Yalla, Let's Go!

Exploring what it really means to make Aliyah and build a life in Israel: the good, the challenging, and everything in between.

Yalla, Let's Go! is a society podcast hosted by Erica Marom, Abbey Onn, with 18 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Erica Marom, Abbey Onn hosts Yalla, Let's Go!, a society show with 18 episodes published.

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  Yalla, Let's Go!

  Dr. Leigh Livne, Shark Scientist and Admin of Belle Aviv, on Moving to Israel for the Food, Converting to Judaism in Tel Aviv, and the Pregnant Sharks of Hadera

  Sep 29, 202626 min

  Why do sharks gather off Israel's Mediterranean coast? Shark scientist Dr. Leigh Livne studies them at Hadera, and her research on pregnant sharks made it into Sir David Attenborough's BBC series Asia. She also converted to Judaism, made aliyah, and runs Belle Aviv, Tel Aviv's nearly 35,000-member community for women. On this episode of Yalla, Let's Go!, Erica Marom and Abbey Onn talk with Leigh about sharks in Israel, converting to Judaism, building a community, and building a life here. Leigh grew up in an American military family, left the U.S. at 17 for a decade of study in England, and moved to Israel in 2014 for a PhD in marine science after an Israeli postdoc (and his cooking) convinced her to come. She explains what's really happening at the Hadera power and desalination site, how she and her research partner, Aviad, catch, rope, and sample adult dusky and sandbar sharks alongside the boat, and how she got a black eye at 39 weeks pregnant. She also opens up about her two-year Orthodox conversion with Rabbi Ariel Konstantyn at the Tel Aviv International Synagogue, making aliyah in 2020, and turning Belle Aviv from a Facebook group into a company. Plus: whether sharks actually want to eat you. (They don't.) Subscribe for more conversations with people who live, work, build, and stay in Israel. KEY TOPICS 0:00 - Intro 1:28 - Welcome & Pulse Check: Abbey's Hadera Shark Swim and the Fishing Hook 3:40 - Meet Dr. Leigh Livne: Shark Scientist and Belle Aviv Admin 4:15 - Life Story in a Minute: Military Family, 10 Years in England, PhD in Israel 5:05 - Why Israel? An Israeli Postdoc and the Food 6:34 - Sharks in Israel: The Hadera Power Plant, Desalination, and Warm Water 7:31 - Tagging Dusky and Sandbar Sharks — and the One Male Who Keeps Coming Back 8:03 - Sir David Attenborough, BBC's Asia, and "All the Sharks Are Pregnant" 8:37 - How Shark Researchers Catch, Rope, and Sample Sharks 9:43 - Shark Research Injuries: A Severed Tendon and a Black Eye at 39 Weeks Pregnant 9:57 - Doing a PhD in Israel as an Immigrant: Funding and Mentors Dan Tchernov and Shai Einbinder 11:16 - Why She Chose to Convert to Judaism 13:07 - Orthodox Conversion at Tel Aviv International Synagogue and Making Aliyah in 2020 13:58 - Belle Aviv: How Tel Aviv's Women-Only Facebook Group Began 15:41 - "Military Operation": Cleaning Up Belle Aviv With 24 Moderators 16:23 - From Facebook Group to Company: Monetizing Belle Aviv 17:42 - Belle Aviv's First In-Person Signature Event 18:51 - Has She Ever Considered Leaving Israel? Europe, Asia, and Staying Put 20:14 - What She Loves Most About Israel: The Food 20:39 - Aliyah Advice: Calm Down and Believe in Yourself 22:24 - Finding Home: Too Much for England, a Puppy in Israel 22:53 - At 80, Looking Back: A Shark Career That Only Happened in Israel 23:40 - Shark Myth Busted: Do Sharks Want to Eat You? + Rapid Fire #Sharks #Israel #Aliyah #DavidAttenborough #YallaLetsGo RESOURCES Follow Leigh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leigh-livne-48357340/ Subscribe to Yalla, Let’s Go here: https://www.aleph.vc/yalla-lets-go  Learn more about Aleph: aleph.vc  Sign up for Aleph’s monthly email newsletter: https://newsletter.aleph.vc/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@yallaletsgopodcast  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yallaletsgopodcast/  Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yallaletsgopodcast  Follow Aleph on Twitter: https://x.com/aleph ‍Follow Aleph on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aleph-vc/ ‍Follow Aleph on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleph.vc/ CREDITS Hosts: Erica Marom, Abbey Onn  Executive Producer: Sarah Bard Producer: Sofi Levak, Dalit Merenfeld Video and Editing: Nadav Elovic Music and Creative Direction: Uri Ar  Content and Editorial: Jackie Goldberg Design: Nimrod Sapir

