Our Story

In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we decided to go on a trip until the restrictions in the country eased…

It was August, the restrictions were tightening, and after years in the education system, I decided to take a leave of absence.

With four children aged 16, 14, 11, and 7, and a partner who works remotely, we were looking for an affordable destination where we could stay for a long time. We rented out our house and booked tickets to Krakow, Poland…

The night before the flight, we were already packed and had taken COVID tests. We decided to check the restrictions once more just to be sure…

To our surprise, we discovered that the conditions had changed, and anyone arriving in Poland would be required to quarantine for two weeks…

It took us a few moments to digest the news, and after the disappointment and stress, we began to act and search diligently for another destination that we could fly to the next morning before the new tenants entered our house and before the test results expired.

This is how we found ourselves putting the kids to sleep while my partner and our two older daughters searched for a relevant destination.

It was already past midnight, and at 2:00 AM, we booked tickets to Milan, Italy, for 11:00 AM.

We woke up the kids and told them we were going to Milan…

The kids, who were shocked by the change, asked, “Where is Milan???"

On the way to the airport, we started planning the trip…

The trip in Milan and Northern Italy was amazing, and after the COVID period, we felt true freedom…

Since Italy was expensive, and there were still restrictions, we looked for a more affordable and pleasant destination and flew to Portugal.

One goal was to collect the passport that had been waiting for me there for some time. (The children and my partner have European passports). The second goal was to travel and stay until things calmed down.

We traveled throughout the beautiful Portugal, met families like ours who felt they needed a break after all the lockdowns and stress, and I started asking myself the question, “Why go back?”

The conversations included essential questions about life, purpose, the next generation, desires, dreams, and especially about our future and the future of our children.

We began researching through all available channels: Facebook groups, people we knew, consulting with family, and opened up the entire globe, going through country by country…

Weather, proximity to Israel, language, culture, education, cost of living… Meanwhile, we visited schools in Portugal, and after about a month, we made a decision—the new destination was Madrid.

Even before we arrived, we set up meetings with schools, real estate agents, and decided on an area to live in.

Within a week, we moved into an apartment, bought mattresses and basic supplies from IKEA, and started a new life.

At first, it wasn’t easy, but thanks to many kind people and a supportive community willing to help, we overcame all the difficulties.

Like everyone, we were most concerned about how the kids would adjust. For our eldest daughter, we realized there was a problem finding an educational framework. She is 16, in 11th grade, and the chances of her taking her matriculation exams in English or Spanish were almost impossible. We understood that the best solution for her would be to finish the year in high school in Israel. We organized family arrangements, and with a heavy heart, she returned to Israel. This was the first time in my life that I felt I was making a decision that was good for her but not for me, where the heart and mind didn’t align. Although we set up a monthly visit plan with video calls at least three times a day, it didn’t reduce the complex situation we found ourselves in. Today, she is in 12th grade, living with us, studying for her matriculation exams remotely, and will take them externally.

The other children started at the Jewish school, which provided a soft and pleasant entry. Up to 20 children per class, two staff members, a calm atmosphere, some of the staff spoke Hebrew, and there were one or two Israeli children in each class.

My children thrived in the atmosphere and warm treatment, and I felt they were finally in the right place.

My youngest son, who entered first grade without knowing English or Spanish, was equipped with useful notes in both languages: I need the bathroom, I’m hungry, I’m thirsty…

And we, in the first few months, were focused on building new lives for ourselves. We looked for friends and Israeli families with children of similar ages, created joint activities, got to know the surroundings, banks, errands, transportation.

The Israeli community played a significant role in our settlement in the place. The importance of a supportive community, a place to open your heart, ask questions, and allow our children to feel at home in their mother tongue is crucial in maintaining our identity in a new and unfamiliar world.

The reason for establishing this community is to give back what I have received and continue to receive from this amazing community—support, help, and a place to open your heart for anyone in need, now and in the future.