"The definitive ‘point of no return’ moment for me was in the summer of 2014 during Operation Protective Edge"
Editors note: This post was written in March 2022, where Yaffa was the Head of Content at F2 Venture Capital. Yaffa is now working at monday.com's office of the CEO, focusing on content.
I’m 26 and originally from South Africa! I now live in Tel Aviv and have been in Israel for the past 7 years. I recently married my wonderful husband and currently lead the content and marketing at F2 Venture Capital, a leading early-stage VC in Israel.
I used to be religious, and after high school, I went to Israel on a gap year to learn Jewish studies, tour, volunteer, and more. Something clicked during that year; I gained immense love for the country and developed a general sense of belonging. The definitive ‘point of no return’ moment for me was in the summer of 2014, during Operation Protective Edge. I was volunteering in a kibbutz up north, and the sense of community, belonging, and shared experiences during the hardships of conflict made me want to move here permanently.
After that year, I went back to South Africa and realized that the moment to move was now. So I spent some time preparing (and placating my parents) and made Aliyah months later.
I do feel Israeli. I chose to leave South Africa, and the comfortable and pampered lifestyle that I was used to, for Israel- for me it is the choice to leave your home that makes me, and all Olim, Israeli.
Israel, especially Tel Aviv, is just this melting pot of culture, so I never had that sense of pushing myself to embody this classic ‘Israeli’ persona, rather I chose to be my version of Israeli.I think that is part of the beauty of this country.
This is not to say I don’t still have, and will always have, the feeling of being an Olah. One big regret I have is not serving in the army. I definitely do feel that serving would have helped me integrate, but at the same time for several reasons, that was not my path. Yet after volunteering, studying at Hebrew University, meeting my husband, and working in Hi-Tech, I do feel very settled here.
I have the incredible opportunity to lead the marketing and content of F2 Venture Capital, one of the most active early-stage venture capital firms in Israel. On any given day I do all the marketing, branding, public relations, and content for our firm. I also help our portfolio companies with their marketing needs, such as branding, content, or whatever it may be.
I’m very blessed that everything worked out the way it did. I majored in Philosophy and Literature, which, of course, prompted the “you’ll never get a job” rant from many. However, I believe my studies got me to think analytically and helped me develop my passion for writing.
I started out my career freelance content writing, but I always made sure to maintain blogs on JPost and Times of Israel where I wrote about my experiences as I navigated moving to Israel. After my studies at Hebrew University, I was recruited to a private intelligence agency due to my writing presence online.
My biggest advice? Get your work out there! Be public, and showcase what you got. I made a name for myself and got referred to F2 Venture Capital by a friend (thanks Adi!), and the rest is history.
Living here is not easy, especially coming from a place like South Africa, which has a starkly different culture. You have to develop the tough skin that comes from living here. You’ve got to be pushy but also not take anything too seriously. It's funny for me when I go back to my family in South Africa and they think I come off as rude. But really- it is just survival skills!
Speaking of family, being away from them is by FAR the hardest challenge, one that does not get easier as time goes on as I’m sure many Olim can agree.
Honestly, work-wise, being an Olah has felt like an advantage in many respects. Most of my work is in English, I worked in an international setting, and I have found people to be incredibly supportive.
I’m here because I believe in living in Israel, simple as that. I created a life for myself, I made my friends, met my husband here, have a job I love, and created my own community. That keeps me going.
Everyone's life is so different but my general advice is to be prepared as much as possible. Figure out your first steps, your apartment, your work, your network, etc.
Also, ask yourself if you are coming for right reasons, reasons you can lean on when times get tough (and they will). For me, it was that I was passionate about Israel and that I knew that this would be part of my life.
As soon as you get here, I would recommend putting yourself out there personally and professionally and making a group of friends that are going through something similar you are up to.
Lastly, for work, be active in your job search and make a name for yourself!
Just this week I ordered a Bubble (carpool van service) because my bus to work was running late. My stop is literally outside my apartment and the app says the van is coming in 4 minutes, so, I take my time. But a few seconds later I get a call from the driver, screaming at me about how I’m late and he’s about to leave me. I (uncharacteristically) start screaming back. Back and forth we go as I distract him long enough to run downstairs and hop in the Bubble. As I step in, the driver and I lock eyes, burst out laughing and he concludes with – “you made some good points there well done!”
