ES - GrantAliyah and IntegrationExternal
Klita professional-training voucher
A Ministry of Aliyah subsidy toward an approved professional or vocational course: up to 80% of the price, to a cap of 7,000 NIS, for olim within 10 years with Ulpan Alef Hebrew, in high-demand fields.
By Ministry of Aliyah and IntegrationChecked 2026-08-04HE, EN - DirectoryExternal
Kol Zchut: every right you have
A government-backed rights encyclopaedia with a dedicated olim section. Where a benefit exists, it is documented here even when no English guide mentions it.
The English section is thinner than the Hebrew one.
By Kol ZchutChecked 2026-07-27HE, EN, AR - OrganisationExternalunknown
La OLEI
The umbrella body for olim from Latin America, Spain and Portugal, covering the practical and the emotional sides of arrival across a national branch network.
By La OLEIChecked 2026-08-04ES, PT - GuideExternal
Lessons from an aliyah journey
A candid account of what went wrong and what the writer would do differently, including the bank and health-fund deadlock that catches many arrivals.
Personal experience, useful as orientation rather than instruction.
By The Times of Israel (blogs)Checked 2026-07-21 - AppExternal
Leumit
The member app for Leumit Health Services. iOS and Android.
By Leumit Health ServicesChecked 2026-08-05EN, HE - OrganisationExternalfreemium
Leumit for new olim
The most oleh-focused of the fund pages: a named contact, help transferring in without losing rights, pre-aliyah coverage via Menorah Insurance, and assistance locating community health services.
By Leumit Health Care ServicesChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE, AR, FR, RU - AppExternalfreemium
levels.fyi
Compensation data with an Israel jobs board. Web.
Israel coverage confirmed to exist via search; individual pages referenced, not opened, and depth verified only for tech roles.
By levels.fyiChecked 2026-08-05 - OrganisationExternal
LGBT Olim
The organisation focused specifically on LGBTQ aliyah, run by olim who made the move. Also runs weekly Hebrew classes for the community.
A Wider Bridge, often cited in this space, wound down at the end of 2025. This is the live option.
By LGBT OlimChecked 2026-07-27 - CommunityExternal
LGBTQ groups for English speakers
The four city-based English-speaking groups and the community centres behind them, listed by the main pipeline organisation.
The page shows no update date.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-08-04 - OrganisationExternal
LGBTQ helpline and legal aid
The national association, running since 1975, with counselling clinics and an explicit information track for new immigrants.
By The AgudaChecked 2026-08-04HE, EN - DirectoryExternal
LGBTQ organisations for olim
A directory spanning the national association, youth groups including one for immigrants specifically, religious groups, trans support and a Russian-speaking LGBT organisation.
The page carries no update date, and several onward links go to social-media groups rather than institutional pages, which rot quietly.
By LGBT OlimChecked 2026-08-04 - Official registerJusticeExternal
Licensed accountants (CPA) register
The Auditors’ Council register at the Ministry of Justice, the licensing authority. Not to be confused with the Institute of CPAs, which is a voluntary body, not the licence register.
By Ministry of JusticeChecked 2026-08-05 - Official registerJusticeExternal
Licensed notaries database
A searchable list of licensed notaries by city, with contact details, run by the Israel Bar Association.
By Israel Bar AssociationChecked 2026-08-05 - Official registerExternal
Licensed tax advisors register
The Tax Advisors Council, established under the 2005 law regulating tax representation, under the Ministry of Finance, maintains the official register of licensed yoatzei mas.
The official search page could not be opened on our check (it reset the connection), though it is a .gov.il government page and the indexed official register. Confirm it loads before relying on it.
By Tax Advisors CouncilChecked 2026-08-05 - GuideHealthExternalpaid
Licensing as a dentist
Four conditions: no criminal record, dental training, passing the government exams, and citizenship or residency. The 2016 exemption regulations waive the exam for dentists with five-plus years of qualifying practice abroad.
By Ministry of HealthChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE - GuideHealthExternalpaid
Licensing as a pharmacist
Foreign-university graduates complete a six-month Israeli internship before the exam. An alternative route accepts a foreign licence plus certified proof of at least one year of employment, considered case by case.
By Ministry of HealthChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE - GuideHealthExternalpaid
Licensing as a physician
Foreign graduates apply by post, then receive a mailed invitation to sit the state exam. Four routes by seniority, including tracks that waive the internship or, at 14+ years qualified, alter the requirements.
By Ministry of HealthChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE - GuideHealthExternalpaid
Licensing as a psychologist
Governed by the Psychologists Law 1977. Levels are Psychologist, Specialist (including clinical) and Supervisor. Only licensed psychologists may practise psychotherapy.
