Rav Shaul Leiter grew up in New York in the '60s, an authentic child of that fascinating decade.  And when he was out for a run one day, wearing nothing but a pair of running shorts and with his long hair in a ponytail, he had no idea that his life was going to change forever, eventually leading him to Israel in 1979. He wound up in Tzfat where he, his wife and two other couples built an absolute gem of an organization – Ascent, but we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves.  I sat with Reb...

Stu Schrader grew up in New Jersey, but that’s not where it became clear to him that Israel was where he wanted to build his life. It was a mid-80s visit to a well-known biblical city during his post-high school year in Israel that clarified his goals. I sat with Stu recently, and we talked about everything from terror attacks to raising kids to sukkot on a cramped balcony. Stu has some important opinions he shares and lots of food for thought for all of us. --- This episode is sponsored...

Rav Shlomo Katz grew up partly in Los Angeles and partly in Israel, and it was the combined experiences in both countries that led him on the path that brought him to the world of music, torah and, eventually, the community he and Shirat David are working to build in Efrat. That is where I sat with Rav Shlomo recently. We started with a niggun, and then we talked about his story and explored important issues including education, American-ness, humility and the idea of kehilla in today’s...

Rav Ari Kahn grew up in Brooklyn, the son of a Rabbi who had always yearned to live in the Land, but for various reasons wasn’t able to make his dream a reality. But for Rav Ari, who’s been in Israel since 1984, growing up in that household gave him clarity about making Aliyah someday, and when he and his wife got married, they both knew where they would build their life.  Of course, there was still the need to figure out what that life would be, and that’s what Rav Ari and I discussed when I...

Ezra Jasper, who just completed his IDF service, joins Goel to talk about the highs and lows, and challenging experiences - of serving his country as a soldier and officer in the IDF. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/return-again/support

Eleora Moche-Epstein grew up in Englewood, New Jersey, part of a family that was strongly Zionist. She went to Jewish schools, Jewish, Israel focused camp, and living what could be called the “usual” American Jewish upbringing. So what's the big deal, right? Of course, she'd wind up in Israel! But Eleora's story is anything but usual.  She and her family made Aliyah 12 years ago, and live in Jerusalem, and that’s where she and I sat recently to talk about her journey. Incidentally, it’s...

Dave Silverman grew up in Boston – a Jewish “Townie” in an Irish Catholic neighborhood.  One of just six Jews in his high school, Israel was the farthest thing from his mind as he played football, had fun with his friends and did the usual American thing. Then, he got sucker-punched at the end of 12th grade, and everything changed, even though he didn’t quite realize it at the time.    I recently visited Dave – who’s now been in Israel for almost 50 years – in his home, where I navigated his...

David Lange grew up in Perth, Australia, assuming his life’s work would be dedicated to building wealth - and a family - in Australia. In high school, he had some experiences that would nudge him in the direction of Israel, but it was meeting his future wife Erika – later Ahava Emunah – zichrona livracha, that sealed the deal for a future in Israel, and transformed both his life and his life priorities. I recently visited David – also known for years as Ozzie Dave of the IsraellyCool blog –...

Myrna Bennett and her husband Jim, zichrono livracha, grew up in San Francisco, and when they decided to make a stop in Israel on their way to spending some time in Europe, the Land made a greater impact on them than they had expected. Fast-forward some 55 years later, and Myrna Bennett finds herself part of a wonderful Haifa community, with three sons, 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, all of whom live in Israel.  Oh, and one of those three sons is Israel’s prime minister,...

Rav Judah Mischel grew up in Monsey, NY, the child of parents who were pushing Aliyah for as far back as he can remember. But talking Aliyah and making Aliyah are two separate things. And it took some important circumstances and experiences until Judah was able to make the big move. This conversation was a lot of fun, and we got into some pretty interesting discussions about the differences among generations, the words we use to describe things and understand things, and what it meant to end...

Rav Simcha Hochbaum grew up on Staten Island, in New York. Beginning in the second grade, when he heard about Avraham’s Aliyah in parashat Lech Lecha, he became focused on the idea of returning to the Land of Israel. He and his wife Leah were able to make that happen in 1995, moving to the Hevron, the city of our forefathers and mothers. Parents of six wonderful children, they still live in Hevron, and that’s where I sat with him recently to Return Again to his Aliyah story. --- Support...

This is part two of a conversation with Eric Esses, originally from Houston and now from Neve Daniel. 01:00 - Finding a Community ... Finding a Home 16:42 - Career and a Life Mission 33:52 - Raising Children in Israel 48:52 - Rapid-fire Questions --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/return-again/support

Part One of a Two-Part Episode Eric Esses grew up in Houston, Texas, in a Conservative Jewish family. When his older brother returned from a Federation-sponsored summer trip to Israel and had rave reviews, Eric knew he'd be following in his brother's footsteps two years later. What Eric didn't know was that his summer tour would mark the beginning of a fascinating, exciting and fulfilling journey for him, eventually leading to his decision to make Aliyah.  00:00 - Introduction 05:17 - A...

