Dennis Mitzner is a fascinating guy. Originally from Finland, he’s been involved with Israel and Israel-related issues since he was a teenager in Helsinki.

He started spending time in Israel when he worked on a kibbutz – wait until you hear what his job was! – at 19, and then came back here in 2007 to work on his master’s degree at Tel Aviv University. He made Aliyah for good in 2011.

Dennis and his wife have two children, 4 and 2, and they live in Tel Aviv. That’s where I sat with him this week to Return Again to his Aliyah story.



00:00 - Intro

04:14 - Finnish Jewry

12:19 - Growing Up in Finland

20:30 - Why Aliyah?

28:21 - Life on a Kibbutz

34:50 - Entering and Leaving the Academia Bubble

44:33 - Finding His Groove ... And His Wife

1:05:26 - Kids and Languages at Home

1:13:29 - What COVID Has Done

1:25:00 - Rapid-fire Questions