By Ministry of HealthChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE - GuideHealthExternal
Licensing as an immigrant nurse
Covers recognition for registered and practical nurses separately, temporary permit versus permanent licence, Hebrew proficiency, the state board exam for nurses trained abroad, a consultation line and the "Mithadshim" integration project.
By Ministry of Health, Nursing DivisionChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE - DirectoryExternalfreemium
LinkedIn Jobs
The dominant channel for tech, startup and multinational roles in Israel, and fully usable in English. Networking matters as much as the listings here.
By LinkedInChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE - OrganisationAliyah and IntegrationExternalfreemium
MAALOT business centres for olim
The main hands-on service for a non-tech oleh business, delivered through five regional centres with English- and Russian-speaking counsellors. Workshops on legal and tax aspects, marketing, sales and insurance.
By Ministry of Aliyah and IntegrationChecked 2026-08-05EN, HE, RU - AppExternal
Maccabi
The member app for Maccabi Healthcare Services. iOS and Android.
By Maccabi Healthcare ServicesChecked 2026-08-05HE, EN - OrganisationExternalfreemium
Maccabi, in English
Explains Maccabi’s structure, co-payments and supplemental tiers (Sheli, then Magen Kesef/Zahav) in real English, and its round-the-clock Nonstop call centre with on-call physicians and after-hours home visits.
By Maccabi Healthcare ServicesChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE, AR, RU - ToolExternal
Madlan: neighbourhood intelligence
Neighbourhood-level data rather than listings: actual sale prices, planning permits filed nearby, noise and crime overlays. The tool for judging whether a price is real.
The host is live but blocks automated reading, so the data itself was not machine-verified on this pass.
By MadlanChecked 2026-08-04 - OrganisationExternalfreemium
MASA Israel Journey
The umbrella funding hundreds of programs for diaspora young adults, roughly 18 to 30: gap-year tracks, academic fellowships that can earn college credit, professional and tech training, volunteering, and Dati Leumi / Modern Orthodox yeshiva and midrasha "year in Israel" options. Programs run 1 to 12 months and are heavily subsidised.
By Masa Israel JourneyChecked 2026-08-06 - DirectoryExternal
Masorti congregations
The Conservative movement in Israel, running since 1979 with over 12,000 affiliates.
By Masorti Movement in IsraelChecked 2026-08-04 - ToolHealthExternal
Matching a foreign prescription
The Ministry of Health’s registry of every medication registered in Israel: administration form, indications, leaflet and pricing. The authoritative way to identify the local brand of a drug you already take.
By Ministry of HealthChecked 2026-08-04 - OrganisationExternalunknown
MATI Jerusalem
The city’s small-business development centre. The entry step is an initial diagnostic meeting.
By MATI JerusalemChecked 2026-08-04HE, EN - GuideAliyah and IntegrationExternalfreemium
Mechina programs (pre-academic and pre-military)
A mechina is a preparatory year. A pre-academic mechina (mechina kdam academit) lifts Hebrew, bagrut and study skills to university-entry level, often at reduced or covered cost for olim. A pre-military mechina (mechina kdam tzvait) is a gap-year framework before the army, built around leadership and integration.
Mechina structure, eligibility and funding vary by institution and by your olim status. Confirm with the specific mechina office.
By Ministry of Aliyah and IntegrationChecked 2026-08-06HE, EN - GuideExternal
Medical licensing for physicians
The programme run with the Ministries of Aliyah and Health for doctors making aliyah. Available in six languages including Ukrainian.
A gateway rather than a procedural manual: no fees or timelines are published on it.
By International Medical Aliyah ProgramChecked 2026-07-27EN, FR, ES, PT, RU, UK - DirectoryHealthExternal
Mental health crisis support
ERAN emotional first aid 1201, NATAL for war and terror trauma, an immigrant support line on *3201 or *3207, and the four funds’ own mental-health lines. Emergency psychiatric facilities run 24/7 with no referral, and a psychiatric ER visit is free.
By Ministry of HealthChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE, AR, RU - AppExternal
Meuhedet
The member app for Meuhedet health fund. iOS and Android.
By MeuhedetChecked 2026-08-05EN, HE - ToolAliyah and IntegrationExternal
Ministry of Aliyah and Integration
The central portal: absorption benefits, Hebrew studies, foreign-degree evaluation, the Student Authority and the 0% income-tax reform for new olim. Most services run through the online personal account.
By Ministry of Aliyah and IntegrationChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE, RU, FR, ES, PT, AM - AppExternalfreemium
Moovit
The default public-transport app in Israel: live arrivals and step-by-step transit directions. iOS and Android.
By Moovit App GlobalChecked 2026-08-05EN, HE, AR, RU, FR - GuideExternal
Mortgage limits: how much you can borrow
The Bank of Israel ceilings: 75% loan-to-value on a first home, 70% for an upgrader, 50% for an investor or additional property, and 50% for a non-resident. Total monthly repayment is capped at 40% of net income.
