“How did you secure housing before arriving? Everyone says don’t sign anything sight unseen, but how do you compete for rentals from 6,000 miles away? Did you use an agent or just pray and wing it?”
Honestly? I stayed in temporary housing for 2 months and apartment hunted in person. 
Yeah it was stressful and expensive, but I avoided SO many potential disasters. The photos online vs reality gap is REAL in Israel. Plus you get a feel for neighborhoods, commute times, etc. Used that time to build local references too. Sometimes the slow approach wins!