We are Maayan and Binyamin

We are new immigrants from France. Our story in Israel began on the day we arrived. We were driven from the airport to the north of Israel, where we currently live, by the agency that assisted us with our Aliyah arrangements. When the van pulled up outside our new apartment, which we had rented while still in France, something remarkable happened our neighbours, whom we had never met, came out to greet us and helped carry our 19 bags inside. It felt as though we had finally come home, as if all these people had been waiting for us.

Over the next few days, people started knocking on our door, one by one, bringing us cakes and offering all sorts of help. This was the welcome we received in Israel, and over the years, we have met hundreds of people each of whom has felt like someone we already knew. Great friendships have been formed, and although we don’t have immediate family in Israel, we never feel alone.

When we left France, we gave away all our furniture and most of our possessions. Moving to Israel was a fresh start for us and our children. From the beginning, we learned that there was no shame in asking for help whether it was due to the language barrier or simply needing support. Within a few days of arriving, we had all the furniture we needed without spending a penny. We found this incredible, and as religious Jews, we knew that someone was watching over us and this was help from heaven.

Over the years, we have received many gifts from different people, and naturally, this has inspired us to do the same. During the Covid period, Binyamin took up restoring old furniture we found discarded near our home as a hobby. It is deeply satisfying to see the transformation of something someone once considered rubbish. Truly, everything we own has the potential for new life, and someone else can make that item live on.

We imagine communities where people can receive items directly from the giver, with dignity, rather than having to pick them up off the streets.

This dream led us to create Mechil a platform for people who want to share items they no longer need but that could still benefit someone else. Our dream is to help millions of people across Israel build communities where generosity and sustainability come naturally, strengthening connections between people along the way.