Tomorrow night is Game 1 of the NBA Finals between my beloved New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. This is the Knicks first Finals appearance since 1999. The city is electric right now with strangers talking to each other on the street, Knicks gear everywhere and that collective energy that New York so desperately needs. I wrote about what this moment means to me, including the time thirty years ago when I was the first Knicks ball girl at the Garden over here. I’m gathering friends to watch together for each of the games so reply to this email if you want in! Let’s Go Knicks!

And here’s a real New York Jewish connection story for you: at the Tablet Magazine Hanukkah Bazaar in 2023, a woman came up to me and said “you have the best guide to Tel Aviv.” I had no idea who she was. Turns out she was the niece of Pam, the woman who made me the first Knicks ball girl back in 1996. Pam had shared my Tel Aviv guide with her niece Stephanie.

Stephanie and I have since become friends, and today she and Pam are on this episode of How Was Your Week? with Julie Klausner talking about their own Knicks stories. Listen for when Stephanie refers to herself as a nepo niece. I love the internet and I love this city, and both of these women!

I’ve been a fan of Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus since day one. The thing I love most about it is that it’s introduced me not just to women I already knew and admired, but to women I’d genuinely never heard of and I’ve learned so much from them. The most recent one that stuck with me: Governor Janet Mills of Maine. A woman who looked Trump in the eye, said “see you in court,” and won. Women in power who are not afraid to stand up to men in power give me so much hope right now. If you haven’t listened to this episode yet, do.

Two weeks ago, I went to the Radiohead Kid A Mnesia Motion Picture House experience at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. There are plenty of events where I believe non-superfans can and should show up, explore something new, and walk away having learned something. This is not one of those. This is for die-hard Radiohead fans, and honestly, ideally ones who are 35+. This article from Gothamist says everything I’d say and more. I enjoyed it, I wouldn’t rush there though…

Father of the Bride was one of my favorite movies growing up, and that love continued into college where my best friend and I watched it every single night before bed our Sophomore year in our shared dorm. My parents love to remind me that I once ran up to Martin Short in the audience of a Broadway show as a kid, screamed “I loved you as Fronk,” and ran away. So when MARTY, Life is Short dropped on Netflix, I knew I had to watch it immediately. I loved learning more about him, his life, his career, the losses he’s carried with a kind of grace that made me feel genuinely moved. Highly recommend whether or not you have a childhood Fronk story of your own.

I know I’m late to this one, but I just finished reading Good Material by Dolly Alderton on my Kindle. I couldn’t get into her first book because it felt too specifically British for me to fully sink into. But this one? I loved it. Which is interesting, because I’m not typically a fiction person. The main character is a 35-year-old struggling stand-up comedian in London whose girlfriend unexpectedly ends their relationship, and the book follows him trying to make sense of why. What makes it special is that Alderton gives you both sides of the story. I read it in basically two sittings because it moved so fast.

Speaking of books, I’ve been alternating between reading on my Kindle and listening, and Jamie Lynn Sigler’s And So It Is: A Memoir of Acceptance and Hope was a recent listen. Perfect for train rides, long walks, cooking, cleaning… I genuinely was not familiar with her story beyond knowing she played Meadow Soprano, and wow. It was heartbreaking to learn that she hid her Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis for nearlylove th 15 years, including the entire time she was filming The Sopranos. She was advised to tell no one, and she listened, and it clearly cost her so much.

I’m so glad she’s finally sharing this story. She has a real platform, a great support system, and her friendship and podcast MeSsy with Christina Applegate, who is navigating her own MS journey, is exactly the kind of community that makes people feel less alone with something really hard.

My feelings about Pulling the Thread with Elise Loehnen are complicated. I found her interview with Rachel Goldberg-Polin really hard to listen to. The full picture of Rachel’s story wasn’t shared, and it felt particularly jarring because this isn’t a Jewish or Israel-focused podcast where listeners would already know Hersh’s story. It felt like a missed opportunity to really introduce new listeners to something so important and moving, and instead it landed out of context.

That said, I did really enjoy her episode with Alexandra Sifferlin about solving medical mysteries. It hit close to home, especially the part about how doctors aren’t taught to say “I don’t know” in medical school, so when they’re faced with something they can’t figure out, they often reach for a diagnosis rather than sitting with the uncertainty. I feel genuinely lucky to have a team of doctors who say “I don’t know” to me fairly regularly. It’s frustrating in the moment, but I’ll take honest over confidently wrong every time.

I’ve been a Bloomeffects loyalist for years. Their Tulip Dew Shield Glow SPF Sunstick has become a permanent bag staple. My daily face SPF does the job most of the time, but on days when the sun is particularly aggressive, I want something I can grab and apply to my face or body without any fuss. This checks every box: easy to carry, easy to apply, no excuses.

My dad deserves a proper shout out for introducing me to Release Radar on Spotify. Every Friday morning it drops a personalized playlist of new music curated based on your listening history. Is it perfect? No. Sometimes something sneaks in that I have no interest in, and occasionally it’s not even technically “new.” But in general it’s remarkably spot on, and it’s been my go-to for discovering music lately.

The Spotify homepage has always felt overwhelming and impossible to navigate to me, too much noise, too many rabbit holes. Release Radar cuts through all of that.

My cousins were away for a week so I watched my nephew for a few days. One of the things that brought both of us genuine joy were these magnetic figures that he looped across my fridge, freezer and dishwasher and was so excited to see still intact the next morning. And to be honest, even though he’s gone, I still have them on my fridge because they make me smile. It’s the simple things, isn’t it?

And did I say, LET’S GO KNICKS!!

I sat in the theater with my leg stretched out, popped a Tylenol, hoping it would pass. It didn’t.

The next day, I was at ’s book launch event filled with nearly 1,000 people. Adeena had requested that Makers of Israel provide a gift for the raffle, and hearing her speak about something I’d co-founded, in a room full of potential supporters, felt like one of those moments that makes a year and a half of work feel worth it. My friends cheered beside me, my hands were shaking as I recorded it. Completely exhilarating.

And then the second I hit stop while recording on my phone, my heart sank. What if this is a blood clot? The minute the event ended, I jumped in a cab and headed to the emergency room.

It wasn’t a blood clot. They weren’t sure what it was, but it wasn’t that.

By now I’m used to the shrug. I’m used to being told “I’m not sure” because it’s rare for me to get concrete answers and diagnoses. What I’m not used to, and refuse to get used to, is how hard you have to fight just to get the tests that may eventually point toward an answer. A doctor’s visit that ended in exactly that shrug. An x-ray just to unlock the MRI request. Days of phone calls just to confirm health insurance will cover the test. All while still not knowing what was wrong. The pain had subsided but my leg was still swollen, and clearly something wasn’t right.

I kept thinking about how many people don’t have the time, the language, the energy, or the stubborn refusal to be told no that it takes to advocate for yourself through this system. I have all of those things, and it’s still exhausting. I will say, I have no patience. Not for being on hold, not for waiting on callbacks, not for sitting with an open loop I can’t close. And this process demands exactly that, at every single step.

