Meanwhile, in the USA, the only "rent to own" that we have are places like Rent-A-Center where you pay $20/week for a year for something that has a retail value of $300.

Paying a mortgage isn't much different than a rent to own scheme.

Qualifying for a mortgage is much different than qualifying for a lease, however.

Israel at that time was a poor country, and home for many Jews who came from around the world with nothing .

Under those conditions, getting a down payment on a mortage was huge problem.

That's really not true.

Have you tried applying for a mortgage and renting?

Sounds like the same thing as a mortgage.