FEATURED JOBS
After an eye-opening, remarkable semester at Alexander Muss High School in Israel Spring 1999, Esther Cohen told her parents that she was not going to college but moving to Israel to live on a kibbutz. “They understood my passion and love for Israel but gave me a reality check and told me that I needed to go to college in the States, and then I could move to Israel if I still wanted to,” says Esther.
Esther spent 2000 to 2008 getting a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s at Northeastern University. Then she traveled the world and came home to advocate for Israel on college campuses through the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston. A Boston native, Esther explains that in this time period she “explored my Jewish identity as a young conservative Jewish woman.”
When did she decide to make the big leap? In the summer of 2007, Esther was a participant on the Diplomatic Seminar for Young Jewish Leaders. It was then that she felt compelled to contribute directly to Israel. “I believed in Tikkun Olam, and I was convinced that to change the world for the better, I had to start with my own people in their own land,” she says. With youthful optimism, Esther made Aliyah, but she admits, “I had no overall plan of what I would do when I got there!” This impulsive leap seems common to most of the young immigrants (Olim).
Esther came to Israel loaded with ideas and quickly built a network of friends who shared her desire to somehow make a mark; somehow improve Israel. As Esther expresses it: “Most people who successfully make Aliyah have one thing in common: a zeal to build, change, and create something better—that is what Israelis are best at.”
Upon her arrival in Israel, Esther went to the Ulpan Etzion in Jerusalem—a dormitory environment where young émigrés study Hebrew in a classroom for six months. (A year later my son was at the same Ulpan with students from Canada, Russia, South Africa, Argentina and Australia) After the six months, Esther wanted an authentic Israeli experience and felt Jerusalem was not quite right for her.
“I wanted to improve my Hebrew through interaction with Israelis,” Esther says. She decided to move north to Zichron Yaakov and find a job that would help her become fluent in Hebrew—and earn a living wage. Although she has a Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Management, that kind of work was not available. As new immigrants in all countries, even the highly educated must often find work outside their field. But as Oprah would say, sometimes it’s good to get out of your “comfort zone.” And this proved true for Esther. She started to work for the fifth largest winery in Israel, Tishbi Winery. She did it all, from waiting tables to administrative duties to giving tours. Not only did she learn Hebrew; she learned about viticulture.
Esther discovered a road she never would have taken. She says, “Wine was always an interest for me and through a wine appreciation course, travel and my job, I learned a lot about the art of wine.” The majority of Israeli winemakers are trained in France, Italy, New Zealand, California, South Africa and other traditional wine countries. Therefore, Israeli wine is a combination of old and new world wines. “It is global and yet distinctly Israeli,” says Esther enthusiastically. She continues: “Israeli winemakers bring the culture and style of the country they were educated in and then create an exotic blend of wines that taste like no other.” As the grapes ripened, so did Esther’s knowledge, and the seed of an idea was planted.
After 10 months of working at Tishbi Winery Esther noticed that although tourism is huge in Israel, there was really no “wine tourism.” She recognized the need to organize wine tours throughout Israel’s 200 wineries. Esther’s “aha” moment was when she realized she had an idea that could help Israel—and create a career for herself at the same time. Using the tools of the Internet and her growing web of connections, Esther founded her own company, My Israel Wine Tours. In less than six months, her business began to boom. My Israel Wine Tours creates wine experiences designed to the needs and desires of the clients. A day, a few days, a few hours? A certain kind of wine? A particular location? Esther’s got your personalized tour. Usually Esther is the tour guide, which is a big plus, but lately she is so busy, she is hiring help!
Esther remarks, “Finally I feel as though I found my path in Israel as an entrepreneur in a field that is rapidly getting attention and respect in the international wine community. Please come and join me on a wine tour to experience all the flavors of Israel!” Visit Esther’s website at http://www.myisraelwinetours.com. See how the best of the U.S. is helping to grow Israel. Aliyah means different things to everyone. Take your Kiddush cup and toast to Esther Cohen, an entrepreneurial American in Israel. Better yet, get a ticket and take a wine tour with Ms. Cohen!
Susan Feldman Amerikaner, who grew up in Baltimore, now lives in the Los Angeles area where she writes for Disney.
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