I kept wondering what this looks like for someone who doesn’t have what I have. The time, the language, the resources, the energy to fight. I know that’s not nothing. I just wish it didn’t matter so much.

And then I thought about the people I saw in the ER that night. I don’t know what brought them in, but before they were released, they asked for a sandwich. They were offered three kinds and asked for all of them. And a MetroCard. I’m not telling that story to judge it. I’m telling it because it says everything about what we’re asking one system to carry. When the emergency room becomes the place people turn for a meal and a way home, something has gone very wrong.

When I finally got approval for the MRI, the panic started to set in because I’m deeply claustrophobic. As my name was called, a patient leaving turned to me and said “you’re in great hands.”

Jennifer was so calm and reassuring that something in me immediately relaxed. She set me up on a table outside the radiology room with an eye mask on, Bon Iver in my headphones, and by the time I was slid into the machine, I never actually saw it. It was very different from my last MRI where I sobbed uncontrollably the entire time.

The results showed nothing wrong with the bone, there was some fluid and inflammation. Still no real explanation.

And somewhere out there, a bill that may or may not arrive.

The care itself was genuinely incredible. Jennifer made sure of it. And that’s exactly what makes this so frustrating, because it shouldn’t take what it took to get there. The phone calls, the prior authorizations, the fighting just to confirm that a necessary test would be covered. And at the end of it all, I still don’t know what’s wrong with my body, and I still don’t know what it’s going to cost me.

As someone who has spent a lifetime navigating a rare disease, I’m used to the uncertainty. What I’m not used to, and refuse to get used to, is a system that makes you earn access to care before you can actually receive it.

The care exists.

Jennifer proved that.

It just shouldn’t be this hard to access.

One of the suggestions she offered was to create a board of advisors on Gemini, so that when I input something, I can have it viewed through the lens of people I value and admire. At a time when I feel like I’m lacking clarity, this felt like a useful way to bring in outside perspective, especially from people whose input I respect.

Some of these people came to me immediately. They felt obvious, like voices I already hear in my head when I’m trying to make decisions. Others I chose more intentionally: people I don’t know as well, but whose perspectives might challenge me or push me outside of my own thinking patterns. I wanted the board to feel both grounding and expansive. Familiar enough to trust, but diverse enough to interrupt my assumptions.

I wanted it to be an even number, just because, and so here are my 14 advisory board members:

• Mark Cuban: He is the reality check every dreamer needs to actually build something that lasts.

• Sara Blakely: Sara represents the power of starting before you’re ready and the refusal to let a “no” stop a good idea. She’s there to remind you that the most successful paths are often paved with mistakes and a healthy sense of humor about failure.

• Mark Duplass: He is the fit for anyone who needs to be reminded that you don’t need a gatekeeper’s permission to be an artist; you just need a camera, a pen, and the guts to start.

• Sam Harris: He is on the board to strip away ego and cognitive bias, forcing a confrontation with what is actually true, regardless of how we feel about it.

• Lena Dunham: Lena represents the bravery required to be “too much” in public. She’s there to help navigate the intersection of personal neurosis and artistic output.

• Anderson Cooper: He represents the ability to hold space for pain without being consumed by it. He provides a frequency of deep gentleness and journalistic integrity.

• Esther Perel: She is on the board to remind us that our internal world is a reflection of our external relationships, and that eroticism (in the broadest sense) is the ultimate antidote to trauma.

• Rachel Goldberg-Polin: She provides a frequency of profound parental love and moral clarity, reminding the table of what matters when everything else is stripped away. She also infuses Jewish text and tradition into everything, ensuring the conversation remains rooted in a lineage of resilience and wisdom.

• Suleika Jaouad: Having lived between the kingdoms of the “well” and the “sick,” she represents the resilience found in life’s waiting rooms. She is there to find the poetry in the “in-between” stages of life.

• Don Miguel Ruiz: He represents the internal work of unlearning the stories we tell ourselves. Through the Four Agreements, he provides the frequency of personal integrity and the quiet power of not taking the world’s chaos personally.

• David Byrne: He looks at the mundane world—the way we walk, the way we build, the way we gather—and finds the music in it. He is there to remind the board that life is a sensory experience and that we should always stay curious.

• Tristan Harris: He understands the invisible forces trying to hijack our attention and our agency. He is on the board to remind us to be intentional about where we put our focus and to protect the “human” in a high-tech world.

• Big Bird: He represents the kindness of the six-year-old self. When the “Grown-Ups” at the table get too complicated, Big Bird is there to ask the most basic, profound questions about belonging, friendship, and whether everyone feels okay.

I loved the concept of this visual that Gemini came up with. An advisory board meeting on the beach at sunset (yes, please!) except it wouldn’t put 14 seats AND me. Someone is missing, they must have called in sick that day.

I definitely had additional people I considered but ultimately decided against but doesn’t mean that they can’t join later, especially if I have to remove someone else from the board for not being as helpful as I hoped.

I’m excited to see how my advisory board helps me navigate things I propose to them.

Who would you have join your advisory board? Reply to this email as I’d love to hear!

P.S: I am currently counting down the hours until I can dive into Famesick, Lena Dunham’s new memoir out today. Fun Fact: Lena is the only one I’ve actually encountered in the wild. I rescued her from a stairwell she was stuck in at The Paley Center years ago. It’s only fair that she’s now on my board…

P.P.S. I keep being hesitant to send this thinking there’s someone I’m forgetting to include on the board!

A few months ago (or maybe a year? honestly, what is time anymore), I ran into someone I hadn’t seen since I was 22. The first thing he asked me wasn’t “What are you doing these days?” or “Where are you working?” - questions that can feel loaded when you haven’t seen someone in nearly two decades.

He asked, “What are you excited about lately?”

And it stuck.

So here’s a list of things I’m excited about right now:

My sleep has been a struggle for as long as I can remember. Falling asleep isn’t the issue (one episode of Seinfeld usually does the trick), but staying asleep feels nearly impossible. I’ve tried prescriptions (helpful, but not something I want to rely on), THC (also helpful, but not a full solution), and every routine tweak imaginable.

One thing that has made a difference: the Nodpod weighted sleep mask. It’s incredibly calming. No elastic, no clasp, just gentle, evenly distributed weight. I’ve also been winding down with chamomile lavender tea before bed, which feels like a small but meaningful ritual. I’m currently eyeing their body version, which is like a less restrictive weighted blanket. I saw someone post in a Slack group I’m in that she’s not buying it because she doesn’t want to become more reliant on things she’ll need to travel with. Touche.

My team at Makers of Israel partnered with the incredible, on something I’m really proud of: ZARIZ Shuk to Table Sets. Each one includes a signed copy of her new cookbook (ZARIZ, out April 28), and they make such a thoughtful Mother’s Day gift.

I am newly an avocado person. I know, I know. How did I make it this far? For me, it’s always been a texture thing. I need it completely smooth, which means guacamole or very well-mashed avocado toast. Enter: the OXO Good Grips Scoop And Smash Avocado Tool, which has quickly become my favorite kitchen tool. I love putting the smashed avocado on Dam Good Sourdough Multigrain English Muffins.

