Alex in Israel

05/09/2026

04/09/2026

The Jewish New Year is just around the corner.
Wishing you a sweet new year!
🍎🍯
year

25/08/2026

25/08/2026

When you're visiting Jerusalem, don't make these common mistakes. Make the most of your visit to the holy city!

14/08/2026

If you’ve spent any time in Israel, you’ve probably noticed one thing: cats are EVERYWHERE. 🐈
Israel’s warm climate makes it possible for cats to live outdoors year-round. There are an estimated 2 million street cats around the country.
So while Israel is famous for its beaches, deserts, and ancient cities… it might also deserve to be famous for its furry friends.

07/08/2026

🍞🥖
In the ancient Near East, bread was more than food - it was the foundation of a meal and a symbol of nourishment.

Jewish families around the world have special customs for celebrating Shabbat with special loaves.

In Europe (and today all over the world), challah - the iconic glossy, golden, braided loaf of sweet rich dough is served on the Shabbat table.
The name challah comes from the Torah’s commandment to set aside a portion of dough as an offering. The tradition of braiding developed later, with different numbers of strands carrying different symbolism.
Some families place two loaves on the table. Why two? They represent the double portion of manna the Israelites received before Shabbat in the wilderness...a symbol of abundance.

In Yemen, Jews bake kubaneh - a rich, buttery pull-apart bread which is traditionally prepared by slow-baking it overnight in a pot and is served warm for Shabbat lunch.

Samun, the iconic Iraqi bread is instantly recognizable by its diamond shape. Unlike challah, the shape isn't a religious symbol, but developed as a distinctive Iraqi baking tradition, creating a crisp crust and wonderfully airy center. For Iraqi Jews, samun became an important part of Shabbat meals and Jewish Iraqi cuisine.
The name samun is related to the Turkish word somun (ultimately from the Greek word for bread).

In Syria, Jewish families have traditionally marked Shabbat and other celebrations with kak, ring-shaped loaves topped with sesame seeds or spices.
Across the Middle East, ring-shaped breads have long been a familiar sight in bakeries and markets, with different communities developing their own versions and traditions.

In Ethiopia, dabo is a traditional homemade bread enjoyed both at everyday meals and special occasions. Often baked in a round shape and flavored with spices such as coriander or fenugreek, dabo has a soft, hearty texture and a wonderfully aromatic crust.

For Ethiopian Jews, dabo has also become part of the culinary traditions carried from Ethiopia to Israel, connecting generations through the familiar tastes of home.

Share your family's Shabbat bread traditions in the comments section!

31/07/2026

I have been getting ink since 2017, I just got my first handpoke tattoo by the extremely talented Emma | Handpoke Tattoo Artist 🌞! The human connection that every dot is made by Emma and not a machine makes the tattoo all the more special and personal.
Two more species in the 7 species collection!

26/07/2026

We've reached quite a milestone with 20,000 Alex in Israel followers on Facebook!
Here's to 20,000 more adventures around Israel.
Looking forward to showing you around 😀

24/07/2026

Israel’s ancient history is deeply rooted in its native agriculture 🌾🍇🍷

​Mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as the special fruits and grains of the Land of Israel, the Seven Species (שבעת המינים / Shivat HaMinim) are not just historic symbols, they are still a huge part of Israeli food culture and landscape today!

​Here is what makes up this iconic list:

🌾 Wheat & Barley – The ancient staples of everyday life.

🍇 Grapes – Celebrated for centuries, now powering Israel’s world-class w**e industry.

🌳 Figs – Sweet, delicious, and a staple of summer harvests.

🔴 Pomegranates – Symbols of abundance, fertility, righteousness, and beauty.

🫒 Olives – The source of liquid gold (olive oil) that has fueled the region for millennia.

🌴 Dates – The original “honey” in the phrase “land flowing with milk and honey.”

​Which of the Seven Species is your favorite to taste when visiting Israel?

21/07/2026

🎓 In November 2024, I decided it was time to go back to school.

After attending a sustainability training session for Birthright Israel Tour Educators, I realized I wanted to pursue a master's degree in Sustainability. By chance, I came across the University of Haifa's new M.A. program in partnership with and decided to apply.

Little did I know that the program had already begun with its opening seminar. Then I got a call from Prof. Maayan Agmon, who interviewed me over the phone.
"Are you a serious student? Can you commit to this?"
I told her yes.

Two days later, I was on a train to Haifa for my first day of classes.

This degree has given me far more than I ever expected. It has provided meaningful friendships, a deeper academic and practical understanding of sustainability and impact, and even the opportunity to work on a project with Birthright Israel, which opened the door to my current career as Birthright Israel's Sustainability and Impact Projects Manager.