When Jaime Boolkin, a 26-year-old oleh from South Africa, boarded a plane to Israel in December 2021, just as the world was emerging from COVID, he had no idea how much his life was about to change. He knew that he wanted to start a new chapter in his life and was looking for opportunities to grow personally and professionally. What he didn’t know was that Israel’s start-up world would unlock opportunities he had never imagined back in South Africa.
Jaime had travelled a lot and had visited Israel many times, even spending his gap year here working at Naftul as a marketing intern. Despite his travels around the world, Israel was the only place that felt like home. Although he wouldn’t describe himself as an emotional person, he admits that Israel stirs something deeper within him.
“Israel is the only place where when the plane lands, I feel it in my chest — a rush of emotion that reminds me I’m home. It’s more than belonging; it’s purpose.”
Leaving South Africa
Speaking about his homeland, Jaime explains that concern for his safety in a country with one of the highest crime rates in the world was a central reason for leaving. He had never felt afraid to be Jewish or encountered antisemitism; what worried him more was the general level of crime.
“I wanted the freedom to walk outside at midnight and feel safe not to live in constant awareness of danger. Safety shouldn’t be a privilege; it should be a norm.”
But being Jewish in South Africa was becoming more isolating as well. Although he loved his community, it was shrinking rapidly; many of his friends were leaving or had already left, and the dating pool for finding a Jewish partner was narrowing.
As a digital designer entering the hi-tech world, he was eager not just to earn a decent salary, but also to learn and grow both professionally and personally — and felt that Israel was the best place to do this.
“The Jewish community in South Africa feels like a shrinking bubble,” he says. “Israel, by contrast, is a place bursting with creativity and momentum. It’s where innovation meets identity - the ideal ground for someone hungry to build and grow.”
Now, Jaime lives in Tel Aviv, the city he once dreamed of calling home, with his Israeli partner. He has a strong circle of friends from across the globe and works at a fintech company where he’s growing professionally in ways that never would have been possible for him back in South Africa, he says.
On a personal level, he also feels much more strongly connected to his roots and identity as a Zionist Jew.
“Being here grounds me. Israel isn’t just where I live; it’s a daily reminder of who I am. As a Cohen, as a Jew, I feel proud to contribute to something so much bigger than myself.”
Here, he has found a community among Jews “from all walks of life” and has friends from Russia, London, France, Italy, USA, Australia, and beyond - something that he did not have in South Africa.
Entering the hi-tech world
Entering Israel’s hi-tech sphere isn’t always easy for new olim, especially without fluent Hebrew or any experience. Jaime expected this, however, and planned accordingly. Knowing how important connections are in the professional world, Jaime built up his LinkedIn profile, made thousands of connections, went to networking events, and met people from all corners of the tech world.
His strategy paid off. Through networking, Jaime landed his first job working as a social media specialist at Yuvital, a health-tech start-up in Rishon Le’ Tzion. Although his role wasn’t quite in his field, he gladly took the job in order to get a foot in the door. Being a native English speaker was also an advantage.
From there, he moved to Particle for Men, a leading men’s skincare brand, spending a year and a half working in skincare, a position he really enjoyed. Then one day, he received a call from HR at Oobit, a fintech company that lets people pay with crypto anywhere, who offered him a position as a community and partnership manager. Four months later, he was promoted to Social Media Manager. Today, he leads community, influencer, and social Media initiatives and has recently added Customer Success to his responsibilities.
Jaime took the leap and has now been working there for a year. Speaking of his experience in the hi-tech world and growth, Jaime said that his skills have developed tremendously since he started working in Israel.
Reflecting on his aliyah and on what it takes to succeed in Israel, Jaime says,
“In Israel, you learn quickly that limitations are illusions. If someone tells you it can’t be done, that’s your sign to prove them wrong. The key here is a mindset of growth, not waiting for doors to open, but building your own.”
This is where he sees a stark contrast with South Africa. There, you need to have a specific degree to work in a specific field. But here, Israel’s start-up and growth mindset creates ample opportunities for those who are open to developing themselves.
“In South Africa, paths are predefined. In Israel, you define your own. If you show drive, curiosity, and a willingness to learn, this ecosystem embraces you. It’s a country that rewards courage.”
Overcoming challenges
Of course, it hasn’t all been easy, and living in Israel comes with many challenges. For Jaime, moving from a home where “everything is sorted for you, your healthcare, finances, laundry” to navigating the full force of Israeli adulthood was initially overwhelming.
Bureaucracy in Israel is in itself a massive obstacle to overcome — which he still struggles with to this day. Booking medical appointments, for example, can be very complicated. Often, he says, he prefers to visit the dentist or his doctor in South Africa because it’s easier than getting an urgent appointment here.
He also mentioned difficulty with learning Hebrew and financial struggles, particularly learning how to budget in Tel Aviv, known to be an expensive city.
There is a certain degree of toughness that is required to live and work in Israel, he says.
“Israel toughens you in the best possible way. You learn to adapt, to speak up, to push through. When life pushes, you push back harder, not out of aggression, but determination.”
Despite these challenges, Jaime remains optimistic and growth-oriented.
“Israel has taught me that persistence is power. If you want something badly enough and you’re willing to work for it, this country will meet you halfway. It’s a place that rewards the brave.”
Only Israel
Since moving to Israel almost four years ago, Jaime has also experienced many wonderful and inspiring ‘only Israel’ moments. One of his most meaningful memories happened during a spontaneous weekend adventure. Jaime had decided to pack a bag, go on an adventure, and explore the country. On the train, he met a soldier. After chatting to her for a while, she told him that her grandmother was making fresh schnitzel on her return home and invited him to join her family for Friday lunch.
This, he says, is the essence of the Israeli spirit.
“That’s Israel, chaotic, warm, and real. Someone might nudge you on the bus, but that same person would give you their last five shekels if you needed it. There’s a fierce humanity here that you don’t find anywhere else.”
What’s next?
Recently, Jaime’s new manager asked him what his “North Star" is and why he is at Oobit. His answer came easily.
“For me, it’s all about growth and purpose. I’m 26. This is the time to learn relentlessly, to absorb, to evolve. Every project, every challenge is an opportunity to expand what I know and who I am.”
Looking ahead, Jaime is considering doing another degree, perhaps in interior design, starting a family, and potentially opening his own business. There are many possibilities and decisions to make. What he knows for sure, though, is that he intends to stay in Israel.
As he puts it, with the blunt clarity that shapes many of his decisions:
“I’d rather live with rockets overhead than fear being hijacked at a traffic light. Here, I might face challenges but I also feel alive, driven, and part of a story that matters.”