Moments like these- that pierce the tough exterior symbolic of Israel as a whole, can put a smile on my face all day.
I’m 26 and originally from South Africa! I now live in Tel Aviv and have been in Israel for the past 7 years. I recently married my wonderful husband and currently lead the content and marketing at F2 Venture Capital, a leading early-stage VC in Israel.
I used to be religious, and after high school, I went to Israel on a gap year to learn Jewish studies, tour, volunteer, and more. Something clicked during that year; I gained immense love for the country and developed a general sense of belonging. The definitive ‘point of no return’ moment for me was in the summer of 2014, during Operation Protective Edge. I was volunteering in a kibbutz up north, and the sense of community, belonging, and shared experiences during the hardships of conflict made me want to move here permanently.
After that year, I went back to South Africa and realized that the moment to move was now. So I spent some time preparing (and placating my parents) and made Aliyah months later.
I do feel Israeli. I chose to leave South Africa, and the comfortable and pampered lifestyle that I was used to, for Israel- for me it is the choice to leave your home that makes me, and all Olim, Israeli.
Israel, especially Tel Aviv, is just this melting pot of culture, so I never had that sense of pushing myself to embody this classic ‘Israeli’ persona, rather I chose to be my version of Israeli.I think that is part of the beauty of this country.
This is not to say I don’t still have, and will always have, the feeling of being an Olah. One big regret I have is not serving in the army. I definitely do feel that serving would have helped me integrate, but at the same time for several reasons, that was not my path. Yet after volunteering, studying at Hebrew University, meeting my husband, and working in Hi-Tech, I do feel very settled here.
I have the incredible opportunity to lead the marketing and content of F2 Venture Capital, one of the most active early-stage venture capital firms in Israel. On any given day I do all the marketing, branding, public relations, and content for our firm. I also help our portfolio companies with their marketing needs, such as branding, content, or whatever it may be.
I’m very blessed that everything worked out the way it did. I majored in Philosophy and Literature, which, of course, prompted the “you’ll never get a job” rant from many. However, I believe my studies got me to think analytically and helped me develop my passion for writing.
I started out my career freelance content writing, but I always made sure to maintain blogs on JPost and Times of Israel where I wrote about my experiences as I navigated moving to Israel. After my studies at Hebrew University, I was recruited to a private intelligence agency due to my writing presence online.
My biggest advice? Get your work out there! Be public, and showcase what you got. I made a name for myself and got referred to F2 Venture Capital by a friend (thanks Adi!), and the rest is history.
Living here is not easy, especially coming from a place like South Africa, which has a starkly different culture. You have to develop the tough skin that comes from living here. You’ve got to be pushy but also not take anything too seriously. It's funny for me when I go back to my family in South Africa and they think I come off as rude. But really- it is just survival skills!
Speaking of family, being away from them is by FAR the hardest challenge, one that does not get easier as time goes on as I’m sure many Olim can agree.
Honestly, work-wise, being an Olah has felt like an advantage in many respects. Most of my work is in English, I worked in an international setting, and I have found people to be incredibly supportive.
I’m here because I believe in living in Israel, simple as that. I created a life for myself, I made my friends, met my husband here, have a job I love, and created my own community. That keeps me going.
Everyone's life is so different but my general advice is to be prepared as much as possible. Figure out your first steps, your apartment, your work, your network, etc.
Also, ask yourself if you are coming for right reasons, reasons you can lean on when times get tough (and they will). For me, it was that I was passionate about Israel and that I knew that this would be part of my life.
As soon as you get here, I would recommend putting yourself out there personally and professionally and making a group of friends that are going through something similar you are up to.
Lastly, for work, be active in your job search and make a name for yourself!
Just this week I ordered a Bubble (carpool van service) because my bus to work was running late. My stop is literally outside my apartment and the app says the van is coming in 4 minutes, so, I take my time. But a few seconds later I get a call from the driver, screaming at me about how I’m late and he’s about to leave me. I (uncharacteristically) start screaming back. Back and forth we go as I distract him long enough to run downstairs and hop in the Bubble. As I step in, the driver and I lock eyes, burst out laughing and he concludes with – “you made some good points there well done!”
Moments like these- that pierce the tough exterior symbolic of Israel as a whole, can put a smile on my face all day.
I’m 26 and originally from South Africa! I now live in Tel Aviv and have been in Israel for the past 7 years. I recently married my wonderful husband and currently lead the content and marketing at F2 Venture Capital, a leading early-stage VC in Israel.
