Michal Slawny Cababia shares her journey from Virginia to Aliyah, political activism and the Knesset, and discusses what English-speaking olim should know about Israeli politics, Beyachad, bureaucracy, political representation and voting.

Michal Slawny Cababia made Aliyah from the United States in 2008. Years later, she found herself serving in Israel’s Knesset.

In this Israel Votes episode, Michal joins David Levine to talk about how an olah from Blacksburg, Virginia became involved in Israeli politics, why she helped build an English-speaking political community, and what she has learned about representing olim inside the Israeli system.

Michal discusses Beyachad’s political priorities, proposals dealing with government reform, military service, public diplomacy, Israel-Diaspora relations and education, as well as the bureaucracy that often frustrates new immigrants.

David and Michal also tackle a broader question: why haven’t English-speaking olim built a political party of their own, and is integration into existing Israeli parties actually the better path?

For David, who is preparing to vote in his first Israeli election, Michal’s message is simple: every oleh is part of the Israeli story, and every vote counts.

The episode closes with the Israeli word “konseptzia,” falafel preferences, favorite places in Israel, and the strange combination of warmth and aggression that still surprises Michal after nearly two decades in the country.

This episode is part of the Israel Votes series, presenting conversations with representatives from across Israel’s political spectrum in a nonpartisan format.

Host: David Levine
Guest: Michal Slawny Cababia
Social Media: Tehilah Simantov

Mentioned in this episode

Michal Slawny Cababia – X/Twitter: x.com/michalslawny⁠
Michal Slawny Cababia – LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michalslawny⁠
Beyachad / Together – Official website: be-yahad.org.il/en/home-en/⁠
Beyachad English – X/Twitter: x.com/BYachadEnglish⁠

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Former MK, writer and current Knesset candidate Dr. Einat Wilf joins David Levine to discuss her return to politics, the Reservists–Economic Party, universal service, the relationship between Israel and the Jewish world, and why she believes Israel must fight a war of ideas as seriously as it fights on the battlefield.

For more than a decade, Dr. Einat Wilf became known internationally as one of Israel’s most prominent English-language voices on Zionism, the Palestinians and the relationship between Israel and the Jewish world.

Now she is returning to electoral politics.

In this episode of the Oleh at Large: Aliyah Stories special series Israel Votes, Wilf joins David Levine to explain why she decided to run again and why she joined Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zelekha on the Reservists–Economic Party list, where she is currently ranked third. Jerusalem Post

Wilf lays out her own political arguments about what she calls “Palestinianism,” explains why she believes Israel is fighting a battle over narrative and consciousness as well as a military conflict, and discusses her priorities if she returns to the Knesset.

David and Einat also discuss universal national service, the role of Israeli Arabs and olim, the cost of living, the relationship between Israel and world Jewry, and why internationally minded Israelis may have an important perspective to bring into Israeli politics.

They also talk about something especially relevant for new olim: how surprisingly accessible Israeli political life can be — from parlor meetings to direct contact with candidates — and why participating in a campaign can be one way to become more connected to Israeli society.

Mentioned in this episode:
Einat Wilf – https://www.einatwilf.com/

The Reservists and the Economic Party – https://www.thepetek.com/en/party/reservists-economic

Dara Horn – https://www.darahorn.com/

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News commentator Benyamin Moalem joins David Levine for an Elections 101 guide to Israel's 2026 election — explaining parties, the Knesset, the 3.25% threshold, coalitions, the race to 61 seats, and what olim need to know before going to the kalpi.

Israel's election system can feel completely foreign to a new oleh, let alone folks outside the country.

There are no local congressional districts. You don't directly elect the prime minister. Instead, voters choose among national party lists, and after the votes are counted, the real battle begins: building a coalition capable of commanding a majority in the 120-seat Knesset.

In the first installment of our special Israel Votes series, David Levine sits down with news commentator Benyamin Moalem for an Elections 101 guide to Israeli politics.

Benyamin explains the basics of proportional representation, the 3.25% electoral threshold, how smaller parties can determine the outcome of an election, why 61 seats matter, and what happens when no political bloc can form a government.

The conversation also explores the political blocs and parties as they stood at the time of recording, Arab parties, party mergers, the president's role in the government-formation process, and some of the major differences between Israeli and American elections.

Finally, David and Benyamin get practical: what you actually see when you walk into an Israeli polling place, who can vote from outside the country, and what English-speaking olim should be thinking about as Election Day approaches.

Israel's election for the 26th Knesset is scheduled for October 27, 2026

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