Leave it to Sam — but only from what he can actually source. Each month, Sam Besser reaches across all 8 categories to find the most interesting reliably-sourceable piece available that month. No promises he can't keep. If it's in a box, he can get it.
Sam Besser is a Chicago-born, Jerusalem-based IDF combat veteran and sergeant. For Surprise picks, he draws from the full 500-item catalog — but only items he can source reliably and in good condition. No over-promising: if he can't stand behind the supply, it doesn't go in a box.
Every Surprise pick starts with Club Israel's tagline. Is this item genuinely from the Land of Israel? Does it tell a real story? Can I source enough of them reliably and in good condition? If the answer to all three is yes, it ships.
Philosophy Quality Standard Reliable SupplySurprise subscribers access Sam's full range — IDF corps pins, Pruta coins, Israel Post stamp sets, reproduction maps, Bezalel prints, Yad Vashem memorial items, Maccabiah pins, archaeological replicas, Judaica artisan pieces.
500+ Items Full Catalog Reliably SourceableSome of the most interesting pieces don't fit neatly into one category. A Pruta coin alongside the Bezalel poster that connects the state's founding imagery to its ancient numismatic heritage — these combinations tell richer stories. Surprise picks can cross categories.
Cross-Category Combinations Story PiecesThey're not the flashiest items in the catalog, but they're the ones with the best combination of story, availability, and subscriber satisfaction.
A commercially available IDF corps beret pin — Golani, Paratroopers, Givati, Nahal, Air Force, Navy, Intelligence — with a presentation card Sam writes explaining the corps' history and the meaning of the pin's symbol. Simple, authentic, and always a hit.
IDF Corps Pin Presentation CardA matched pair: a Pruta coin and an Israel Post stamp both depicting the same motif — the palm tree, the grape cluster, the pomegranate — showing how the same ancient symbols appear across two different official Israeli media. Consistently sourceable.
Pruta Stamp Matching Theme EducationalA reproduction map of an ancient biblical region paired with an archaeological replica from that same region — a map of the Galilee with a Byzantine oil lamp replica, or a Jerusalem plan with a Dead Sea Scroll facsimile.
Map Archaeology Replica Regional Pairing Monthly AssemblyThe Surprise pick scales with your subscription tier — pocket-sized single items at Chaver level, larger and more complex combinations at Aliyah and above, and Sam's personal best find of the month at Sabra level.
At Chaver level, Sam selects one pocket-sized item that punches above its size — a single Pruta coin with a vivid history, a commemorative stamp with a powerful story, or a small IDF pin from a corps with a remarkable heritage. One item, chosen well.
Chaver $18 Pocket Size Single Item Punches Above Its SizeAt Aliyah level, Sam selects a trio of related items that tell a connected story — a coin, a stamp, and a map reproduction all from the same era; or an IDF pin, a campaign ribbon, and a commemorative medal from the same conflict. Three items, one story.
$54 Trio Connected Story Three ItemsAt Melech level, Surprise picks move up to tabletop or wall-small format — a framed reproduction map, a larger print with presentation, or a multi-item boxed set. The same reliable sourcing, but presented at a level appropriate for display.
Melech $99 Framed Tabletop Wall Art Display ReadyAt Sabra level, Sam commits one item per month from his personal best finds — a particularly clean Mandate coin set, an older Maccabiah pin he located through his network, a Bank of Israel commemorative set in original packaging. Not always predictable; always worth it.
Sabra $180 Personal Find Network Best of MonthAvailable on all tiers from $18/mo. Higher tiers unlock more categories and larger formats.
Select this category →