With the rise of remote work, more and more Jewish professionals are realizing: you don’t have to make aliyah to experience living and working in Israel.
Whether through programs like Masa Remote Work or by designing your own adventure, Israel is emerging as a destination for remote workers who want more than just another Zoom background — they want meaning, community, and sunshine.
But before you book your ticket and pack your laptop, there are some important things to understand — especially about visas and legality.
⚠️ First, Know the Legal Reality
Under Israeli law, you are not allowed to work in Israel while on a tourist visa, even if your employer is abroad and you’re working remotely. It’s a gray area — and in practice, many people do it without issue — but you should be aware of the risk.
At the airport, it’s best not to mention anything about working remotely or being a digital nomad. Authorities may deny entry if they believe you intend to work in Israel. Instead, just say you’re visiting for tourism or personal reasons.
✅ If you want to be completely legitimate, apply to a program like Masa Remote Work, which provides you with a proper B/1 work visa allowing you to work remotely from Israel during the program.
🧭 Option 1: Join a Program – Masa Remote Work
If you want structure, community, and legal peace of mind, Masa Remote Work is a great place to start.
What they offer:
- 8-week experience based in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem
- Private or shared housing
- Networking events, Hebrew classes, and travel
- Built-in community of like-minded young professionals
- Legal B/1 work visa
- Grants and subsidies for eligible participants
You keep your remote job — they handle the red tape.
Ideal for: People aged 22–35 looking for their first taste of life in Israel, with a safety net.
✈️ Option 2: Do-It-Yourself – Book a Flight, Bring Your Laptop
If you’re comfortable with a more independent approach — and the informal reality that many people quietly work from Israel on tourist visas — you can create your own remote work adventure.
Here’s how:
🛏 Lodging
You’ll need to arrange housing on your own.
- Easiest option: Airbnb — convenient, safe, but often expensive.
- Cheaper alternative: Short-term sublets found on Israeli Facebook Groups.
Try searching:- Secret Tel Aviv – Apartments
- Tel Aviv Apartments & Sublets – Short Term
- Jerusalem Short-Term Rentals
- Secret Jerusalem Housing
- Sublets and Roommates in Tel Aviv
These groups are where locals and expats post daily rental opportunities, sometimes at half the cost of Airbnb.
🕒 Time Zone
Most remote workers from North America work late afternoon to midnight in Israel to match EST hours. This gives you your mornings and early afternoons free — for beach time, hikes, cafés, or just enjoying Israel.
👥 Social Life
Without a program, meeting people takes more effort — but it’s possible, and your more likely to meet local rather than other visitors:
- Reconnect with friends or family already in Israel.
- Reach out to people you’ve met during travel or Birthright.
- Be outgoing: talk to bartenders, waiters and people you interact with, join local events, or use dating apps/social platforms.
“In Israel, everyone is family. It’s easier to strike up a conversation with strangers than you might expect.”
👤 Mike’s Story: Remote Work + Real Life in Tel Aviv
Mike works in sales for Deel, a global HR/payroll company with a remote-first culture. Earlier this year, he decided to test out what it would be like to live and work in Israel for six weeks. His verdict? Definitely doable, and worth it.
“Israel is the best place in the world. Tel Aviv is world class. I tell all my non-Jewish friends they have to go there.”
🧳 How He Did It
- Company: Deel is fully remote — nobody knows (or cares) where you log in from.
- Visa: Entered as a tourist and worked discreetly during his stay.
- Housing: Stayed in Airbnbs in Florentine and near Rothschild in Tel Aviv. More expensive, but easy.
- Time Zone: Worked 4pm–midnight to match North American hours.
- Daily Life: Had mornings free, went to the beach, did tech networking, met people through socializing and dating.
“I wanted to see if six weeks could become six months. And I think it could.”
💡 Why It Mattered
Being in Israel gave Mike a level of comfort with his Jewish identity that he didn’t even know he was missing in Canada.
“In Canada, I didn’t realize how cautious I was being Jewish in public, like hiding my star of David necklace. In Israel, I felt completely at ease. It was a relief not to have to think about it.”
👥 You’re Not Alone
There’s a growing community of Diaspora Jews — salespeople, engineers, marketers — working North American hours while living in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, or even on a kibbutz. Some are there for a few weeks. Some stay for years.
Some come through official programs like Masa. Others figure it out as they go.
But all of them are proving that you can stay connected to your job while reconnecting with your identity and purpose.
💬 Want Help Planning Your Own Remote Work Experience?
At Hire Me Israel, we help Diaspora Jews explore flexible, meaningful ways to live and work in Israel.
If you’re curious but not sure where to start, I offer free 30-minute consults — no sales pitch, just real advice.
👉 Book a free call or email me at jason@hiremeisrael.org