ByMIRIAM GOLD

JULY 10, 2026 23:46

For more than four decades, Shelly Levine, founder and CEO of Tivuch Shelly Real Estate, has showcased Israeli properties to clients around the globe, facilitating the sale of thousands of apartments and supporting the development of communities tailored to her English-speaking clientele.

Throughout this period, Levine has arranged and joined numerous housing exhibitions, local talks, and one-on-one consultations in the United States, Canada, and England.

For the majority of those years, such gatherings were embraced as chances for potential purchasers to explore life in Israel, locate residences or investment options, and deepen their bond with the Jewish homeland.

Now, when she journeys for these exhibitions, she encounters the front lines of the Israel-Arab conflict.

Levine has never faced the level of opposition that has surfaced in the last three years.

What used to be a simple real estate discussion now draws forceful protests against Israel and the Jewish community, necessitating extra security precautions.

On a recent trip to the New York Tri-State region to share Israeli housing options with eager buyers, Levine encountered widespread demonstrations.

In Teaneck, New Jersey, she had to switch venues abruptly and engage private security to maintain safety for herself and participants.

After years of promoting Israeli real estate, aiding families in established English-speaking neighborhoods, and creating new ones, she suddenly confronted protests, intimidation efforts, and press attention beyond anything in her career.

Yet attendance stayed robust despite the demonstrations.

"Those coming to these events seek no confrontation," she noted. "They want details, choices, and a link to Israel. Many consider their future and where they wish their families to establish roots."

Following the New Jersey gathering, tensions increased. After hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters interrupted a meeting at Park East Synagogue on Manhattan's Upper East Side, The New York Times ran a sharply critical piece on the occasion, naming Shelly Levine as the longtime representative.

Instead of covering the heated chants of "from the river to the sea" and "long live the intifada," Levine believed the report missed key context on the anti-Israel and antisemitic sentiments voiced by many demonstrators.

Soon after, a flood of hostile messages appeared on her social media profiles and company site.

The issue extended overseas to London, where she joined another Israel property housing fair.

Organizers directed exhibitors to avoid promoting certain projects in zones that might trigger legal or political issues under UK rules.

Levine stated she adhered fully by concealing the relevant projects on her display items, storing her brochures (which included her contact details and a wide selection of listings) beneath the table, and refraining from discussing those locations at the event.

She noted she handed a brochure to one person who asked specifically for her contact information and suspects the exchange might have been an attempt to "set her up."

After the event, Levine received a call from a Sky News reporter whose questions reflected what she viewed as several misunderstandings about Israeli communities labeled as disputed or illegal.

In their discussion, Levine outlined the background and legal standing of several such areas, pointing out that neighborhoods like Ramat Eshkol and Givat HaMatos form part of Jerusalem.

Upon learning the reporter had never visited Israel, Levine offered an invitation to travel as her guest, even covering expenses so the reporter could observe the communities directly and grasp the nation's history and ground realities.

According to Levine, the exchange shifted from tense to respectful, though she still differed with parts of the resulting article.

Sky News quoted Levine saying: "Ma'aleh Adumim is not an expansion; it is an urban renewal. It is a 40-year-old city, not a new development. The project is knocking old buildings down and building new modern ones. They are not expansion settlements."

Neither protests, intimidation, nor dramatic headlines will stop Tivuch Shelly from its purpose. For over 40 years, Shelly Levine has assisted thousands of families and investors in realizing their goal of owning a home in Israel, and that dedication stands firmer than ever.

'The writing on the wall'

As antisemitism grows worldwide, many of her clients, including offspring of Holocaust survivors, tell her they "see the writing on the wall."

They understand the value of securing a home in Israel, whether for now, their children, or generations ahead.

There has never been a more critical moment to start discussing property ownership in Israel.

From Jerusalem and Netanya to developing areas like Carmei Gat, Tivuch Shelly stays dedicated to guiding clients through every phase, from the first search to receiving keys and afterward.

Whether making aliyah or investing in a future residence in the Jewish homeland, her seasoned team offers straightforward advice, skill, and individual care.

For Shelly Levine, this has never been solely about property sales. It has always centered on aiding Jews in building their future in Israel. If the past three years altered anything, it is not her purpose; it is the sense of urgency many families now bring to it.

More clients inform her that owning a home in Israel is no longer merely a future hope.

In an era of rising antisemitism and increasing uncertainty, they view it as a necessity rather than a desire. And despite the opposition she now meets, Levine remains devoted to helping them achieve that future.

The writer is marketing manager at Tivuch Shelly.