UAB - Ulpan Aviv Bertele

07/10/2026

We are waking up to this morning once again. To the brutal images. To Hamas pickup trucks inside Israeli territory. To the desperate pleas for help from the residents of the Gaza envelope on the news. To the uncertainty. To the years they were held hostage. To all the wounded. The fallen. The families that were torn apart. The loved ones who didn’t come home.

"A land that devours its inhabitants"—that is what was once written about the place where we live. But on October 7th, three years ago, those words took on a deeply agonizing meaning. Today, we remember all those who are no longer here with us.

06/10/2026

Let’s be honest: sitting in a sterile, fluorescent-lit public classroom trying to conjugate Hebrew verbs sounds like a special circle of hell.

So yeah, I’m pretty glad I skipped the public system and ended up here instead—mostly because here, crying over irregular verbs actually comes with alcohol. 🍻

Cheers to another semester of surviving Hebrew. Good luck to the new students—you're going to need it (and another drink)."

02/10/2026

Chapter 6 of my fabulous podcast למה לי פוליטיקה עכשיו is now LIVE!

The polls are closed. You voted. So… now what?In Episode 7 of למה...

30/09/2026

Sunday reset, but make it academic. ☕️📚

Getting all the prep done today so future-me can survive the first week of the Fall semester without a meltdown. Who else is frantically organizing their life right now?

25/09/2026

חג סוכות שמח מכולנו ב-UAB
🇮🇱🌿🏳️‍🌈

25/09/2026

Here is a fun, engaging Facebook post to promote your podcast episode:

🗳️ "Wait... Election Day is a PAID day off?!" 🏖️🇮🇱

For many Olim and first-time voters, experiencing an Israeli election for the very first time is a total shock to the system. From party campaigners shouting right outside the school gates to the entire country turning into a massive beach day (that you’re still legally expected to vote on!)—it is an absolute circus. 🎪✨

In the latest episode of למה לי פוליטיקה עכשיו?, Margo and I sat down to break down everything you actually need to know before October 27th:

🔍 Where the heck is your kalpi? (Spoiler: You can't just vote wherever you want like in the US!)

📝 What is Pinkas HaVochrim? And why you need to fix your address now before it closes.

🤫 The golden rules: Why wearing a party shirt into the voting station is a fast ticket to getting turned away.

⏰ Exit polls: What time the famous midgam drops at 10:00 PM.

Whether you're a seasoned local or trying to figure out what letters go on your voting slip (Emet? Mahal?), we’ve got you covered with a fun, no-nonsense guide.

Everything you need to know about Election Day in Israel, explained...

23/09/2026

When did speaking Hebrew in Israel become something you need an excuse for?

Recently, a post on LinkedIn caught my eye. An Olah shared her surprise when another Oleh opened a networking Zoom call in Hebrew. Her reaction was: “Wait… why are we speaking Hebrew?”

Her point was about doing your homework before a call. But the underlying message revealed something deeper—and far more common:

Many Olim still treat Hebrew as an obligation. A transactional tool you use only when you’re forced to at the post office or the bank, rather than the natural shared language of the place you chose to call home.

Think about it:
If two immigrants meet on Zoom for business in London, would anyone ever say: “Wait, why are we speaking English?”
Of course not.

When you live in Israel, choosing Hebrew isn’t an awkward mistake or a lack of research. It’s an act of ownership. It’s saying: I belong here. We share a common ground.

Starting a conversation in Hebrew—even when your accent isn't perfect, even when you stumble—isn’t about showing off. It’s about stepping out of the expat bubble and truly living your life here.

Hebrew isn't just something you "need to get by."
It’s the key to making Israel feel like yours.

Next time you have a call or grab a coffee with a fellow Oleh: try opening in Hebrew. See what shifts.

What’s your default when you meet another Oleh in Israel—English or Hebrew?

22/09/2026

Did you know that the guests we invite into the sukkah (אושפיזין) and the modern Hebrew word for hospitalization (אשפוז) come from the exact same root? 🍋🌿

It sounds surprising at first, but the linguistic trail connects Roman travel inns, ancient Aramaic texts, and 20th-century Hebrew innovators:

🔹 From Rome to the Talmud: The Latin word hospitium (inn, lodging, hospitality) made its way into rabbinic Aramaic as ushpiza (אושפיזא)—originally meaning an inn or hostel, while the innkeeper was the ushpizkan.

🔹 The Sukkah Guests: By the time the word appeared in the Zohar, the focus flipped from the hosts to the guests themselves—giving us the Ushpizin we welcome during Sukkot.

🔹 To the Modern Hospital: Meanwhile, hospitium in Europe evolved into words like hospital and hospice. When Hebrew linguists needed a verb for admitting someone to medical care, they looked back at that same ancient root and coined לאשפז (le’ashpez).

At its core, the entire journey of this word is about one thing: shelter, care, and making space for people who need a place to be taken in.

I wrote a short post breaking down the full story, the Talmudic references, and how this ancient loanword evolved over centuries.

👉 Read the full story here:

"I will invite to my meal the exalted and holy אושפיזין" (Order of אושפיזין, Ari's version)Many people traditionally invite the אושפיזין into their sukkah—a term referring to seven of the Jewish patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, and David. This custom...

20/09/2026

לכל הצמות והצמים וכל מי שביניהם - גמר חתימה טובה ויום משמעותי 🙏

17/09/2026

Если вы давно следите за UAB, то наверняка знаете мою Беллу. Какая же она удивительная душа! Мне посчастливилось познакомиться с ней благодаря её партнеру Антону, который тоже учится у меня.

Зимой 2025 года она попала в теплые объятия Авивы и с тех пор занимается дважды в неделю. Начинала с уровня для начинающих — A3, потому что после государственного ульпана хотелось мягкой посадки. А дальше случился настоящий взлет: на днях Белла завершила академический уровень D1 (что соответствует уровню «Далет» в университете!). Смахните вправо — там кусочек её финальной презентации по израильскому фильму, который Авива просто обожает: «Недвижимость — история любви».

Кроме того, Белла активно занимается общественной деятельностью здесь, в Израиле, и сближает самые разные сообщества — а это то, что всегда находит отклик в каждом из нас.

И привет всем лентяям, которые ноют, как тяжело доехать из южного Тель-Авива до площади Государства: Белла дважды в неделю приезжает из Хайфы! Потому что для неё Авива — настоящая королева иврита. И ведь чистая правда.

Дорогая Белла, я тебя обожаю. Ты невероятно дорога моему сердцу, и я горжусь тобой и твоим ивритом — до Москвы и обратно. Как минимум.