In week three of ynet Global’s aliyah vlog series, created in partnership with Nefesh B’Nefesh, Danielle Adessky finally reaches Israel, Arielle Sabol enters the final days before her family’s move, and Daniel Bielak finds a hands-on connection to his aliyah plans through gardening.
All three are making aliyah with the help of Nefesh B’Nefesh, in partnership with Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, the Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael, and Jewish National Fund-USA.
Danielle Adessky
For Danielle, the journey she has spent months preparing for is no longer theoretical. Her first video follows the emotional and exhausting trip to Israel, from packed bags and airport stress to the growing realization that she is leaving one life behind and beginning another. “This does not feel real,” she says during the journey.
The route is not always glamorous. There is luggage trouble, little sleep and the general chaos of international travel. Excitement gradually gives way to exhaustion as she travels through New York and waits to board the flight that will take her to her new home.
But as the plane approaches Israel, the mood changes. “This is literally a dream come true,” Danielle says before landing.
Danielle Adessky
Her second video picks up where many aliyah stories transition into their next chapter: after the airport celebration, as the realities of settling into life in Israel begin. Danielle arrives tired and feeling unwell after barely eating or sleeping during the journey. She also faces the immediate practical demands of getting established, including arranging an Israeli phone number, scheduling appointments and preparing to open a bank account.
The first day is difficult, but after some rest and coffee, Tel Aviv begins to work its magic. Soon, Danielle is sitting near the beach, working on her videos and trying to process the fact that this is no longer a visit. “I never in my life would have thought that I’d be here doing this, living my life here,” she says. By the end of the video, her verdict is considerably less uncertain. “Oh my God, I love it here,” she says.
While Danielle is settling into life as a new olah, Arielle is still preparing for her own journey.
With only days remaining before she leaves the United States with her husband, Alex, and their daughters, Romi and baby Libi, the family has entered the stage when ordinary activities begin to feel significant. “This is our last week here in the U.S.,” Arielle says. “It’s a crazy feeling.”
Arielle Sabol
There are errands to finish and practical details to resolve, but Arielle is also trying to slow down and enjoy the family’s remaining time in the U.S. together. Walks, meals, drives and trips to the pool are no longer simply part of the routine. Each one becomes an opportunity to soak in the familiar moments that have shaped their lives before they finally return home to Israel.
Arielle is excited about the move, but her biggest concern is how her daughters will cope with the transition. “My biggest concern is how the girls will do,” she says. “I know they’re resilient and it’s a good age and they’ll do great.”
Her video shows aliyah from a parent’s perspective, where excitement about the future exists alongside questions about schools, routines and how young children understand such a dramatic change. For the adults, moving means forms, flights and logistics.
For the children, it means leaving behind familiar rooms, friends, toys and possessions. In one conversation, the family explains why certain things cannot come with them to Israel. It is a small moment, but one that captures the reality of moving a family across the world. Still, Arielle remains optimistic. “Everything will work out one way or another,” she says. “It always does.”
Daniel Bielak
Daniel’s latest chapter offers a quieter and more literal interpretation of building a life in Israel.
In his video, Daniel spends time gardening as he prepares for his first months living on a kibbutz in northern Israel. The work is practical, but it also becomes a way to connect with the land and begin imagining the life he is going to build after making Aliyah. After choosing Israel as the place where he wants to study, work and build his future, he is now taking the first tangible steps toward making that vision into a reality. The gardening scenes provide a calm contrast to Danielle’s airport travels and Arielle’s countdown. They also offer a fitting symbol for the aliyah process itself. Putting down roots takes time. It involves patience, work and the willingness to care for something before seeing the results.
This week, all three participants are at different stages of the same journey. Danielle has crossed the ocean and is beginning to establish her new routine. Arielle is preparing her family for the final leap. Daniel is finding a deeper connection to the place he has chosen to call home.
One is landing, one is leaving and one is planting.
Together, their stories show that aliyah does not become real in a single moment. It happens gradually, through stressful journeys, family conversations and the small experiences that begin to make Israel feel like home.
Watch week three of ynet Global’s aliyah vlog series, created in partnership with Nefesh B’Nefesh, or catch up on the journey so far: Watch Week 1 and Watch Week 2.