Author: Sophie Jacobs
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Advice on how to tackle Israeli bureaucracy, a list
Sometimes it’s better to be on time than early A rav kav is not a valid form of identification Bring your ID EVERYWHERE In my case, also bring your immigrant ID EVERYWHERE When you’re told no, ask again When you’re told no about something that you know should be a yes (as per official documents),…
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The communist room, a photo series
When I think about my origins as they relate to immigration, my mind transports to the turn of the century – to boats and being welcomed by Lady Liberty. In true Ashkenazi Jewish fashion, my family passed through Ellis Island to begin their new lives in the land of opportunity. I imagine the voyage was…
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EL AL in-flight food review
Every time I have flown from the States to Israel, I have had the pleasure of flying EL AL. Yet with this great honor comes the Russian roulette of the in-flight cuisine. It’s a toss up whether you’re going to get a tray of gourmet goodness or if you’re in for a stomach ache all…
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My last visa
The last time I spent more than three months in Israel, I had a visa. I didn’t need the visa because every time I (an American citizen) left Israel before the three month mark, my “visit” reset. I had the visa because it was advised, since I could have hypothetically remained in the country from…
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For Nick: kibbutz, defined
This week my friend Nick came over to say his penultimate goodbye before I depart for the homeland. During his visit he inquired about my future living conditions, as any mildly concerned and invested friend would. I explained to him that I would be living on a kibbutz in the south. “A what?” Nick responded,…
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Reasons I tell people I’m moving to Iz: a list
The UV in the Mediterranean is better for tanning Aloe water Ice cafe Capitalism is a vehicle to live rather than a goal The tomatoes I ran out of Garnier aloe/shea butter lotion Israel happens to exist at the same time that I exist; I can’t imagine living my life and not taking advantage of…
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The levity of packing
I thought packing was going to be difficult. I thought I would want to bring everything so that nothing felt left behind. I thought I wouldn’t part with items because maybe those items constituted a piece of my identity. Maybe the collection of materiality that I have amassed and cultivated over the years has morphed…
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In the Beginning
…בראשית, הייתי ברוטשילד בדרך לוונג In the beginning, I was on Rothschild, on the way to VONG. But it started before that. It started when I couldn’t handle the States and would google things like, “how to join the idf,” inevitably ending up on Garin Tzabar’s website. Or maybe it started even before then, when…
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