When I first met my friend Rachel (back in 2020, when she was working in beauty), I asked her for the one skincare brand I needed to know. She didn’t hesitate: Bloomeffects. I’ve been hooked ever since.

For my birthday, she gifted me the hanni Splash Salve In-Shower Body Balm in Sparkling Palmarosa, and it’s one of those products that makes an everyday routine feel a little more indulgent.

While I was at the NIH last month, I wandered into the gift shop—which, unexpectedly, has a great selection—and picked up a Lego notebook. As a lefty, finding notebooks that actually lay flat is harder than it should be, and this one somehow gets it right.

Also, it felt good to support the NIH in even a small way.

I’ve really been loving Track Star. there have been some standout episodes, especially with Maya Rudolph and Ethan Hawke, both of which I absolutely adored.

Most recently, Josh Shapiro was on, and I just love him. He comes across as so genuine and grounded. He was also recently on Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso, one of my favorite podcasts, talking about his new book, Where We Keep the Light, which I’m about halfway through on audiobook.

Speaking of light, I’ve been lighting Shabbat candles every Friday night since October 7, and it’s become a ritual I deeply look forward to. There’s something grounding about marking the end of the week in that way.

Lately, I’ve been using these British Colour Standard striped candles from Humble House, and I’m completely obsessed with them.

I can’t stop listening to, watching and reading anything by Rachel Goldberg-Polin. Her strength, her voice, her clarity. It’s all incredibly moving. She has a book coming out, When We See You Again, on April 21. I can’t wait to get my hands on it and likely read it in one sitting. If she became a religious leader, I’d probably join whatever she’s leading.

My friend Adam hosts the podcast The Buildout, where he interviews bar owners about the behind-the-scenes story of how they built their spaces. The stories are fascinating, full of details I’d never think about, and really highlight what goes into places so many of us take for granted.

My favorite episode so far is on Long Island Bar, which immediately moved to the top of my list to check out. I also really enjoy watching it, not just listening.

With spring (hopefully) around the corner, though I’m writing this with my heat still on in April, I’ve officially reintroduced my handheld fan into my daily life. Especially for my perimenopause girlies: don’t leave home without one.

I am constantly impressed by the success of Alex Schinasi and Lee Rotenberg’s company, Hulken which brought in $50 million in revenue last year. They’re such down-to-earth founders and I love their podcast, Unfinished Business, talking to people in the D2C world about their challenges, successes and what they’re seeing in the industry. There’s so much to learn from these two powerhouse women. And I am obsessed with my Hulken.

While I’ve been a fan of Red Hot Chili Peppers for years, I realized I didn’t actually know much about their backstory. Last week, I watched The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother Hillel, a beautiful documentary about the band, especially their early days and their late bandmate, Hillel Slovak.

I’ve seen them live at least four times and would go again in a heartbeat. Highly recommend watching this documentary whether you’re a fan of theirs or not.

I heard a lot of songs on SiriusXM last week when I spent a lot of time in the car that I really loved so I added them all to my playlist. I need to re-listen but from what I recall, there’s lots of new music to be checking out. My playlist is here so you can check it out too.

When someone you care about is living through war, it can be hard to know how to show up. My instinct is often to reach out quickly. To say something, anything, that communicates support. I am learning that it’s about being more thoughtful, more observant, and more willing to put their needs ahead of my own discomfort.

There’s no perfect way to do this, and even with the best intentions, you won’t always get it right. I certainly haven’t.

These are a few things I am learning along the way (in no particular order):

1. Read the room. Communication isn’t always straightforward. Their tone can come through in text messages, emojis, voice notes, calls, Instagram posts or DMs. Paying attention to how they’re showing up, rather than assuming, helps guide how and when to engage.

2. Recognize that it’s not one size fits all. Each person has different limitations and capacities. What feels supportive to one person may feel overwhelming or insufficient to another. Honor those differences rather than assume a single approach will work across the board.

3. Check your intention before reaching out. I ask myself whether I’m reaching out because I genuinely want to support my friend, or because I need reassurance that they’re okay. Both feelings are human, but being honest about the difference changes the quality of the support.

4. Follow their lead. If a friend is talking about non-war related life or lighter topics, I stay there. It can be tempting to bring the conversation back to the war, but sometimes what they’re looking for is a sense of normalcy. Sometimes a distraction like Love Is Blind helps more than talking about the shelter they’re currently in.

5. Avoid asking questions they may not be able to answer. Questions about logistics or details of what’s happening can often be found online. Asking them can unintentionally place pressure on a friend who may already feel overwhelmed. They’re likely getting this question from many angles which is exhausting to respond to.

6. Let support be low-pressure. I find it helpful to send messages that don’t require a response. Simple check-ins or “thinking of you” and “sending love” notes communicate care without adding to someone’s emotional load. A heart emoji goes a long way.

7. Offer presence without expectation. Make it clear that you’re available, without expecting a reply or update. This creates space rather than obligation. This gives them the opportunity to reach out when/if it’s a good time for them.

8. Consider tangible gestures. Sending a small gift while supporting a local business where your friend is can be a meaningful way to show you’re thinking of them. Don’t expect a grand response because you may not get it.

9. Respect silence. Not hearing back isn’t necessarily personal. More often, it reflects capacity rather than connection. It also doesn’t mean you should stop reaching out.

10. Understand that things are constantly changing. Especially emotions. Someone living through war isn’t in a fixed state day to day. Respect that their emotional landscape can shift quickly, and meet them where they are in that moment.

11. Offer practical help. You cannot change their current situation, but you can offer to be helpful in ways that ease their road. Offer to help look for flights or accommodations if they’re looking to get out of the situation they’re in. Don’t offer if they don’t bring up leaving - let them decide what’s best for them unless they ask for your input.

12. Don’t try to cheer them up to make yourself feel better. Avoid the urge to fix their mood if the real goal is just to ease your own discomfort with their pain.

13. Don’t project your fears on them. They are already carrying enough; try not to add the weight of your own anxieties about the situation onto their shoulders.

14. Be mindful of the language you use (or don’t use). The words we choose matter. Be intentional about the phrases you use to ensure they are supportive rather than triggering or dismissive.

Over time, I’ve come to understand that supporting someone through something as ongoing and complex as war is less about saying the right thing and more about being attuned, patient, and respectful of where they are. I’m still learning what this looks like in practice, and I know it’s not always easy to navigate. But I’ve found that the most meaningful support, in my experience, is the kind that creates space rather than fills it.

Whatever the reason, here I am again—reigniting a practice that helps me feel grounded, clear, and connected. So, for the first time since eeeek May 2024, You Heard It Here First is back.

Lately, I’ve been navigating a lot of change—internally and externally—and I know I’m not alone. I’ve been reflecting on what it means to sit in the in-between, to feel stuck and still want to move forward. While I don’t have it all figured out (who does?), I’m working on something that’s helping me move through it. More on that soon.

