Zahava Kalish

A proud Jewish Zionist originally from London, Israeli-in-training since 2014. Married mother of two.

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Jan 14, 2024, 6:41 PM

10 Years Israeli – And Counting

It's 10 years since the most meaningful, scariest, life-challenging, changing and improving decision I ever made, to move to Israel. I had wanted to live in Israel for as long as I could remember, but I reached a point of...

Oct 30, 2023, 12:13 AM

The Collective Wound That Won’t Heal

(courtesy)

It's three weeks since the worst massacre of Jewish people in the past 75 years, but it feels like it was yesterday, as though time stopped that day. Three weeks later, I will still catch a couple of words in...

Oct 18, 2023, 9:50 AM

Normality and War

A Flag of Israel on Masada

There’s this stereotype of Israel being a war zone, but most people who live here would say that, for the most part, it doesn’t feel like that. Despite occasional spates of rocket, stabbing or car ramming attacks. This time...

Apr 28, 2023, 2:59 PM

Confessions of an insecure mother

(Photo courtesy of author)

I am, thank G-d, the mother of two wonderful, beautiful, happy, loving, hilarious, cheeky little girls -- a baby and a 2 year old. It's a strange mixture of knowing exactly what I'm meant to be doing, yet also...

Apr 19, 2021, 10:37 PM

A Bittersweet Goodbye to Masks

Being able to go outside without a mask for the first time in a year was freeing, yet strangely unsettling. It was that feeling that you've forgotten something but you can't remember what. That feeling where you suddenly wonder...

Nov 19, 2019, 11:59 PM

When You’d Rather Be With Someone Than Not

I had been living in Israel as a single olah for almost five years, putting myself 'out there' and pushing myself out of my comfort zone to socialise and meet new people. I was wondering how long it will...

Nov 22, 2018, 12:31 PM

What I Learned on My First Solo Trip

I recently went away on my first solo trip, just for a week, to Slovenia and Venice. It had been too long since my last vacation, I was set on those two destinations (only a four hour bus ride...

Jun 5, 2017, 9:03 PM

Dear London, From Israel

Terrorism isn’t normal and it shouldn't be considered normal, anywhere in the world. But although in Israel no one here is shocked by Palestinian terror attacks, (horrified and sickened -- never shocked) I found it extremely disturbing and surreal to...

Jan 13, 2017, 1:42 PM

What is it about Israel? The longer I live here, the more I love this country and the more settled I feel – yet the more I see how crazy it is to move here. Of course, I made Aliyah...

Jul 19, 2016, 11:51 PM

29 Ways To Live With Terrorism In Israel

With the increased terror attacks around the globe, the world is starting to realize that maybe Israel has some use after all, other than for kicking when she’s down. Israel can advise on ways to prevent, defend against, and...

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About Me

A proud Jewish Zionist originally from London, Israeli-in-training since 2014. Married mother of two.