Language Isn’t Everything – Returning Home [audio]
Natalie starts off by describing her mom's recent visit to Israel and a batch of letters she saved from Natalie's year abroad in 1991-92, in which Natalie described her life in Israel as a student; first guest Cynthia Melenson (Utah - Omer) 2015;
Narrations of Life – Returning Home [audio]
The show opens up with the sounds of Summer, as Natalie records poolside during her morning shift. This show features Natalie speaking at different sections throughout the day....
We Need More Jews to Come Home…..Yallah! – Returning Home [audio]
Natalie opens by describing getting off course in the Jordan Valley, ending up in an Arab encampment, finding herself a bit frightened, wishing for a stronger jewish presence in these peripheral parts of Israel; Natalie speaks with Doron Klein, CEO of Telfed, the South African Zionist Federation of Israel; Moshe Dejman, new oleh from Baltimore, about settling in, dealing with a medical crisis in Israel; David Brenner, founder of PartnersInAliyah.org, about current trends in N. American aliyah and the mentoring program which matches families in Israel to new olim.
No Future for Jews in Exile – Returning Home [audio]
Natalie speaks with Sarah Kramer, a Brooklyn woman planning on making Aliyah. Sarah is in her 60s, is a single mother and grandmother, and has a straightforward style
War!! – Returning Home [audio]
Natalie talks frankly giving a play-by-play of how her sons were sent off to fight, how she learned of the war, and what her thought are concerning the arab terrorists who share the land of Israel.
Come Humble – Returning Home [audio]
Natalie kicks off the show speaking proudly about the various travels and activities her teenage children are doing independently.
Waves of Experiences – Returning Home [audio]
Natalie speaks with Marc Rosenberg, VP of Diaspora Partnerships for Nefesh b'Nefesh, the organization responsible for North American Aliyah to Israel.
Pesach and the Ability to Move Forward – Returning Home [audio]
Natalie opens by sharing her thoughts of Pesach cleaning....
Be Ready to Run – Returning Home [audio]
Natalie speaks with Aleeza Ben-Shalom about life since Aliyah (2021) and how she and the family are managing since Oct.
Returning Home To Israel Is Possible If You Want It – Returning Home [audio]
Natalie speaks with people about living in Israel giving you information and tools to do so too.
Finding a Home in Israel – No Hebrew Needed – Returning Home [audio]
Natalie speaks in this show about the difference between Chanukah in Israel vs. in America; First guest Aleeza Ben Shalom recalls how her aliyah came about;
Filling A Need: 2 Stories of Olim Who Changed their Careers – Returning Home...
Natalie starts off discussing how basketball coach and player Amar'e Stoudemire is observing Shabbat and making Jews proud, and how all Jews should keep Shabbat proudly
An Oleh from India – Returning Home [audio]
Natalie interviews Avraham Moshe Fansapurkar of Mumbai, who plans to make Aliyah in June. Avraham is 38, single, and wants to find a Jewish woman to marry.
Exotic Little Getaways – Returning Home [audio]
Natalie takes us through her daily routine, to the 2nd hand store, to a neighbor to borrow a hot plate, and more, all while sharing antecdotes on different things happening around her. In the midst of this, she speaks from the bus on her way to a shabbat weekend getaway in Ashdod. Finally at the end, she breaks the "good mom" character and openly complains about her kids, explaining that life in Israeli is not easy, and not simple, and asking the audience "when does it get easier?"
The Savvy Traveler – Returning Home [audio]
Natalie begins the show by speaking about the need to be FLEXIBLE in Israel, and how things often do not go according to plan. Meet Marty Paz, Las Vegas
Study Abroad in Israel – Returnung Home [audio]
Natalie interviews Hila Oz (24) who made aliyah from Los Angeles to Jerusalem; Hila stresses the burden of student debt and explains the benefits of earning a higher degree in Israel through one of the universities here, which are 1) much less expensive than American colleges and 2) have English programs of study. To find out more, visit thrivestudyabroad.org or ipledgeforisrael.org where you can take a short survey.