In the meantime, here are a few things that have been inspiring me lately…

WRITING NEW YORK: A PHOTO INSPIRED WORKSHOP:

Join me on July 29th from 12-1:15pm EST to tap into your creativity with a 75-minute writing workshop inspired by photos of New York City—no need to be in NYC or write about it. Just show up, write, and see where the images take you.

Sign up here

I’m so proud to share what me and my team at Makers of Israel have been working on: two limited-edition boxes that directly support Israeli makers and community driven initiatives.

The Israeli Artisan Box
A beautifully curated collection of handcrafted goods from women-led studios across Israel.

The Israeli Community Box
Each item tells a story of survival, strength, and hope. 100% of proceeds go to communities rebuilding after October 7th.

This is more than a gift—it’s a powerful way to give back.

Learn more & order!

Also, if you happen to be in the Berkshires this weekend — stop by the Kimama Halfmoon Summer Fest as we’re curating a marketplace there — we’ll be selling lots of our Makers products along with these new boxes and have another vendors who will be showcasing and selling their products as well. More info here.

As I noted up top, I’ve been endlessly listening to podcasts, and not enough music - so here are some episodes I’ve been loving lately:

Listen: Sam Fragoso is one of my favorite interviewers. He does his research, digs deep, asks excellent questions and has incredible guests. Some of my favorite episodes of Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso are with Jenny Slate, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Michelle Zauner and Jesse Eisenberg. I’m late to Call Her Daddy, but after enjoying her documentary, I decided to check out some of Alex’s podcast episodes. A favorite is Amy Schumer (she can’t do much wrong in my book in general) and most recently Mariska Hargitay.

Watch: The Bear, Season 4, Episode 7. Under the table. That’s all.

Cook: Every other week (as I get bored easily so weekly doesn’t work for me), I’ve been following this Ambitious Kitchen recipe (note: I do not follow recipes, ever, which says a lot about this recipe) yet I do put my spin on it by adding chia seeds, hemp seeds, flax seeds and turmeric.

Try: When it’s so hot outside, I feel so silly putting on a full face of makeup knowing that it’s going to sweat off so I’ve been focusing on keeping my skin as hydrated as possible and Sarah Creal’s Moisture Source has been the perfect product to do just that. A little goes a long way. Fun fact: Sarah helped me get my first job at Bobbi Brown Cosmetics back in 2005.

Donate: Last call to donate to this campaign that we’re running. On June 16, a missile hit just one block from Cakery in Tel Aviv. By morning, owner Moran Gil had reopened—baking through the night. Your $18 donation buys Cakery pastries to include in Citizen’s Kitchen meals for soldiers and displaced families. A taste of resilience and solidarity. Donate here.

A few months later, Makers of Israel was born.

The concept is simple: a curated marketplace featuring Israeli-made goods from artists and small businesses across the country. Every item tells a story—of resilience, of artistry, of a culture that refuses to be broken. By buying from Makers of Israel, customers aren’t just getting a beautiful product; they’re investing in the survival and success of Israel’s creative community.

Our marketplace is dedicated to supporting Israeli makers by providing them with a global audience while fostering a deeper appreciation for Israeli craftsmanship. You do not need to be Jewish to purchase from Makers of Israel. Our products range from Judaica to art, home decor, tableware, paper goods, and cooking classes.

Many Israeli makers and small business owners rely on tourism in Israel, and since October 7, there has been a huge decrease in visitors. In trying to find new revenue streams, these makers face obstacles such as limited marketing resources, high shipping costs, and language barriers to access new customers internationally.

That’s why we created Makers of Israel.

Last week we launched our Spring Collection including products for Passover including our Chag Table Box.

This endeavor has been really special to me:

• Working with my incredible female co-founders who make me feel like a slacker because they’re such smart workers.

• Discovering makers and small business owners — having the opportunity to learn their stories, connect with them and help support their endeavors.

• Giving back to nonprofits and mission driven causes such as Citizen’s Kitchen and Bring Them Home.

• Witnessing orders come in from customers around the world falling in love with our products and our makers stories.

• Giving back to Israeli society in a meaningful way during a really challenging time.

  Shop Now

  Every purchase is an act of solidarity, a statement that we stand together.

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Here are some of the products I’m currently coveting:

Here are some of the products I already own and love:

Shop Makers of Israel

As this winter has been very intense in New York so far, many people are getting sick and now we’re facing the fires in the California — these are all products that can support your immune system and lungs.

These are my favorite tried-and-true products and remedies for both prevention and recovery:

Immune-Boosting Essentials

Beekeeper’s Naturals Propolis Spray
This has been my go-to product ever since Beekeeper’s Naturals became the first sponsor of my Made Visible podcast. I loved having Carly Stein, the founder, on the show to share the brand's fascinating backstory. This spray is always in my medicine cabinet and travel bag. I use four sprays twice daily, and it feels like an instant immune boost with a delicious taste.
*They’re currently offering free products to people affected by the fires in LA, click here to learn more

Beekeeper’s Naturals Propolis + Vitamin Liposomal
This recent addition to my routine provides a daily immune boost, whether I’m healthy or fighting something off. It’s a pouch-based supplement that’s easy to use — just once a day. While the flavor isn’t sweet, it’s much better than standard cough syrup, or most syrups for that matter.

Oscillococcinum
I’ve been using these tiny sugar-like pellets since high school to ward off colds or flu-like symptoms. They’re incredibly convenient for travel, and I credit them with preventing countless illnesses over the years.

WTHN Herbs
I was thrilled to find these herbal formulas in pill form, a game-changer compared to the awful-tasting herbs concoctions prescribed by functional medicine doctors when I was a preteen. I alternate between the Fast Forward and Daily Immune Support blends, depending on my needs.

Immune Boosting Drinks

Eden Grinschpan’s Immunity Bombs
I’m a longtime ginger enthusiast, so I was thrilled to discover Eden’s immunity bombs. They’re perfect for prepping in advance — I freeze them in Souper Cube Silicone Freezer Trays and transfer them to a labeled Stasher bag. When needed, I pop one into a mug, add hot water, a touch of honey, and enjoy. It’s soothing, refreshing, and provides a satisfying ginger “burn.”
*The founders of Souper Cubes lost their home in the LA fires — the best way to support them is to support their business.

Homemade Vegetable Broth
Living in Brooklyn, I’ve had to replace my go-to Second Avenue Deli matzoh ball soup with my own version. I save veggie scraps in the freezer, in a Stasher bag, then boil them with water, garlic, ginger, onion, turmeric, oregano and bay leaves to create a comforting broth. I’m not one to follow a recipe - I just figure it out as I go. Sprinkle a little of this and a little of that, how bad can it be? Once it cools off, I freeze it in Souper Cube trays for easy access whenever I need a soothing meal.

Annie’s Organic Ginger Elixir
My cousin introduced me to this gem, and it’s now a staple in my routine. A mix of ginger and hibiscus, it delivers a satisfying burn with every sip. I take a chilled shot of it a few times a day, and it always hits the spot.

Airborne 1000mg Vitamin C with Zinc Tablet
This used to be just a go-to as I boarded a plane but it’s now part of my repertoire for staying healthy. I’ll pop one into a 1/4 cup of water and chug it. It’s refreshing and revitalizing.