The Bank of Israel site blocked automated reading, so these figures are corroborated from secondary sources rather than read off the primary page. Confirm against the Proper Conduct of Banking Business directives before relying on them.
By Bank of IsraelChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE - GuideExternal
Mortgages for olim
Loan-to-value limits available to new immigrants, and how foreign-currency income is treated in underwriting.
Published by a lender. Compare against other banks before deciding.
By Mizrahi-TefahotChecked 2026-07-21EN, HE - GuideExternal
Moving money and converting currency
How olim actually move savings into shekels, and why the advertised "no commission" rate is the expensive one.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-07-21 - AppExternal
MyGov
The official Israeli government app. iOS, Android and web at my.gov.il.
By Government of IsraelChecked 2026-08-05HE, EN - AppExternal
myVisit
Appointment booking and queue numbers across 64 public offices. iOS, Android and web at myvisit.com.
By Q-nomyChecked 2026-08-05EN, HE - OrganisationEducationThe Jewish AgencyExternal
Naale Elite Academy (high school in Israel)
Jointly funded by the Ministry of Education and the Jewish Agency, Naale lets diaspora Jewish teens complete grades 9 to 12 in Israel for free, in a boarding framework, with a strong graduation record. It is designed to lead toward aliyah.
By Naale Elite Academy (Ministry of Education and the Jewish Agency)Checked 2026-08-06 - GuideNational Insurance (Bituach Leumi)External
National Insurance: the olim hub
Health fund registration and contributions, children’s benefits, disability, attendance allowance, mobility, income support, old age, survivors and long-term care, plus the separate track for returning residents.
By National Insurance InstituteChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE, AR, RU, FR, AM - OrganisationExternal
NATIV
The Prime Minister’s Office liaison bureau that runs eligibility for FSU-born applicants, checking the documentary chain back to a Jewish parent or grandparent. It follows your birthplace, not your current country.
By NATIV (Prime Minister’s Office)Checked 2026-08-04EN, HE, RU - OrganisationExternalunknown
Nefesh B'Nefesh employment services
The employment arm behind the aliyah-flight brand: the job board, career guidance for a transfer or pivot, and the Career UpGrade retraining programmes.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-08-04 - CommunityExternalunknown
Nevo Network
A selective community of olim in tech, 175 members across 26 nationalities. The open door for a newcomer is Nevo Advisors, free time with someone who has done the job search here; the Fellowship is by recommendation only.
By Nevo NetworkChecked 2026-08-04 - GrantThe Jewish AgencyExternal
New York Fund for new immigrants
A Jewish Agency and UJA Federation of New York loan fund for opening or developing a small business, decided by an independent public committee on a business plan and interview.
Terms are from a legacy site over plain HTTP and name a bank channel that may have changed. Confirm before relying on them.
By Jewish Agency / UJA Federation of New YorkChecked 2026-08-05 - OrganisationExternal
Ogen (formerly the Israel Free Loan Association)
Interest-free and low-interest loans for families, small businesses and nonprofits, with mentoring bundled in.
By OgenChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE, AR - CourseExternal
Oleh at Large
Weekly to fortnightly interviews: buying a home here and the mistakes to avoid, army service, switching careers, saving money on the move.
By Lightboat MediaChecked 2026-08-03 - OrganisationExternal
OLEI: for Latin American, Spanish and Portuguese olim
More than 70 years old, with over 20 local branches, covering airport reception, bureaucracy, housing navigation and credential validation.
The site is Spanish only, with no Portuguese or English interface.
By OLEIChecked 2026-07-27 - OrganisationExternal
Olim.Tech
An Israel Innovation Authority backed initiative that sources and matches experienced olim software developers into Israeli tech companies, with mentorship and employer introductions.
A commercial placement service backed by the Israel Innovation Authority. Free to the candidate; confirm current fit and openings directly.
By Olim.TechChecked 2026-08-14EN, RU - OrganisationExternal
One Million Lobby
A non-profit advocacy organisation for Israelis from the former Soviet Union, founded and led by Alex Rif, working on the social, economic and religious barriers this community faces.
We confirmed the site is live but could not open it this session (it blocks automated readers), so verify the current URL and offerings directly.
By One Million LobbyChecked 2026-08-04HE, RU, EN - GuideExternal
Opening an Israeli bank account
What to bring, which branches run an olim desk, and how to ask for the oleh account terms rather than assuming they are applied.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-07-21 - GuideExternal
Osek patur and osek murshe explained
Which self-employed status you qualify for, the turnover ceiling, and the order to register in. Doing it out of order creates rework.
