When you become an oleh chadash (new immigrant), you’ll probably encounter your first “Lo” pretty early on. Maybe it’ll be at the bank when you ask them to waive those annoying bank fees. Or at the doctor’s office when you need an urgent appointment. Or perhaps some random person in line at the supermarket will offer unsolicited life advice, and add a “zeh lo yachol lihyot” (that can’t be done) for good measure.

Here’s the thing: in Israel, “Lo” doesn’t always mean No. Sometimes it means, “Convince me.” Sometimes it means “Try harder.” And sometimes it’s just a reflex. Israelis say “no” the way they say “shalom” — out of habit.

Persistence: An Oleh’s Superpower

Becoming an oleh means you will be living proof that persistence pays off. You’ll have packed up your life, navigated the maze of paperwork, kissed your old life goodbye, and landed in the most complicated, lovable country on Earth. So why stop when you actually get to Israel?

Sure, Israeli bureaucracy, businesses, retailers, and even regular people have a way of making things sound impossible. You might hear things like:

“We’re fully booked until next year.”

“This product doesn’t exist anymore.”

“The system is down, so I can’t do it.”

“You can’t do that.”

In reality, though, none of these are necessarily true. They are just part of the challenge. Israelis aren’t necessarily trying to block you; they’re just making sure you really mean it. Think of “Lo” as an invitation.

Want that appointment with the top specialist? Call again. Then email. Then show up in person and ask nicely. Then ask not-so-nicely. Then ask someone’s cousin to make a phone call. Suddenly, magic happens.

Want that sofa that’s supposedly out of stock until December? Call every branch. Find the manager. Refresh the website. Refresh it again. Mention you’re an oleh without furniture, and you’re sitting on the floor. You’ll have a delivery date within the week. That’s how they do it in Israel.

And don’t let the “helpful” people stop you either. When they say “You can’t get that done,” smile politely. Nod thoughtfully. Then do it anyway. Just because someone else hits a wall doesn’t mean you will. And frankly, sometimes all that stands between you and success is not taking “No” for an answer.

The Art of the Workaround

In short, the trick to thriving in Israel is learning the art of the workaround. If Door A is locked, try Door B. If that fails, go to Window C. Learn the system.

Use classic Israeli persistence techniques:

Keep asking, but with a smile.

Find someone in authority to vouch for you.

Post your dilemma in a Facebook group — solutions will arrive faster than pizza.

When all else fails, show up in person. Israelis respect the chutzpah.

Discover the unofficial ways to get things done or come up with your own hacks.

The Bottom Line

So, here’s the bottom line. When you persist, you’ll probably win. And when that happens — you’ll have conquered something real. Moreover, you’ll be joining the ranks of those who know how the game is played. The rules of that game are very simple. When someone in Israel says “Lo,” you go high.

Olim Paveway’s Olim Toolbox offers timely tips for anyone moving to or visiting Israel.

Join our WhatsApp at chat.whatsapp.com/Ic8dNfdNlspGAPtmcCKtbf for more tips and chat with our experts live every Sunday at 2 p.m. EST, at tinyurl.com/y2sj3z72 — a new topic every week.

Planning aliyah? Recently moved? Write [email protected] to arrange for a Paveway personal guide (melaveh).