I used to be religious, and after high school, I went to Israel on a gap year to learn Jewish studies, tour, volunteer, and more. Something clicked during that year; I gained immense love for the country and developed a general sense of belonging. The definitive ‘point of no return’ moment for me was in the summer of 2014, during Operation Protective Edge. I was volunteering in a kibbutz up north, and the sense of community, belonging, and shared experiences during the hardships of conflict made me want to move here permanently.
After that year, I went back to South Africa and realized that the moment to move was now. So I spent some time preparing (and placating my parents) and made Aliyah months later.
I do feel Israeli. I chose to leave South Africa, and the comfortable and pampered lifestyle that I was used to, for Israel- for me it is the choice to leave your home that makes me, and all Olim, Israeli.
Israel, especially Tel Aviv, is just this melting pot of culture, so I never had that sense of pushing myself to embody this classic ‘Israeli’ persona, rather I chose to be my version of Israeli.I think that is part of the beauty of this country.
This is not to say I don’t still have, and will always have, the feeling of being an Olah. One big regret I have is not serving in the army. I definitely do feel that serving would have helped me integrate, but at the same time for several reasons, that was not my path. Yet after volunteering, studying at Hebrew University, meeting my husband, and working in Hi-Tech, I do feel very settled here.
I have the incredible opportunity to lead the marketing and content of F2 Venture Capital, one of the most active early-stage venture capital firms in Israel. On any given day I do all the marketing, branding, public relations, and content for our firm. I also help our portfolio companies with their marketing needs, such as branding, content, or whatever it may be.
I’m very blessed that everything worked out the way it did. I majored in Philosophy and Literature, which, of course, prompted the “you’ll never get a job” rant from many. However, I believe my studies got me to think analytically and helped me develop my passion for writing.
I started out my career freelance content writing, but I always made sure to maintain blogs on JPost and Times of Israel where I wrote about my experiences as I navigated moving to Israel. After my studies at Hebrew University, I was recruited to a private intelligence agency due to my writing presence online.
My biggest advice? Get your work out there! Be public, and showcase what you got. I made a name for myself and got referred to F2 Venture Capital by a friend (thanks Adi!), and the rest is history.
Living here is not easy, especially coming from a place like South Africa, which has a starkly different culture. You have to develop the tough skin that comes from living here. You’ve got to be pushy but also not take anything too seriously. It's funny for me when I go back to my family in South Africa and they think I come off as rude. But really- it is just survival skills!
Speaking of family, being away from them is by FAR the hardest challenge, one that does not get easier as time goes on as I’m sure many Olim can agree.
Honestly, work-wise, being an Olah has felt like an advantage in many respects. Most of my work is in English, I worked in an international setting, and I have found people to be incredibly supportive.
I’m here because I believe in living in Israel, simple as that. I created a life for myself, I made my friends, met my husband here, have a job I love, and created my own community. That keeps me going.
Everyone's life is so different but my general advice is to be prepared as much as possible. Figure out your first steps, your apartment, your work, your network, etc.
Also, ask yourself if you are coming for right reasons, reasons you can lean on when times get tough (and they will). For me, it was that I was passionate about Israel and that I knew that this would be part of my life.
As soon as you get here, I would recommend putting yourself out there personally and professionally and making a group of friends that are going through something similar you are up to.
Lastly, for work, be active in your job search and make a name for yourself!
Just this week I ordered a Bubble (carpool van service) because my bus to work was running late. My stop is literally outside my apartment and the app says the van is coming in 4 minutes, so, I take my time. But a few seconds later I get a call from the driver, screaming at me about how I’m late and he’s about to leave me. I (uncharacteristically) start screaming back. Back and forth we go as I distract him long enough to run downstairs and hop in the Bubble. As I step in, the driver and I lock eyes, burst out laughing and he concludes with – “you made some good points there well done!”
Moments like these- that pierce the tough exterior symbolic of Israel as a whole, can put a smile on my face all day.
I’m Israeli-born, Silicon Valley raised. I hold a BSc. in Marketing and Entrepreneurship from the University of Arizona. From my peers, I’m the “jack of all trades” marketer, helping companies scale and go to market.
In my free time, I kick-box, DJ, go to the beach, and do fun passion projects like this. If you’re an Oleh/Olah in tech and would love to be featured, let's connect on LinkedIn!