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The Yahel Blog
Insights and reflections from our community of changemakers, partners, and participants—where service meets real life.
What Does A Local Israeli Really Look Like?
Our first blog post from the 2021-2022 cohort is here! This blog post is written Micaela, a Yahel fellow living in Lod. We will be...
Nov 3, 20216 min read
Reflections on ICEI and Yahel
This blog post is written by Lev, a new Yahel alum from the 2020-21 Fellowship! Lev is reflecting on his time volunteering with the...
Sep 26, 20213 min read
An Honest Conversation with Dr. Nigist Mengesha
The following is a re-post of an interview by Yahel fellow (now alumna!) Aliza with Dr. Nigist Mengesha. It was originally shared in the...
Jul 14, 20219 min read
Reflections on visiting the Bedouins of the Negev
This blog is written by Genna, a Yahel fellow living in Lod. As a girl who has grown up in mostly suburbs in my life, I have not had a...
Jun 10, 20214 min read
A Reflection on Mourning and Remembrance on Yom HaZikaron
This blog post is written by Will, a Yahel fellow living in Lod. On April 13th and 14th, I observed the Israeli holiday of Yom HaZikaron...
Jun 3, 20218 min read
Perspectives On Life in Lod : 3 Teens Tell
This blog post is written by Soren, a Yahel fellow living in Lod. As we fellows continue to learn with more depth and complexity about...
May 7, 202111 min read
Working in a Gan (Preschool): Who Knew Babies Could Teach So Much!
This blog post is written by Juliet, a Yahel fellow living in the Ramat Eliyahu neighborhood in Rishon LeZion. I have never considered...
May 4, 20213 min read
Encountering Different Voices and Learning From Different Perspectives
This week's blog post is written by Will, a Yahel fellow living in Lod. Like many diaspora Jews, I grew up with a deep connection to...
Apr 30, 20214 min read
Celebrating Shabbat-Iftar—With the Druze Community
This blog post is written by Daniel, a Yahel fellow living in Lod. On a recent weekend excursion, I and a few Yahelnikim attended a trip...
Apr 27, 20212 min read
Home Away From Home
This blog post is written by Pratiksha, a Yahel fellow living in the Ramat Eliyahu neighborhood in Rishon LeZion. If someone asked me...
Apr 13, 20213 min read
Facilitating activities in a foreign language setting
This blog post is written by Vic, a Yahel Social Change Fellow living in the Ramat Eliyahu neighborhood in Rishon LeZion. This is Part 2...
Apr 9, 20216 min read
It Takes a Village
This blog post is written by Sofie, a Yahel fellow living in the Ramat Eliyahu neighborhood in Rishon LeZion. They say it takes a village...
Mar 23, 20212 min read
Red Zones and Quarantined Teens
This blog post is written by Lev, a Yahel fellow living in Ramat Eliyahu. This post was written in late February. Fortunately, the...
Mar 12, 20213 min read
Communication with Minimal Language Skills
This blog post is written by Vic, a Yahel fellow living in the Ramat Eliyahu neighborhood in Rishon LeZion. This is the first blog of a...
Mar 7, 20216 min read
Awe and Meaning
I never believed in God before I met Lod. Those who know me would be absolutely, positively shocked to know that I identified as an...
Mar 1, 20215 min read
Ahlan wa sahlan, welcome to the balagan!
This blog post is written by Ethan, a Yahel fellow living in Lod. “Sababa.” “Walla?” “Ahla!” — many American Jews exposed to Israeli...
Feb 14, 20216 min read
Schools on Zoom: A reality that transcends borders
It’s 9:20 am and I’m setting up my laptop on the dining room table in our apartment in Ramat Eliyahu, Rishon LeZion. A notebook and a pen...
Feb 11, 20213 min read
Understanding Generosity in Lod
This blog post is written by Daniel, a Yahel fellow living in Lod. My first week out and about in Lod, I and a few other Yahelnikim...
Feb 8, 20215 min read
A Week During Seger
This blog post is written by Sarah, a Yahel fellow living in Lod. Note: "seger" is the Hebrew word for closures due to COVID-19. Sunday...
Jan 28, 20215 min read
On Being An "Outsider"
This week's blog post is written by Vaishnavi, a fellow living in the Ramat Eliyahu neighborhood in Rishon LeZion. If I had a Shekel for...
Jan 25, 20213 min read
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