By CPA DrayChecked 2026-07-21EN, HE, FR - AppExternalfreemium
Pango
Street parking, car parks, Highway 6 tolls and fuel, paid from the app. iOS and Android.
By Pango Pay and GoChecked 2026-08-05EN, HE, AR - Official formInterior / Population AuthorityExternal
Passport or travel document
New olim generally receive a teudat maavar rather than a passport at first. A passport of up to five years reportedly requires having spent at least 60% of the first year physically in Israel, assessed once that year closes, and the ten-year document a longer residence record still.
We could not open this page. gov.il returns HTTP 403 to automated checking, so the URL comes from a search index rather than from us reading it, and the 60% threshold comes from Nefesh B’Nefesh and Easy Aliyah rather than from the official PDF. Open the PDF yourself before planning travel around any of it.
By Population and Immigration AuthorityChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE - AppExternal
PayBox
Group-payment and money-transfer app with over 1.5 million users. iOS and Android.
By PayBoxChecked 2026-08-05 - AppExternal
Pealim
Hebrew verb conjugation, root dictionary and grammar, in English, French, Russian and Spanish interfaces. Web, with an Android companion.
The website was opened; the mobile-app details were referenced, not opened.
By PealimChecked 2026-08-05EN, RU, ES, HE - GuideExternal
Pension, licence and remote-work guides
Long-form on Israeli pension and savings funds, licence conversion, working remotely from Israel as an oleh, and bringing pets.
Published by a paid guide service, so read it as useful material that is also marketing.
By Olim PavewayChecked 2026-08-03 - GuideExternal
Planning a pilot trip
How to structure a scouting visit so it answers the questions you actually have. Also carries the ETA-IL travel-approval requirement introduced for most travellers in January 2025.
Confirm the current ETA-IL fee and rules directly before you book.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-07-27EN, HE - GuideExternal
Pregnancy and birth
Care shifts to nurse-led clinic visits around week 12, monthly then twice-monthly from week 32. Israeli hospital births are mostly midwife-run; a private doctor can be hired. Partners are admitted everywhere. Standard stay is two days for a vaginal birth, five for a caesarean.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-08-04 - GuideExternal
Private insurance versus supplemental
Over 70% of Israelis hold a supplemental plan. Private policies add transplants and surgery abroad, choice of surgeon, non-basket medications and no-wait diagnostics. Pre-existing conditions are excluded unless the insurer specifically agrees.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-08-04 - GuideExternal
Purchase tax (mas rechisha) explained
How the reduced oleh rate works on a home purchase, and the seven-year window it sits inside. The largest single sum at stake anywhere in the aliyah process.
By BuyitinisraelChecked 2026-07-21 - CalculatorTax AuthorityExternal
Purchase tax simulator (mas rechisha)
The Israel Tax Authority’s official calculator. Anonymous, no ID required. Every blog figure for the olim brackets drifts; this returns the current one.
By Israel Tax AuthorityChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE - OrganisationExternalunknown
Qualita
The main francophone olim body, with offices in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, spanning employment, rights, education and advocacy.
By QualitaChecked 2026-08-04FR, HE, EN - OrganisationExternal
Qualita: for French-speaking olim
Offices in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv covering employment, rights, education and entrepreneurship. Their own employment hub reports that 37% of working-age francophone olim still have no job at the end of year two.
French only, with no English version of the site.
By QualitaChecked 2026-07-27FR, HE - GrantExternal
R&D Fund
The core R&D grant for an incorporated Israeli company, from startup to large firm. Preferential terms of up to 75% in year one for companies owned by women, minority or Ultra-Orthodox entrepreneurs. Royalty repayment only on commercialisation.
By Israel Innovation AuthorityChecked 2026-08-05EN, HE - AppExternal
Rav-Kav Online
Load fare contracts onto the Rav-Kav card that all Israeli public transport accepts. iOS, Android and web at ravkavonline.co.il.
By PcentraChecked 2026-08-05EN, HE, AR, RU - Official formAliyah and IntegrationExternal
Recognising a foreign degree
The evaluation compares your degree to Israeli equivalents for salary ranking in the public sector. Submitted online through your olim personal-area account.
By Ministry of Aliyah and IntegrationChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE - GuideExternal
Registering your children for school
The registration window, the exam fee, when placement letters arrive, and the rule that every city must place your child somewhere. The Haredi sector applies directly to schools instead.
The page quotes tuition ranges but carries no date of its own, so treat the figures as needing a second check.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-07-27EN, HE - GuideExternal
Rent assistance: how much, and for how long
For aliyah from 1 March 2024, payments start in month 7 and run to month 30, eligibility up to 4 years, at ₪363 to ₪739 a month basic, rising to ₪1,336 to ₪2,239 in national-priority areas, the Negev or the Galil. Earlier arrivals fall under the older, longer regime.