Breathing Essentials

Betterair Biologic
This compact air purifier is a lifesaver. Recommended by a friend, it helps with allergies and creates a cleaner environment. It’s small, portable, and app-connected for easy monitoring. I always keep it in my bedroom and bring it along when I travel.

doTERRA Breathe Oil
This essential oil is my go-to for congestion relief. A couple of drops in my palms or diffuser provide instant soothing effects.

Vicks Sinex Moisturizing Saline Ultra Fine Nasal Mist with Aloe
This is so good to do right when you wake up and right before you go to sleep to clear the airways. It’s like a netipot without all the mess.

Beekeeeper’s Naturals Nasal Spray
I’m a big fan of this nasal spray especially because it doesn’t have steroids in it and feels soothing to use. Since it’s natural, you can use it several times a day. It’s great to use after the Vicks nasal mist.

Calming Essentials

Hugimals
I love the calming weight of Hugimals without the overheating I experience with weighted blankets. Sam the Sloth has been a lifesaver, especially during a recent bout of steroid-related jitters. I’m also eyeing the Heart to Hug Pillow, created in partnership with The Joyful Heart Foundation.

Beekeeper’s Naturals Kid’s Throat Soothing Lollipops
I spent so much time at the pediatrician as a kid that a lollipop reward was always appreciated. I love that Beekeeper’s Naturals created three different flavored not-filled-with-sugar lollipops made for kids (and adored by adults!) filled with propolis, Vitamin-C and Zinc.

Personal Care Essentials

Gen See Comfort Level Lip Mask
This is one of my favorite products that I’ve ever purchased. I highly recommend using it with a lip brush instead of your fingers (for sanitary purposes). It’s extremely moisturizing to put on before bed.

Megababe Squeaky Clean Hand Sanitizer:
I started using this during the pandemic and it’s been in my bag ever since. I buy the pump to refill it to make it easy and not waste more plastic. It smells good, doesn’t leave a weird residue on your hands and a little goes a long way.

Image Skincare - Ormedic Balancing Lip Enhancement Complex
This is my wintertime essential for dry lips. The applicator ensures it stays hygienic, and it glides on smoothly for instant hydration. I have one sitting at my desk that I put on countless times throughout the day.

Get Back to Life Essentials

Beekeeper’s Naturals Propolis Gut Health
I started taking these when I finished steroids as I knew my body needed extra support and a bit of a detox. I’ve taken probiotics for as long as I can remember yet felt that I needed an extra dose which is where these came in handy.

These products and remedies are my personal toolkit for staying healthy and managing symptoms when sickness strikes. Whether you’re looking for prevention tips or recovery solutions, I hope this list inspires you to build your own wellness arsenal! I am not being paid or sponsored by any of these brands; these are simply products I personally use and love.

The products and remedies mentioned here are based on my personal experiences and what works for me. Everyone’s body is different, so it’s important to find what suits your individual needs. Before trying any new health or wellness products, please consult with your doctor or a trusted healthcare professional to ensure they’re safe and appropriate for you.

I decided to be very 2024 and I asked ChatGPT to analyze my picks—and I have to admit, its insights were pretty spot on:

Takeaways from 2024:

• You’re growing: These songs hint at significant personal growth, whether through challenges (“Wreckage”) or hope (“Good People”).

• You’re reflecting: There's an ongoing theme of looking inward or backward while moving forward (“Burial Ground,” “Just Before the Morning”).

• You’re finding joy amid the storm: Tracks like “Happiness” suggest an ability to find moments of light in a complex year.

Your Year in One Sentence:

A journey through introspection, resilience, and renewal, marked by self-discovery, connection, and the pursuit of joy.

And now onto my music picks of 2024….

Top Songs of 2024

• The Last Dinner Party - Sinner

• Bleachers - Tiny Moves

• Brittany Howard - Red Flags

• St. Vincent - Broken Man

• Hila Ruach & Assaf Amdursky - עדן

• Crowded House - Oh Hi

• Belle & Sebastian - What Happened to You, Son?

• Pearl Jam - Wreckage

• Michael Kiwanuka - Floating Parade

• The National - Heaven (Talking Heads cover)

• Rui Gabriel & Kate Teague - Target

• The Decemberists & James Mercer - Burial Ground

• Tame Impala & Justice - Neverender

• Local Natives - Just Before the Morning

• Cage the Elephant - Neon Pill

• Mumford & Sons & Pharrell Williams - Good People

• Jack White - That’s How I’m Feeling

• Father John Misty - I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All

• The Heavy Heavy - Happiness

• Chappell Roan - Good Luck, Babe!

Top Albums of 2024

• Stop Making Sense - A Tribute Album

• Noga Erez - The Vandalist

• Father John Misty - Mahashmashana

• St. Vincent - All Born Screaming

• Brittany Howard - What Now

• The Last Dinner Party - Prelude to Ecstasy

• Vampire Weekend - Only God Was Above Us

Here’s my 2024 playlist that was on repeat with a lot of the above songs and artists as well as others that did and did not come out in 2024.

Happy holidays and new year!

Here’s to more joy, peace, love and light in 2025.

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this version of me again

Let me slow down 

And be with her

Always evolving - Rupi Kaur

Six months into 2024. 

One of the most challenging six months of my life.

It’s hard to believe that it’s been six months since the start of the year where we were desperate for a new year yet aware that the changing year wasn’t going to actually change the chaos of the world. 

And somehow, it’s only gotten worse. 

Every time I sit down to work, I feel uninspired. There is so much suffering, pain, trauma and division in the world right now that as much as I love the work that I do, it doesn’t feel as meaningful as it had a year ago.

The Instagram algorithm is only showing me the horrifying antisemitism in my city and around the world and information about the war that feels like it will never end. 

The Facebook algorithm is only showing me Facebook groups and pages that I’m not in, that are irrelevant to me and annoying. 

The LinkedIn algorithm is only showing me people I haven’t been in touch with in years celebrating career milestones and people I don’t even remember how I’m connected to who are looking for jobs.

And then there’s me…

I truly love the work that I do. 

I really, really do.

I love helping clients who are really good at their craft build their businesses. And I love supporting companies in creating a more inclusive environment for their employees with invisible illnesses. 

And yet, the thought of marketing all of these offerings is more daunting than ever. Last year I recognized that I spent so much time marketing Made Visible (podcast > writing classes > speaking engagements) that many people didn’t know I was still business coaching. In the last nine months I’ve spent so much time talking about Israel, the war, antisemitism and fundraising that many people think about me exclusively as an advocate.

And while I may go through phases of talking about one topic more than another – I am still passionate about all of it. It’s all a huge part of who I am and how I want to spend my time.  

So, shameless plug – if you know anyone who:

• is looking for support with their business from a business coach 

• Works at a company who is looking to bring in a speaker about invisible illness (National Disability Employment Awareness Month / NDEAM is coming up in October!) 

