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Joel Moskowitz

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Jan 22, 2026, 4:36 PM

Personal Grief After October 7th and Bondi Beach

My father passed away on November 11th. Abba was a Holocaust survivor, a Jewish educator and an ordained rabbi who lived well into his 90s. He died surrounded by loved ones and even had the zchut, the privilege, of...

Jan 27, 2021, 4:53 PM

Aliyah Journal XIII – Settling In

I’m sure you’ve all heard about the Aliyah horror stories - long lines, stubborn bureaucrats, obnoxious clerks, horrible customer service, remnants of Socialism, yada yada. I’ve encountered my share of all of those things plus, but as I told...

Jan 10, 2021, 10:04 PM

Aliyah Journal XII – Broken Heart, Hopeful Feelings

Like most everybody, I’ve been living the past few days in horror. The United States, my birthplace, my home for 55 of my 57 years is enveloped in turmoil. Israel, my homeland and my current home is inextricably linked...

Dec 23, 2020, 1:07 PM

Aliyah Journal Part XI – Beginnings are Tough-ish

I approached the challenge of my next bureaucratic steps (in the Aliyah process) with stressful anticipation but was pleasantly surprised to find much of my anxiety unwarranted. While not completely seamless I am happy to say I am now...

Dec 14, 2020, 10:55 PM

Aliyah Journal X – Chanukah*

I’ve been in Israel for Chanukah before, so no cliches here about the ubiquitous menorahs, multi varieties of sufganiot or the festive aura in the streets. Those are still true even during Covid but being more American than Israeli...

Dec 8, 2020, 7:33 PM

Aliyah Journal VIX – Quarantine Edition

I haven’t decided yet if the required two week quarantine I am living under now is a blessing in disguise or a pain in the neck. As I mentioned in my last post, I am fortunate to have a...

Dec 3, 2020, 1:41 PM

Aliyah Journal VIII – Shalom Aleichem

Overwhelmed! Nothing, nothing prepared me for the absolute outpouring of love and support my wife and I received upon our arrival in Israel. Denied the legendary public welcoming new Olim usually get at Ben Gurion Airport due to Covid...

Nov 30, 2020, 6:50 PM

Aliyah Journal – Part VII Saying Goodbye, For Now

In Hebrew, rather than saying goodbye, it is customary to use the phrase L’hitraot which means - see you again. I love the optimism of that term and the implication that no matter what the circumstance when parting, we...

Nov 26, 2020, 5:55 PM

Aliyah Journal Part VI – Thanksgiving

Remember when you were a kid and asked your mother why there was a mother’s day and father’s day but no children’s day and she answered, “everyday is children’s day?” Well, if you live life with positivity, everyday should...

Nov 16, 2020, 9:58 AM

Aliyah Journal V – Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

“Like tides of the departing sea, I am moving on from you, between tears and pain, I’m leaving.” כמו חופים של ים עוזב אני עובר עכשיו ממך, בין דמעות ובין כאב, אני הולך אני הולך Shlomo Artzi שיר פרידה/Shir Praida פרידה/Praida-separation, breakup ...

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About Me

Joel Moskowitz is a former New Yorker living in Jerusalem.