Amounts are index-linked and change; confirm your own figure against the official Ministry page before budgeting on it.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-08-04 - Official formAliyah and IntegrationExternal
Rent assistance: the official rules
The authoritative statement of who qualifies, the three tracks (general olim entitlement, income-tested, and those awaiting public housing) and how it is paid, by the Ministry of Construction and Housing.
By Ministry of Aliyah and IntegrationChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE - GuideExternal
Rental assistance and the periphery uplift
One of the few sources that separates the rules before and after March 2024, and the only one found with single-parent figures broken out. The periphery rate is roughly three times the standard one.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-07-27 - GuideExternal
Renting an apartment: the lease explained
The clearest English walkthrough of the standard contract: the collateral stack (bank guarantee, promissory note, guarantors, deposit), the deposit cap at the lower of three months’ rent or one third of the total lease, returned within 60 days, and the landlord’s duty to fix leaks, damp or anything structural within 30 days of notice, or three if urgent.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-08-04 - GuideExternal
Renting without an Israeli guarantor
The three real workarounds when you have no local credit history: a guarantee company, a bank guarantee, or rent paid in advance. Compare the cost of each before conceding on rent.
By Easy AliyahChecked 2026-07-21 - CalculatorNational Insurance (Bituach Leumi)External
Reserve duty pay, and the back-pay you may be owed
Paid to anyone called up under the Security Service Law. Someone drawing unemployment before call-up receives no less than the unemployment amount they would otherwise have had.
By National Insurance InstituteChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE, AR, RU, FR, AM - GuideHome Front CommandExternal
Safe rooms: the mamad question, and why it moves the price
Homes built in Israel since the early 1990s must include a mamad, a reinforced protected room inside the flat. Older flats often have none and rely on a communal shelter (miklat) or a protected stairwell. Flats with a mamad cost more and are in higher demand, so treat it as a search filter, not an afterthought.
The requirement for a private protected room in new construction dates to the early 1990s, so the age of the building is the quickest proxy: newer almost always has a mamad, older often does not. Confirm on the specific flat.
By Home Front CommandChecked 2026-08-04HE, EN - ToolExternal
Secret Tel Aviv
A jobs board and city guide for internationals in the Tel Aviv area, with practical explainers on visas, banking and apartment hunting. Free for job seekers.
Heavily Tel Aviv focused and skews young and secular. The site blocks automated checks, so we confirmed it indirectly rather than by reading the page.
By Secret Tel AvivChecked 2026-08-03 - AppExternal
Sefaria
Tanakh, Talmud, Mishnah, siddur and 95+ commentaries, with Daf Yomi and parasha calendars. iOS, Android and web.
By SefariaChecked 2026-08-05EN, HE - ToolNational Insurance (Bituach Leumi)External
Setting up your National Insurance account
Also shows how National Insurance has classified your residency and employment status, which is worth checking early because errors there quietly break everything downstream.
By National Insurance InstituteChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE, AR, RU, FR, AM - OrganisationExternalpaid
Sheltered housing for older olim
The Jewish Agency housing subsidiary: roughly 10,000 public-housing units plus about 7,000 sheltered-housing units across 56 senior residences. Eligibility runs through the Ministry of Construction and Housing, not through Amigour directly.
By AmigourChecked 2026-08-04 - GuideExternal
Shipping your lift: what it really costs
The best sourced cost page found anywhere for the container move, including the daily port-storage meter that catches people whose paperwork is not ready.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-07-27EN, HE - OrganisationExternal
Shivat Zion: multilingual aliyah hub
Free guides, government-appointment scheduling and a professional directory. Deliberately serves the countries outside the North American pipeline.
Explicitly excludes the FSU, France, Belgium and the UK. For those, use Qualita or the Jewish Agency.
By Shivat ZionChecked 2026-07-27EN, PT, NL, IT, ES, DE - DirectoryExternal
Standing savings in Israel: banking, clubs and groceries
A sourced register of the savings that do not expire: the zero-fee and low-fee bank accounts, which consumer and loyalty clubs are worth their fee, student and senior rates, and how the supermarket chains actually differ. Each entry carries its sources and the date it was last checked.
By IsraelTop10Checked 2026-08-23 - GuideExternal
Starting a business or company in Israel
What an Israeli limited company (chevra ba’m) involves versus self-employed status, and the registration sequence for each.
Published by law firms. Structure choice has tax consequences, so take advice.
By Menora Law, Law OfficesChecked 2026-07-21 - GrantEconomy and IndustryExternal
State Guarantee Loan Fund
Run by the Small and Medium Business Agency with the Ministry of Finance. The verified entry point is the SME Agency page, which confirms the fund exists and who runs it.