• wants to sponsor Made Visible the podcast to bring it back in the fall 

Please reach out as I’d love to connect with you – harper@harperspero.com 

In seeking inspiration, I decided to listen to the Good Life Project podcast which I hadn’t listened to in a while yet saw that Emma Gannon was this week’s guest and I was a huge fan of her podcast Ctrl Alt Delete. Every single word that Emma shared on this episode was so relatable to where I’m at right now.

This in between phase. This knowing that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and also having no idea when it will be visible. And what will be there. 

Listening to this episode, I was reminded that I had a defunct Substack called "Getting Comfortable in the Discomfort” which I launched as I settled into life in Tel Aviv in early 2022, and here I am…getting settled in Brooklyn in 2024. So, it felt appropriate to revisit this Substack and see where it takes me…  

And speaking of Brooklyn…I am in love with my apartment and my neighborhood and being steps away from the promenade and Brooklyn Bridge Park. Every time I am lacking inspiration (which is all too often these days), I go for a walk, get some fresh air, stare at the East River and people watch. I avoid making eye contact with tourists who want me to take their photo with the city skyline behind them. 

I’m trying to be patient with myself in not having all the answers. In not having all the motivation that I am used to having. In accepting that I’ve entered a new phase in my life and getting comfortable in the discomfort. 

Where are you finding inspiration these days? I’d love to hear.

Email me at harper@harperspero.com

In the meantime, here are some things I’m loving right now – it’s the little things, right? 

WATCH: I’ve been counting down the months for The Bear season three to be released and now that it’s here I’m doing everything in my power to savor it. I don’t want to binge it as I usually would. I’m four episodes in and while I’m not entirely sure how I feel about it so far, I also don’t think they can disappoint me. I’m obsessed with the casting, characters, dialogue and plot line. It’s one of the most brilliant shows ever.

LISTEN: In trying to minimize my time on Instagram (not happening so successfully), I’m getting most of my news from podcasts. These are the ones I’m loving right now:

• Unholy - Two Jews on the News

• Call Me Back

• The Ezra Klein Show

• Making Sense with Sam Harris

APPLY: I am a Credo Beauty junkie. I have long-time favorites and also have recently discovered some new products I’m loving including:

• Gen See Cruise Liner Eye Pencil

• Bloomeffects Tulip Dew Sunscreen Serum SPF50

• Goldfaden MD Doctor’s Scrub Exfoliator

EAT: I am absolutely obsessed with these frozen Tru Fruit raspberries covered in white and dark chocolate. I don’t even like white chocolate and I am crazy about these.

As I’m figuring out the second half of this year — I’d love to hear from you. What do you want to hear more about from me? Is there a service you’d like me to offer? Is there a program you’d like to go through with me? How can I support you? I’m all ears.

Over the last few months I’ve been accumulating this list…

I’ll feel Israeli when….

• I hear a parent scream “daiii” to their kid and I don’t feel sick to my stomach 

• I’m not disgruntled when someone elbows me on the street as they pass by even though there’s more than enough room on the street to be nowhere near me

• I don’t miss closets 

• I wear a Uniqlo jacket in October when the temperature has dropped a few degrees below 75 farenheit / 23 celcius  

• I carry a roll of toilet paper in my purse with used tissues inside to blow my nose

• I stand in the middle of the street unaware that there are other people who are looking to walk by

• I’m used to putting my groceries in the plastic bag myself at the store

• I have magnets from photo booths at weddings covering my fridge 

• I’m not annoyed getting hit in the head with a matkot ball on the beach 

• I embrace cats, especially street cats 

• I’m not annoyed by guys playing soccer in the middle of the street on Ben Gurion / Ben Yehuda 

• I can determine army time without counting on my hands

• I write the date starting with the day, not the month 

• I don’t roll my eyes at guys on dating apps posing in Times Square - that is not New York City

• I line my empty glass bottles and wine bottles in a row on street corners like they’re ready to be knocked down by bean bags 

• I push in front of people not acknowledging there’s a line 

• I have a binder filled with sheet protectors I’ve collected from all my different doctor’s appointments and tests

• I drown myself in perfume, unclear how much I’ve put on already…and I leave my mark walking into every room I’m in 

• I’m coughing and sneezing without covering my nose or mouth

• I touch and hold every single seat on the airplane while walking 

• I wear pajamas and socks with sandals in public, and especially enjoy pajamas with cartoons on them

• I watch videos on the street without headphones in and take calls on speakerphone in public

• I’m not disgusted by the majority of Tel Avivians who roll and smoke cigarettes 

• I say link-o-lin when pronouncing the street, Lincoln 

• I pick my nose while walking down the street and find nothing wrong with it 

• I’m not annoyed thirty minutes into being at a restaurant when we still haven’t been served water

• I start my sentences saying “eeehhhhm”

• I wear my phone on a strap like a bag 

• I’m late to dinner, doctor’s appointments or anything for that matter without feeling bad about it 

• I listen to voice notes on speakerphone in quiet places

• I’m attracted to men wearing denim shorts 

• I get my hair dyed in the street outside of a salon 

• I’m as comfortable sleeping on a thin mattress on the floor as I would be in a real bed 

• When I say “I also”

• instead of “me to”

• My phone ring is a song or anything but the standard ringtone 

• I’m distraught by the rain because it’s the most disruptive weather I’ve experienced in a while 

• I pick my teeth at the table since I’m given a toothpick at every restaurant 

• I talk about my bank account being “in the minus”

• I stick my fork into a shared plate to eat instead of using the individual plate in front of me

• I chat with the bank teller, my waitress, my Wolt delivery man, a shop-owner or another stranger about my personal life as if we’ve known each other forever 

It’s such a small city – I truly walk everywhere (to the point where my friends think I’m nuts, but that’s what you get with a born and raised New Yorker). On a given day, I can message a friend and suddenly moments later, I’m meeting them for lunch or a drink. No planning required. 

The other day, my friend texted saying she and her daughter were going to the party store on my corner and would stand below my balcony to say hi. It was so much fun to interact with them in person for a few minutes, even if it was from a bit of a distance. 

These are moments that wouldn’t happen in New York. Ever. Sure, there are spontaneous experiences that occur in New York, like the night that Prince announced he was playing at City Winery a few blocks from my house and I ran out of my apartment faster than I knew I was capable of to get tickets. 

But I’m talking about the simple things. Being able to see friends in a convenient way. Especially because the pandemic can make everything harder. Last summer, I was scheduling with friends weeks in advance, picking spots that were outdoors and COVID friendly (which I still do!), and then factoring in potential weather challenges. Oftentimes, we’d cancel or reschedule. I was feeling over the whole thing, even though I loved seeing and hugging my friends in person. 

Unfortunately, I’m on a bit of a hiatus right now from seeing people because Omicron is raging. I saw a stat the last week of January that said more than one million people had COVID in Israel in the month of January. There’s only nine million people in this country. Think about that. 

So lately, instead of being spontaneous, I’ve been doing a lot of settling in. 