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  Yalla, Let's Go!

  Abbey Onn, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Nevo, on Why One in Three Olim Leave Israel, Raising American Kids for the Israeli Army, and Her Fight to Bring Family Back from Gaza

  Sep 15, 202637 min

  In this special episode of Yalla, Let's Go!, Erica Marom turns the microphone on her own co-host — Abbey Onn, Executive Director and co-founder of Nevo Network, the fellowship and professional community that has become the leading network for olim in Israeli high tech. Abbey moved from Fairfax, Virginia to Herzliya 11 years ago, and for the first time she is the one in the guest seat. Abbey traces her path from directing Hillel's Hurricane Katrina response — 3,000 Jewish students rebuilding the Gulf Coast — to leadership development at Harvard's Kennedy School, to a hard professional landing in Israel with two toddlers and no network. She explains the data point that built Nevo: one in three English-speaking olim leave within three years, and how Nevo pushed retention above 90%. She also speaks, with extraordinary clarity, about October 7th, when five members of her family were taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz, and about the months she spent as the English-speaking voice of the hostage families — speaking to Secretary of State Blinken, leading the Zoom with President Biden, and meeting with 17 senators. The conversation continues with: From Fairfax to Herzliya: Hillel, Brandeis, Harvard, and 17 suitcases Telling Michael Eisenberg his idea was wrong — and pitching him Nevo instead Why one in three English-speaking olim leave, and how Nevo changed the number The Herzog Prize and a government grant to expand beyond tech October 7th: Carmela and Noya Dan, and the fight to bring Ofer, Sahar and Erez home Raising Israeli-American kids, and preparing an American son for the IDF Why she sends her Israeli kids to American summer camp Loving Israel and doubting the decision, at the same time Aliyah advice: learn Hebrew, then go meet people for coffee This is an honest, unguarded conversation about belonging, advocacy, and what it costs — and gives — to build a life here. Subscribe for more conversations with people who live, work, build, and stay in Israel. #AbbeyOnn #NevoNetwork #Israel #Aliyah #OlimInTech #IsraeliTech #October7 #NirOz #Hostages #YallaLetsGo #LifeInIsrael #Herzliya #JewishIdentity #MakingAliyah #IsraeliAmerican KEY TOPICS  0:00 - Intro 1:10 - Meet Abbey Onn: Yalla, Let's Go! Co-Host in the Guest Seat 2:12 - From Fairfax, Virginia to Israel: Brandeis, Hillel, and Hurricane Katrina 3:42 - Why She and Oded Made Aliyah: Family, Pace of Life, and 15 Feet of Boston Snow 6:55 - Running a Nonprofit While Raising Two Toddlers in a New Country 7:25 - Meeting Michael Eisenberg of Aleph and the Idea That Became Nevo 8:48 - Telling Michael Eisenberg His Idea Was Wrong 9:12 - One in Three English-Speaking Olim Leave Israel Within Three Years 9:56 - Building Nevo Network: From 66% Retention to Over 90% 10:24 - Why Nevo Focuses on Tech, and Why Doctors Are Next 11:17 - Winning the President's Award for Extraordinary Impact on Olim 11:48 - Why Belonging Is the One Thing Olim Are Missing 12:24 - How to Get Involved With Nevo Network 12:41 - Raising Kids in Israel: A Children-Led Society 13:51 - Small Kids, Small Problems: Preparing an American Son for the IDF 15:22 - Raising Israeli-American Kids Between Two Identities 16:16 - Hebrew With Each Other, English With Ima: Language at Home 17:30 - Why She Sends Her Israeli Kids to American Summer Camp 19:04 - October 7th: Five Family Members Taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz 21:10 - The Video of Erez and the Phone Call That Changed Everything 22:25 - Speaking to Secretary of State Blinken and Leading the Zoom With President Biden 24:07 - Losing Carmela and Noya Dan, and the Fight for the Hostages 26:36 - The Weight of Passing This Jewish Legacy to Her Children 27:24 - How She Told Her Kids the Truth About October 7th 29:32 - A Heart Connection She Can't Explain, and the Doubt She Carries 30:35 - Why She Feels Safer and More Herself in Israel Than in the US 31:57 - Would She Ever Move Back to America?  33:00 - Aliyah Advice #1: You Cannot Stay in Israel Without Hebrew 33:55 - Aliyah Advice #2: Your Full-Time Job Is Meeting People for Coffee 34:54 - At 120, Looking Back: A Life Lived Outdoors 35:26 - Rapid Fire: Prichiot, Lidaskes & Nachsholim RESOURCES Follow Abbey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abbey-onn/ Subscribe to Yalla, Let’s Go here: https://www.aleph.vc/yalla-lets-go  Learn more about Aleph: aleph.vc  Sign up for Aleph’s monthly email newsletter: https://newsletter.aleph.vc/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@yallaletsgopodcast  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yallaletsgopodcast/  Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yallaletsgopodcast  Follow Aleph on Twitter: https://x.com/aleph ‍Follow Aleph on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aleph-vc/ ‍Follow Aleph on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleph.vc/ CREDITS Hosts: Erica Marom, Abbey Onn  Executive Producer: Sarah Bard Producer: Sofi Levak, Dalit Merenfeld Video and Editing: Nadav Elovic Music and Creative Direction: Uri Ar  Content and Editorial: Jackie Goldberg Design: Nimrod Sapir