Ari Greenspan grew up the son of a US Army rabbi, and he was sure he’d follow in his father’s footsteps and become a rabbi himself. But when he was standing outside the old Jerusalem train station, he quite literally had an epiphany, and that moment in time set his life on a completely different path, a path that led him to Israel and that has impacted Jews all around the world in many significant ways. Ari is known to some as one half of the “Ari and Ari” team that travels to far-flung...

Rabbi Ken Spiro grew up a Reform Jew in New Rochelle, New York. As you’ll hear, his Jewish life in childhood consisted of little more than Hebrew school, Passover Seders and Chanuka presents. At the end of high school, something interesting began to happen. So here we are, decades later, and Rabbi Ken Spiro has not only been living in Israel for close to 40 years, but he’s impacted the lives of Jewish people all around the world through his important work with Aish HaTorah.  Also a tour...

Dennis Mitzner is a fascinating guy. Originally from Finland, he’s been involved with Israel and Israel-related issues since he was a teenager in Helsinki. He started spending time in Israel when he worked on a kibbutz – wait until you hear what his job was! – at 19, and then came back here in 2007 to work on his master’s degree at Tel Aviv University. He made Aliyah for good in 2011. Dennis and his wife have two children, 4 and 2, and they live in Tel Aviv. That’s where I sat with him this...

Leah Aharoni is founder of the Arev Leadership Institute. She’s also a successful and impactful business consultant for woman-owned and women-focused companies. She and her husband, Goel – YES, GOEL – have seven children, from 5 years of age to 25. Leah grew up in the former Soviet Union until she was 13 (apologies for saying in the pod itself that Leah left Russia at 11), and then moved to the US – Riverdale, NY, specifically, before an amazing turn of events brought on by her boundless...

Dr. Dodi Tobin is a Jewish educator who teaches for the Matan Women's Institute for Torah Studies. She grew up in Skokie, Illinois, and then, following her first five years of marriage to her husband, Marc, they made Aliyah together with three of their four children. Dodi was part of the founding team of Nefesh B’Nefesh, has been teaching Torah for almost 20 years, and, as you will hear, is passionate about teaching others about living life authentically.  Today, Dodi, Marc and their family...

Menachem Herman is a giant in Jewish music.  Born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, he grew up in a musical family – presumably with his guitar nearby at all times. Menachem made Aliyah in 1980, landing at the Diaspora Yeshiva, where he began to play with the Diaspora Yeshiva Band. Songs we all know – and maybe even assumed came from much further back than the 70s and 80s – such as Ivdu Et Hashem B’Simcha, Malchutcha and Hu Yiftach – were Menachem’s world – in addition to learning Torah at...

Yishai Fleisher was born in Israel, the child of Jewish Refuseniks of the Soviet Union. He grew up in the US, and returned at 17 to serve in the IDF. He then went back to the US for university, and then, finally, returned to the Land for good in 2003.  Yishai and his wife Malka have three children and live in Efrat, a suburb near Jerusalem. Yishai has been a radio personality, writer, educator and broadcast program director, but more than anything, Yishai Fleisher is a spokesperson for the...

Avraham Hermon - 22-year Oleh, originally from Allentown, PA, joins Goel to talk about the fascinating journey that has led Hermon to living with his family in Har Bracha, manufacturing his own beer, and running marathons in costume, all for the sake of developing a stronger and stronger relationship with the Land of Israel. 0:00 - Intro and Childhood 6:00 - Arrival in Israel 13:25 - Meeting Rav Kook and Other Impactful Israelis 21:35 - Aliyah Becomes a Done Deal 31:12 - Getting Settled, in...

Chaim Wizman moved to Israel 25 years ago, and has led a fascinating, eclectic life since then. An attorney by training, Chaim has done the following since making Aliya: Lectured to students at Aish Hatorah for eight years Founded a running club that boasts more than 50 members of all skill levels, from several sub-3-hour marathoners to, well, me Opened a running and biking shop, and experienced it getting robbed Served as the head of sports-related fundraising for Alyn – the childrens’...

Goel meets with Eve Harow, tour guide, One Israel Fund director of community development/tourism, grower of the Efrat community and mother of seven who made Aliyah 33 years ago, to discuss her Aliya journey, perspectives and even some insights about the significance of Israel's fruits and vegetables. 2:33 -- How it Started 16:48 -- Family and Life in Israel 48:27 -- Perspectives on 33 years in the Land

R' Moshe Lichtman, 30-year Oleh, author of Eretz Yisrael in the Parasha and A Drop in the Ocean, as well as translator of Eim Habanim Semeichah, joins Goel to talk about his Aliyah journey. 01:07 - Where It All Began 15:11 - THE Moment 23:10 - The Plan 30:46 - The Bump in the Road... and New Plan 37:29 - Building a Life in Israel 1:23:49 - Kedem or Israeli Grape Juice? Heinz or Israeli Ketchup?