I’m so glad that when I first arrived, I decided to get settled as quickly as possible. With the help of the wonderful Laurence of Quietly, I furnished my entire apartment in two weeks. Two months later, I’m adding tchotchkes, books, and art, which is fun to do over time. Little did I know after a month of being here, I’d be back in isolation spending all of my time at home and feeling incredibly grateful to have a furnished, cozy amazing place of my own. After two years of not having my own space, I feel so happy in my home. 

Of course, not every part of “getting settled” is fun. Along with getting the apartment furnished, I needed to set up a bank account, get health insurance, apply for a passport, and handle a bunch of other logistical things that I find extremely exhausting to deal with. A few weeks into my time here, I had a very defeating day of trying to open a bank account and being turned down because the branch had “no appointments for new customers in the next month” and were unwilling to help me with a next best solution. 

I sulked on my way home as a friend passed by on her bike, screamed my name, and ended up giving me a pep talk. “You can’t expect the same results here that you do in New York,” she said. “It’s different. Service is different. You have to let go of things and accept what’s out of your control. Yes, there are times to fight but choose wisely. You won’t survive here if you try to control everything.” 

I huffed at her, not ready to accept that she was right, but she was. A native New Yorker trying to control all outcomes in a new country where I don’t speak the language (more on that at a later point..). Psh….good luck, Harper. 

That’s the flip side of living in a place where spontaneity is embedded into daily life. I like to be in control, and that’s just not how it is here. Especially with bureaucracy. 

So, each day I try to take a deep breath, choose which battle I’m willing to fight, and put things on the to-do list for the next day. My energy and patience level are lower these days so I have to be selective of what I can handle. The other day I had a burst of patience and spoke to Amex, Chase, Sonos and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) records department all in a matter of 1.5 hours. It felt like quite the accomplishment. (And let’s be clear, yes I’m on hold with health insurance as I’m typing this…) 

But ultimately (at least at this point), I’m incredibly happy to be here. 

I can’t say I miss New York yet. It’s freezing cold and snowing and I still wouldn’t be going to indoor concerts or engaging in the experiences I love most in the city. I miss my family, my best friends, pizza and the conveniences of getting whatever I need delivered within 24 hours. 

So, while the bureaucracy stuff here in Tel Aviv is extremely stressful and exhausting, it does make me incredibly happy to be an eight-minute walk from the beach, have close friends nearby who I see impromptu (when Omicron isn’t in the mix), and have access to the freshest and most delicious produce. 

I keep thinking about the book Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff. During these unprecedented times, I think it’s about finding gratitude in the small stuff. Simple pleasures. Thrilling moments.

In late January, I spent my birthday with three friends in the courtyard of my building – this felt like the safest thing to do without staying home alone. I could have invited more friends but 1) several had COVID at the time 2) it felt safer to keep it small. We ate and drank and laughed and had real-life conversations. It was exactly what I needed that day. 

If you had asked me last year on my birthday how I thought I would be spending this birthday, I would not have told you this. (Especially since my last birthday was spent getting the first vaccine). And yet, I’m very happy, even while I’m still figuring out how to live each day of this new life I’ve chosen. 

In February 2008, thanks to my cousin, Cory’s suggestion, I went on Birthright (yes, like most American Jews). I had zero expectations, didn’t read the agenda, refused to let any of my friends from NYC join me (considering I’d never gone to a school/camp/extra-curricular without a buddy) and arrived to a place I’d never been and didn’t have a connection to. While I’m an only child and have always been extremely independent, there was clearly something about this trip that I trusted the organization and didn’t try to chime in or control any part of the trip. I went with the flow…something I’m slowly learning to do, again.

35 Jews ages 18-26 from all corners of the United States, traveled around the state of Israel. We learned about our Jewish heritage, practiced the cultural traditions and explored the home of the Jewish people.

 We hiked Masada where members of my group were bar and bat mitzvahed. Covered ourselves in mud and floated in the Dead Sea. Explored the ruins in Caesarea, where I told myself I’d get married one day. Learned about Kabbalah from David Friedman through his art in Tzfat. Went to Yad Vashem (The Holocaust Museum) and listened to Anne Frank’s best friend speak about their time together. We danced on bars in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and anywhere else that gave us free chasers (shots). We dipped our feet in the Mediterranean Sea, a place that would become a sacred place to me years later. 

I became really close friends with several people on the trip. Some were observing Jews. Some celebrated Christmas. Some had one parent who was Jewish. Others had zero connection to their Judaism until this trip. It didn’t matter -- we were all Jewish in some way or another and had this newfound love of Israel.

After years of eating simple foods, with minimal seasoning and flavor (two dollops of non-chunky marinara on pasta was too much), I indulged in the Mediterranean cuisine. Embracing tomatoes that I’d never enjoyed before, endless falafel and Israeli salad, trying new foods I would have resisted in New York. As someone who has never loved breakfast foods other than bagels and french toast, I indulged in the buffet breakfasts at the cheap hotels we stayed at, assorted salads filled with cilantro, pomegranate, couscous, nuts, eggplant and everything covered in tehina. I’d never eaten these things in my life, let alone been open to it. Let alone enjoyed it!

I couldn’t explain what it was, I felt a connection that I’d never felt before. I’d always been a die hard Manhattanite, who could never live anywhere else, but I found another place to call home.  

On the ninth day of the trip, I called my parents hysterically crying from the Grand Beach Hotel informing them that I wasn’t coming home. 

“You get homesick in the Hamptons, Harper, get on the plane tomorrow. We’ll see you at the airport.”

They didn’t get it. 

I had found a place other than where I was born that I instantly felt a connection with. It was a place with my people, and I felt like I belonged. There were young people like me who had interesting jobs, loved music, food and the beach. I remember how shocked I was that people had tattoos and smoked cigarettes, things I didn’t do but certainly things I didn’t attach to Israeli citizens. I assumed everyone who lived here was religious. I never paid attention in Hebrew School — just memorized my haftorah and “became a woman” and that was the extent of my formal Jewish upbringing. My Jewish identity has always been connected to my family, food and cultural experiences.

After Birthright, I’d committed to a consulting job with a former colleague and knew I had to return to New York. It was temporary so I knew if I saved some money, I could return to Israel.

Three months later in May 2008, I staffed a Birthright trip. It was an opportunity to get back to Israel for free and witness other 18 to 21 year olds fall in love with the country I had. I extended my stay, spending a week in Jerusalem with my co-staff from the trip, Yael, meeting her friend, Maya who has become one of my closest friends here. I went on to live in Hayarkon 48 Hostel in Tel Aviv for two months. Every few days, I would move out of the dungeony dark room with six other people to a private room. The only child in me needed some solo time. 14 years later and a smile washes over my face every single time I walk by its yellow exterior at the memories made in that building, and how I’d never in my life stay there again.

Two months later, I started a job at a company in New York that was not going to last. I was laid off after nine months during the recession as the business crumbled.

This felt like an opportunity. 

I decided to move to Tel Aviv. I couldn’t stop thinking about it and it was clear with the recession that I wasn’t going to immediately find a new job in New York. 