The dedicated gov.il landing page for the fund returns a 404; only the SME Agency about-page is verifiable. Current loan terms could not be confirmed against a primary source.
By Small and Medium Business AgencyChecked 2026-08-05EN, HE - CourseExternal
Streetwise Hebrew
Running for over a decade, more than 450 episodes, and still publishing. The best free Hebrew-for-adults asset in the Anglo ecosystem.
By TLV1 StudiosChecked 2026-08-03 - GuideExternal
Supplemental health insurance and the 90-day window
Join within your first 90 days and the standard waiting periods are waived. The window does not reopen and nobody writes to tell you it started.
By Yad L'OlimChecked 2026-07-21 - GuideExternal
Switching health fund: the window chart
Apply Sep 16 to Nov 15 and you start Jan 1; Nov 16 to Jan 15 starts Mar 1; and so on every two months. New olim get a separate 14-day window to change the fund they were signed up for at the airport. You can cancel up to 10 days before the change date, and your old fund must keep serving you until the switch takes effect.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-08-04 - Official formAliyah and IntegrationExternal
Tax and entrepreneurship consultation
The Ministry of Aliyah’s national business information centre books you a session on relocating or starting a business and on olim tax benefits. It also flags the standing benefits: a 10-year exemption on income generated outside Israel, and an acclimation (histaglut) year with no income tax.
By Ministry of Aliyah and IntegrationChecked 2026-08-05HE, EN - GrantExternal
Technological Incubators programme
An incubator supplies space, infrastructure, technological and business guidance, legal advice and investor access. You do not need to have incorporated before approval. Bio-Convergence projects get elevated grants.
By Israel Innovation AuthorityChecked 2026-08-05EN, HE - OrganisationExternal
Telfed
The South African Zionist Federation in Israel, running communal self-help for Southern African and Australian olim for over 75 years.
By TelfedChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE - GuideAliyah and IntegrationExternal
The 2026 income-tax reform for olim
A staged exemption on Israeli-source income across tax years 2026 to 2030, with the largest ceilings in 2027 and 2028. It does not apply to passive income like rent or dividends, and it stacks on top of the existing 10-year foreign-income exemption.
By Ministry of Aliyah and IntegrationChecked 2026-08-05EN, HE - Official formInterior / Population AuthorityExternal
The 30-day registry deadlines
Citizens must report a change of marital status within 30 days, and register a birth within 30 days, under the Population Registry Law. Marriage combined with a surname change must be done in person, and your spouse cannot do it for you.
gov.il blocks automated checking with HTTP 403, so we have not opened this page and the URL comes from a search index.
By Population and Immigration AuthorityChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE - GuideExternal
The 90-day supplemental waiver
The supplemental plans (SHABAN) cover dental, private specialist consults, treatment abroad and much that the basic basket omits. Enrol inside your first 90 days and there is no waiting period on any of it. After that, standard waiting periods apply.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-08-04 - CourseExternal
The aliyah video library
More than 700 videos, several new ones a week: first-steps sessions, open forums and explainer series. By a wide margin the only substantial olim video library that exists.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-08-03 - GrantNational Insurance (Bituach Leumi)External
The birth grant
Paid to the account where child allowances are deposited, or for a first birth to the account you give the hospital. Triggered by the hospital birth record rather than an application.
By National Insurance InstituteChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE, AR, RU, FR, AM - GuideExternal
The document checklist
Passport validity, birth certificate with parents’ names, proof of Judaism, personal-status affidavit and a seven-year entry and exit history. The full list in the order you can actually gather it.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-07-27EN, HE - GuideExternal
The Fair Rent Law
A plain-English summary of the Fair Rent Law, in force since September 2017. Defines the minimum standard for a dwelling fit to live in and caps the guarantee a landlord may demand.
A law-firm client update rather than a statute page, and it carries no visible date. Useful for orientation, not a substitute for the law itself.
By Barnea Jaffa LandeChecked 2026-08-04 - Official formNational Insurance (Bituach Leumi)External
The forms index, and the language trap inside it
Accident injury, attendance allowance, children, disability, income support, maternity, unemployment, work injury, old age, long-term care, collection and international conventions. Forms are fillable PDFs and can be submitted online.
By National Insurance InstituteChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE, AR, RU, FR, AM - GuideExternal
The IDF draft: tzav rishon, profile and the process
The draft opens with the Tzav Rishon (first summons) once your details reach the army via Misrad HaPnim. It covers a medical exam that sets your physical profile (a health classification number), the DAPAR computerised cognitive test, and interviews. Elite units run their own gibbush tryouts on top of this.
By IDF (Mitgaisim), with Nefesh B’NefeshChecked 2026-08-06HE, EN - GuideEducationExternal
The Israeli school streams explained
The Ministry of Education’s own explainer of State, State-religious, State-Haredi, recognised-unofficial and exempt institutions, plus the extra Hebrew hours allocated to schools with immigrant students.
