Sending a dollar to israel in lieu of postage is a very bad solution.

Unless the recipient has a use for dollars (believe it or not, most of us
don't), they have to be changed into local currency which takes time and
bank charges.

My late grandmother used to send my kids ten dollars for birthdays and by
the banks got done with them, there was barely half left.

Israel Pickholtz

Today there are untold *official* money changers, at least in Jerusalem.
I imagine that they can be found in other cities in Israel as well.
Unlike banks which charge a minimum fee for changing foreign currency, and
believe it or not, US $ are still foreign currency in Israel,money
changers have no minimum fee. The rates at money changers are lower than
in the banks, but for small amounts one does get a descent amount of
Israeli Shekels,usually more than in a bank.

I don't believe that it is that great a hardship for someone in the big
cities to convert $, or any other major currency. When my kids get
birthday presents in US $ cash, I generally let them buy what they
want, paying in Shekels and keeping the dollars for myself. If and when
I need to replenish my bank overdraft, I then convert at one time, at one
of these money changers, whatever dollar cash reserve I have accumulated.
(Non Israelis may not understand what I mean by replenishing my bank
overdraft, but I'm sure Israelis will.)

Nachum Tuchman
Tekoa, Israel