Living With Integrity – Returning Home [audio]
Natalie starts off by describing the change in life during the Nine Days in her community
One Woman’s Story – 30 years in Israel – Returning Home [audio]
Natalie starts by mentioning her recent trip to America and her sad discovery that many American Jews do NOT want to make aliyah; guest Riva Schertzman joins the show and Natalie takes her through her aliyah story which started in 1991. Riva and her husband came during the Gulf War, when only Russians were moving to Israel. They have since built a wonderful life of five children and 17 grandchildren. Riva and her husband live in Betar Illit.
Chanukah is Here! – Returning Home [audio]
Natalie begins speaking about Chanukah in Israel and how it is special; first guest is Nechama David, who made aliyah as a single adult in 2002 and got married here, lives today on Kibbutz Shluchot and has 2 girls; second guest is David Bentley, 61, Australian who recently moved to Israel to be with his elderly mother who is ill. Final segment Natalie speaks with Meir Raskas, Neve Daniel, about Hatzalah Yehuda and Shomron volunteer medics, Chanukah in Israel, and the ease with working remotely today, eliminating the employment excuse for making aliyah.
Meet Pete….in Haifa – Returning Home [audio]
.but it was just that. A joke. After two divorces, his sons suggested he really do it. And he did.
Turning on the Switch – Returning Home [audio]
Natalie speaks today with Go'el Jasper who made aliyah from Baltimore in 2004, and discusses how he suddenly wanted to live in Israel. Some people are planners, and others act by instinct. Go'el talks about how some people in the Diaspora live "comfortable" lives and how it is so much more fulfilling to live in Israel. Natalie's second guest is Arielle Peleg, 26-year-old olah who moved from Philadelphia in 2018 on her own after a 3-week Me'or program in Jerusalem. Arielle lives in Petach Tikvah, a very Israeli city, and describes feeling chanukah and seeing it so alive.
War, Politics, and the State of the Jew – Returning Home [audio]
Natalie opens by discussing the coming of Summer the end of the war; first guest Nechama Greenfield making Aliyah from Teaneck to Ashkelon in June
Advice for Newcomers…”Roll With It” – Returning Home [audio]
Natalie opens by discussing the end-of-the-year pool parties happening in Susya for the regional schools, and the beauty of the national-religious lifestyle she notices in teen girls
Faces of Aliyah – There, Here and Now – Returning Home [audio]
Natalie speaks with Moshe Dejman originally from Venezuela and discusses his upcoming Aliyah from Baltimore; Jackie Donner, cofounder of LawFlex which she established to assist olim attorneys; and Lauren Isaacs, Director of Herut Canada, a 24-year-old single woman who recently made aliyah while on a work visa.
Change Keeps Us Young – Returning Home [audio]
Natalie welcomes us to the program by recaping the past few weeks which were packed with Jewish holydays, Rosh HaShana, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. She then plays earlier recorded pieces where she shares some wisdom like "make a change in your life" and "in Israel, you can make your mark." Natalie plays from the Israeli radio while driving, translating for us - giving us a taste of life in Israel.
Rosh HaShana and New Olim – Returning Home [audio]
Natalie starts off describing Rosh haShana in her yishuv;
Summertime and Sound-Waves – Returning Home [audio]
Natalie introduces the show by catching us up on her children's summer activities and remarking on their independence
Protests and Conflict, Even in Our Home – Returning Home [audio]
Natalie speaks about the contrast between the real life in the small towns and the news stories depicting strife and division throughout the country;
Everyone Meets in Israel – Returning Home [audio]
Natalie starts off by bragging about her children and their strong attitude of Jewish Israeli pride; then Natalie speaks with Nechama Greenfield who is moving from Teaneck to Ashkelon in 6 days
Coming to Israel to Live. Not to Die. – Returning Home [audio]
In this episode, Natalie speaks to us from the heart touching on the benefits of avoiding small talk and the short memories of Israelis, before launching into an interview with Nathaniel Washay, (Detroit-Efrat 2019) who shares his motivation for making aliyah....he didn't want to be an old man departing the airplane, kissing the ground, and being whisked off to an old-age home! He wanted to come to Israel to LIVE, not to DIE.