Chutzpah & High Heels ─ The Search for Love and Identity in the Holy Land

Having grown up in Minnesota, Jessica Fishman moves to a land in the Middle East that is full of idiosyncrasies, terrorists, and beautiful, olive-skinned men. When she arrives in Israel, she is a wide-eyed immigrant hoping to survive on Zionism. But instead of working the land on a kibbutz or being swept off her feet by a strong, sensitive Israeli soldier, Jessica is faced with a barrage of ridiculous obstacles. She overcomes notorious Israeli bureaucracy, makes embarrassing mistakes learning Hebrew, serves in an army of teenagers, and dates cocky Israelis, until she finally meets one obstacle, rooted in the very ideology that brought her to Israel, that tests the core of her identity. With self-deprecating wit, Jessica takes us on a personal journey through these challenges, weaving a humorous yet heartbreaking tale about losing and finding identity, and offering a seldom-before-seen snapshot of Israeli culture.

Jessica Fishman moved to Israel after graduating from Indiana University with degrees in journalism and business. The creator of the popular Aliyah Survival Blog, Jessica has written a number of articles about Israel, and her story has been featured in leading Israeli and Jewish media.AUTHOR HOME: Tel Aviv, Israel