Tel Aviv’s Shuk Olim brings out dozens of immigrant entrepreneurs to showcase goods

Tel Aviv's Givon Square recently transformed into Shuk Olim, a vibrant market celebrating immigrant entrepreneurs and their diverse businesses. The event, part of the city's Layla Lavan (White Night) festivities, featured over 50 "olim" vendors, each sharing a personal story of their journey to Israel and the small businesses they've established.

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We brought here over 50 olim vendors. Every single booth has an oleh with a story, and they're selling their products from the small business that they opened here in Israel after their aliyah.

Organized by Nefesh B'Nefesh, a key organization facilitating immigration to Israel, in coordination with the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality, Shuk Olim provided a unique platform for olim from countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, Ukraine, Belarus, France, and Switzerland. This market was the sole event during Layla Lavan dedicated specifically to showcasing immigrant enterprise.

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I'm just really sick and tired of defensive hasbara... Yes, I do want to troll the trolls, and comedy is the best form of defense.

Vendors presented a wide array of goods, from handmade jewelry and accessories to paintings and artwork. Among them was Tamara Tayar, an oleh from Australia, whose business, Zio Brat Club, sells items featuring ironic text and images that playfully mock online insults directed at Israelis and Jews. Tayar explained her motivation: "I'm just really sick and tired of defensive hasbara... Yes, I do want to troll the trolls, and comedy is the best form of defense."

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I started painting during COVID, and I paint a lot of Israel, and so Israel inspires a lot of my work.

Another participant, David Ratz, an oleh from the United States, displayed his paintings, many of which are inspired by Israel. He noted that he began painting more during the COVID-19 pandemic and even painted on a smaller scale during the March war, bringing his supplies to bomb shelters. His work often features motifs of flowers, everyday Tel Aviv scenes, the Western Wall, and various landscapes.

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During the war in March, I started painting on a much smaller scale because I would bring things with me to the miklat, and just paint during that time.