The document carries no date at all, so its currency cannot be established.
By Ministry of EducationChecked 2026-07-27 - AppExternalfreemium
The Jerusalem Post
A long-established English daily, generally regarded as centre-right.
By The Jerusalem PostChecked 2026-08-05 - GuideExternalfreemium
The Jerusalem Post: aliyah
Active weekly, strongest on the human side: who came, why, and what happened next. Includes the Aliyah Stories series.
Metered: some articles are free, others need a subscription.
By The Jerusalem PostChecked 2026-08-03 - OrganisationThe Jewish AgencyExternal
The Jewish Agency aliyah process
The seven-step official process, the multilingual hotline and the file-opening route.
By The Jewish Agency for IsraelChecked 2026-07-21EN, HE, RU, FR, ES, PT - GuideEducationExternal
The Ministry of Education Hebrew wall
The Division of Examinations, Degrees and Education Certificates handles foreign secondary-education certificate recognition, the route for an oleh teenager’s foreign diploma. It has no English version, and neither does the parents’ portal where the school health declaration and bagrut dates live.
By Ministry of EducationChecked 2026-08-04 - GuideExternal
The olim arnona discount
You apply to your municipality with your lease, a recent arnona bill, Teudat Zehut, Teudat Oleh and bank details. A lease of at least 12 months is required. The rate is set by each city, so it varies.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-08-04 - ToolExternal
The olim job board
Roles from employers who already hire English-speaking olim, which removes the biggest unknown in an Israeli job search.
The board shows no date, so the "1,000 jobs" figure cannot be time-anchored.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-07-27 - OrganisationAliyah and IntegrationExternal
The olim Start-Up Desk
The Ministry of Aliyah’s dedicated desk for olim building a startup. You apply by phone or email, not an online form.
By Ministry of Aliyah and IntegrationChecked 2026-08-05EN, HE - GuideNational Insurance (Bituach Leumi)External
The six-month contribution exemption
The rule that decides whether your first half-year of healthcare is free. It is not automatic past six months: the extension to twelve requires you to send National Insurance proof that the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration is paying you subsistence benefits.
By National Insurance InstituteChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE, AR, RU, FR, AM - Official formInterior / Population AuthorityExternal
The spouse trap: married under a year
Where the marriage is under twelve months old at aliyah, the spouse falls outside the automatic Law of Return grant and into a distinct procedure. Where the Law of Return does not reach the spouse at all, the fallback is the graduated procedure, a multi-year staged route with periodic review of the relationship.
gov.il blocks automated checking with HTTP 403, so we have not opened this page. The URL comes from a search index. Confirm it loads before relying on it.
By Population and Immigration AuthorityChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE - AppExternal
The Times of Israel
A large English-language news site with a free liveblog, broad daily coverage and a widely centrist reputation.
By The Times of IsraelChecked 2026-08-05EN, FR, AR - GuideExternal
The Times of Israel Blogs: aliyah
Continuously updated, several posts a week: the tax window, what to ship or sell, Bituach Leumi, retiring here and the disillusionment nobody advertises. Free and ungated.
A blogging platform, not a newsroom. Posts are unedited opinion and several regular writers sell aliyah services. Verify any figure against a primary source before acting on it.
By The Times of IsraelChecked 2026-08-03 - GuideExternal
The Times of Israel: aliyah news
The newsroom feed rather than the blogs. Lower volume, higher reliability, no paywall.
By The Times of IsraelChecked 2026-08-03 - AppExternal
Tzofar - Red Alert
A popular independent app that relays Home Front Command Red Alerts with fast notifications and area selection. iOS and Android.
Independent, not an official government source. It relays official alerts, but treat the Home Front Command app as authoritative.
By Tzofar (independent)Checked 2026-08-05EN, HE - CourseThe Jewish AgencyExternalunknown
Ulpan Etzion: live-in intensive Hebrew
Six campuses around the country, roughly 1,600 participants a year from more than 30 countries. Eligibility is narrow: a degree is required, and it is for singles and couples without children.
The page shows no pricing. Confirm cost and current eligibility directly.
By The Jewish Agency for IsraelChecked 2026-07-27EN, HE, FR, ES, RU, PT - DirectoryExternal
Ulpan options and learning Hebrew online
The difference between public and private ulpan, what each covers, and online options including one subsidised down to a nominal fee.
Confirm reimbursement with your absorption coordinator before paying for private ulpan.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-07-27EN, HE - GuideNational Insurance (Bituach Leumi)External
Unemployment: why year one is uncovered
Five conditions: residency or a valid permit, age 20 to 67, laid off rather than on unpaid leave, registered with the Employment Service, and the qualifying period. Self-employed people, controlling shareholders in closed corporations, kibbutz members and those in active service are excluded outright.