I found a few consulting gigs, signed up for a photography class (that led me to have a photo exhibit at the Aish Center back in NYC), got a work visa and schlepped my overstuffed suitcases to the airport. I’d never seen my parents cry as much as they did as they waved goodbye to me as I headed to my gate. I was leaving the country, claiming to have found a new home.

I couldn’t believe I was leaving my beloved New York and yet it felt so right. 

I found an apartment with Miri, an Israeli woman a few years older than me. She had her own friends and it wouldn’t be until we were no longer roommates that she’d become one of my closest friends. To this day we have no idea how we met — we know someone sent an email thread with info about her looking for a roommate, but we don’t know who sent it to me.

I made friends with Americans, Israelis and others from around the world. Some were citizens while others like me were trying to figure out if this was their new home. I connected with a friend who I knew in middle school and had lost touch with. I made friends through an acquaintance and left the acquaintance behind while gaining his friends. 

“You like music and you’re from New York, you must meet Becky,” several new American friends said. After hearing it so many times, I finally met Becky who instantly became one of my closest friends. And then I met her friends who quickly became my friends.

I spent Thanksgiving and Chanukah 2009 in Tel Aviv, trying to embrace my friends’ family’s traditions. Miri made potato latkes in our apartment and we sat on the floor eating them with her friends. They spoke Hebrew, refused to speak English and the latkes weren’t made with the same love my mom made them with. I felt like an outsider. That was the day I decided I didn’t want to live there anymore. I never wanted to miss a holiday with my family and our traditions again. I hadn’t realized how important they were to me. 

That wasn’t the end of my love affair though. I’d go on to return more than 10 times over 10 years. I’d come for friends weddings, a quick fix or for a few months during the winter to escape cold New York. I never exceeded the three month limit they allow for tourists.

In January 2020, I came to Tel Aviv and sublet an apartment through a new friend on Hayarkon Park. I’d never lived so close to a park and it was so refreshing to be surrounded by nature within a city. Even on the rainiest days, I’d take a walk and embrace the fresh air, stare at the trees and people watch on a bench. As March was approaching, we started hearing about this corona-thing and didn’t think much of it. Miri and I drove from Tel Aviv to Yafo (less of a distance than Union Square to Williamsburg) as her friend called and said he was in the grocery store stocking up on non-perishables. We laughed. Truly. What a joke, we thought.

But it was far from a joke. 24 hours later, my mom had me worried that the borders would close and I was on a plane back to NYC. I didn’t even get to say goodbye to my friends — I threw my stuff into my bags (no packing cubes, just complete shoving items in and hoping the luggage would close). Miri and her mom drove me to the airport because they were afraid of me getting the virus from the cab driver. We hugged goodbye, not knowing how long it’d be until we’d see each other again. Little did I know that would be my last hug (other than my parents) for a full year. I was the only person the plane with a mask, and was pointed and laughed at by the man sitting behind me.

I didn’t want to return to NYC but it felt like the smart decision as I’m immunocompromised, didn’t have a doctor in Israel and wanted to be close to mine in case I needed proper care.

There was not a single day between arriving back in NYC (begrudgingly) that I didn’t think about returning to Tel Aviv. When I wasn’t in panic mode about getting COVID-19, I was often thinking about how and when I’d get back to Israel.

In June 2021, I booked a flight to Tel Aviv for a month. COVID-19 was looking to be on the outs, I was fully vaxxed and ready to go back to my other home. But as the days approached closer to my July flight, the borders weren’t open to tourists — they weren’t going to let me in. I was devastated, canceling my flight, wondering when I’d get back to my place.

I’ve never taken “no” as an answer so well — so this was no different.

I started exploring what it would take to make Aliyah through Nefesh B’Nefesh and become a dual citizen. This is what would allow me back into Israel as soon as possible. There were no restrictions for new immigrants.

According to The Jewish Agency, the Hebrew word “Aliyah” literally means ascent or rise, but for generations it has been used to mean “immigration to Israel.”

So, I jumped on the list of what was needed to make Aliyah as quickly as possible:

• I filled out the application. 

• Had my mom scour her boxes and folders looking for my original birth certificate which was nowhere to be found. Frustrated.

• Emailed the Rabbi who performed my bat mitzvah for a letter proving I’m Jewish. No fee, easy & quick.

• Applied for a new birth certificate. $49. 

• Had birth certificate notarized through a virtual visit with a notary in Florida. $22. 

• Got fingerprinted at the basement post office in Rockefeller Center. $50. 

• Scanned photos of my passport. Printer problems.

• Got passport photos where my face is as round as Violet Beauregarde’s in Willy Wonka. $20 & unable to eat dinner out of disgust from my photo.

• Submitted birth certificate and background check for apostille. $450.

• Nefesh B’nefesh application fee. $50.

• Brought all original documents to the midtown Jewish Agency office for them to scan. 2,000 steps in the August heat and more time walking roundtrip than being there.   

• Emailed the Rabbi again to get a letter with his signature in ink because a scanned copy wasn’t sufficient. Annoyed.

• Virtual interview with a woman at the Jewish Agency confirming which holidays I observe to prove I’m Jewish, what I plan to do for work, will I attend ulpan (Hebrew classes) and who I know in Israel. ½ xanax.

And then, on August 17, 2021, I received an email in my inbox: Mazal Tov! your aliyah application has been approved.

That was it. I was becoming a dual citizen. It was time to book my flight and plan my escape out of New York. I refused to do another cold winter and was ready to live walking distance to the beach.

And so, after eating my favorite meals in New York City, having tearful goodbyes with my best friends and spending Thanksgiving with my family, I boarded a plane to Israel (with more pieces of luggage than ever before) and made the journey back to my other home.

“So, what is it? What do you love about Tel Aviv so much?” I am constantly asked. 

I can never put proper words together. It’s a feeling. It’s a feeling that I can’t describe but am going to try to through this Substack.

Getting Comfortable in the Uncomfortable is my way of sharing my experience with navigating this transition. In all the years I’ve been coming to Tel Aviv, my friends have always referred to my time as vacation. I always pushed back insisting that I ran my business remotely from Tel Aviv, even had clients here, but they said how different it is when you actually live here. I didn’t get what they meant by that actually part until two months ago.

Whether you’re considering making Aliyah, want to learn more about Tel Aviv and Israeli culture, want to know what it’s like to be immunocompromised in another country during a pandemic, are considering taking a plunge of your own or interested to read about the things I’m eating, seeing and doing…I’m glad you’re here. Always feel free to comment or email me at harper@harperspero.com if you have any questions or suggestions for this.

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In all the years I’ve been coming to Tel Aviv, my friends have always referred to my time as vacation. I always pushed back insisting that I ran my business remotely from Tel Aviv, even had clients here, but they said how different it is when you actually live here. I didn’t get what they meant by that actually part until two months ago.

Whether you’re considering making Aliyah, want to learn more about Tel Aviv and Israeli culture, want to know what it’s like to be immunocompromised in another country during a pandemic, are considering taking a plunge of your own or interested to read about the things I’m eating, seeing and doing…I’m glad you’re here. Always feel free to comment or email me at harper@harperspero.com if you have any questions or suggestions for this.

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