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Alissa Burstein

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Jun 29, 2025, 4:28 PM

On Paper It Was the Perfect Vacation

Business class flight. Fully equipped duplex apartment with view and Netflix. Fresh fish and olives. Endless shopping. Museums. Cruise ship home. Or not. What began as a simple five-day getaway to Athens in sunny June turned into the most challenging experience...

Jan 16, 2024, 6:08 PM

Every Time I Take a Shower

It has been 100 days since October 7 and I am trying to put words to my daily thoughts; below are 18 of them. It has been 100 days of war and captivity - pain, worry, shock, fear, concern,...

Oct 18, 2023, 9:08 PM

Welcome to the Swords of Iron War Reality: Tips to My Friends Abroad

To my non-Israeli friends and family, please find below a brief description of our reality. You too may need these skills and tips one day, so read up (BTW, the pots in the picture are not our dinner –...

Jun 16, 2022, 1:11 PM

Thank You Savta Penina z”l (Pearl Burstein nee Shmidman)

It's been 11 years without Savta Penina. That is the same amount of time she lived in Israel after joining us by making Aliya. I would like to believe those were the eleven best years of her life. I...

Mar 30, 2022, 11:36 PM

Ora Kevelson, z”l

Ora Kevelson deserves to be remembered. We met over a decade ago, I can't remember if it was my husband who lost his teudat zehut, or if she lost hers, but this was what caused our paths to meet and...

Mar 27, 2018, 1:47 PM

Rabbi With Wings: A Tribute to My Father on His 25th Yahrzeit

I wish my father were alive to celebrate Israel's 70th Yom HaAtzmaut. A little-known hero from that era - having served as a Mahal pilot - you have probably never heard of him. My father was not only a pilot,...

Nov 23, 2017, 12:17 PM

Unholy thoughts from the women’s section

Twice a week I find myself in the ezrat nashim (women's section) at synagogue. I will admit that my thoughts are not always with the Holy One. Maybe it’s late-onset ADHD. Maybe it's the exhaustion of pre-Shabbat preparations. Maybe...

Nov 12, 2017, 12:16 PM

Have you ever met an Israeli prostitute with a doctorate?

A version of this post appeared at the beginning of the week but it was suggested that I convey the same message, from a different angle. The challenge was fun, and here is the result in place of the...

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About Me

Alissa Burstein is a mother, grandmother, wife, and cat lover living in the center of Israel. With a PhD in education, she is currently the administrative director of the Jonathan Sacks Institute at Bar-Ilan University. Yoga and good coffee (and cats!) keep her somewhat sane.