Secondary sources report a relaxed six-of-twelve-months rule for first-time claimants under 25 or over 40. That relaxation is not stated on the official page and we could not confirm it, so do not plan around it.
By National Insurance InstituteChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE, AR, RU, FR, AM - GuideAliyah and IntegrationExternalfreemium
University admissions: bagrut, psychometric and olim benefits
Israeli university admission rests on a bagrut (matriculation) average and the Psychometric Entrance Test, a standardised exam in verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and English, run by NITE and valid for seven years. Olim receive tuition and preparatory benefits through the Ministry of Aliyah’s Student Authority.
By NITE (National Institute for Testing and Evaluation)Checked 2026-08-06EN, HE - GuideExternal
US tax compliance after aliyah
American citizens keep filing US returns after moving, and foreign account reporting applies to Israeli accounts. What continues, and what to hand an accountant.
Tax position is personal. Orientation only, not advice.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-07-21 - GrantEconomy and IndustryExternal
Vocational training grants for employers
Classroom or on-the-job training grants run by the SME Agency, with the size depending on the track, the employee’s salary and the population group.
By Ministry of Economy and IndustryChecked 2026-08-05 - GuideExternal
Water and the rest of the utilities
You are billed for water by your municipal water corporation (Hagihon in Jerusalem, Mei Avivim in Tel Aviv, Mei Carmel in Haifa), not by Mekorot the national supplier. Cooking gas is usually fixed by the building’s existing installation, and home internet splits into an infrastructure line plus an ISP, so check fibre at your exact address before signing a lease if you work from home.
Utility providers vary by municipality and building; treat the named corporations as examples and confirm yours locally.
By Israel Water AuthorityChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE - AppExternal
Waze
Turn-by-turn driving navigation that handles Hebrew street names and works fully in English. iOS and Android.
By WazeChecked 2026-08-05EN, HE, AR, RU, FR - AppExternalfreemium
Wolt
The dominant food and grocery delivery app in Israeli cities. iOS, Android and web.
By WoltChecked 2026-08-05EN, HE - OrganisationExternal
Yad L'Olim
Absorption guidance, health-rights advocacy and government-facing help, with a division devoted to the healthcare system specifically.
By Yad L'OlimChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE, RU, UK - OrganisationExternal
Yad L'Olim: advocacy when the system says no
Bureaucratic escalation and advocacy, plus a healthcare guidance division. A Ukrainian-speaking department opened in 2022.
By Yad L'OlimChecked 2026-07-27EN, HE, RU, UK - OrganisationExternal
Yad Sarah
More than 150 types of medical and rehabilitation equipment on free loan, plus emergency call systems, home hospitalisation and hospitality suites near hospitals. Around 244,000 loans a year.
By Yad SarahChecked 2026-08-04EN, HE - AppExternal
Yad2
Israel’s dominant classifieds super-app: apartments to rent or buy, jobs, vehicles and second-hand goods. Where private, no-agent listings surface first.
By Yad2Checked 2026-08-05 - DirectoryExternal
Yad2 Jobs
The employment vertical of Yad2, good for local and non-corporate openings that the big boards under-list.
By Yad2Checked 2026-08-04 - DirectoryExternal
Yad2, and how to read it without Hebrew
The dominant Israeli classifieds site. Private listings surface here first. Nefesh B’Nefesh publishes a field-by-field translation of the search form so a non-Hebrew reader can actually filter it.
By Yad2Checked 2026-08-04 - GuideExternal
ynet Global Aliyah
A dedicated aliyah vertical launched in May 2026, with continuing series on healthcare, banking and everyday bureaucracy, plus a three-part vlog following new olim through the move. Free.
Produced with commercial partners: a bank on the banking series, a health fund on the healthcare series. Genuinely useful, and worth reading knowing who helped write it.
By ynet GlobalChecked 2026-08-03 - AppExternal
Ynetnews
The English edition of Ynet, one of Israel’s most-read outlets, broad mainstream coverage.
By Yedioth InternetChecked 2026-08-05 - GuideExternal
Your first steps after landing
Biometric ID, bank account, Misrad HaKlita meeting, health fund, child benefits, school registration, arnona discount and the licence clock, sequenced.
By Nefesh B'NefeshChecked 2026-07-27EN, HE - CourseExternalpaid
YuriKruman.com career and AI training
Coaching and training programs focused on career strategy, leadership and building with AI, aimed at professionals adapting to how the job market is changing.
Founder-affiliated and paid. We point to the free and subsidised alternatives alongside it, per our honesty rule.
By Yuri KrumanChecked 2026-08-04