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  Episode #17

  Yoni Heilman, CEO of TAMID Group, on Making Aliyah Twice, Why Columbia Can't Stop His Israeli Club, and What 400+ Days of Reserve Duty Costs a Family

  Sep 1, 202632 min

  In this episode of Yalla, Let's Go!, Erica and Abbey sit down with Yoni Heilman — CEO of TAMID Group, IDF reservist with more than 400 days of miluim since October 7th, and the show's first guest to have made aliyah twice — for a conversation about coming back for good in the middle of COVID, writing from inside the war, and why life in Israel is never just fine: it's either amazing or crisis. Yoni was born in New York and spent his early years in Israel, leaving him with what he calls bicultural personality disorder: feeling like both a foreigner and a native in both countries. His career has crossed every sector — IDF soldier, US Congressional staffer, Knesset intern, Birthright Israel, a startup — before a group of undergraduates recruited him to run TAMID Group, the nonprofit connecting business-minded students on nearly 60 campuses (20 to 30 percent of them not Jewish) to Israel's startup ecosystem. He opens up about the WhatsApp group he started for his wife on the first night of the war that became SAPIR Journal's Diary of an IDF Soldier, the Columbia chapter president who kept building through the encampments, the summer cohort evacuated by boat, and the check-in agent who invited his family to her Seder the day they left Israel with an expired passport. Also in the episode: Making aliyah twice: looking backward the first time, looking forward the second Why TAMID works: business, not politics — "we're not advocates, we're activists" Are ambitious students more or less interested in Israel since October 7th? Not canceling the summer programs: a cohort evacuated by boat, and 130 students who flew in during the war with Iran "I'm a sharpshooter." "How old are you?" "38." "Okay, take care." 400+ days of miluim and the trap door under his life Raising kids who will serve in the same army he serves in What "never again" really means: agency, not just safety Why Modi'in, why there's no third aliyah coming, and feeling safer in Israel than in America At 80, looking back: grandchildren for whom Israel will be native This is a raw, honest conversation about aliyah, service and belonging — and why life in Israel is never just fine. Subscribe for more conversations with people who live, work, build, and stay in Israel. #YoniHeilman #TAMID #Israel #Aliyah #IDF #Miluim #October7 #SapirJournal #Modiin #YallaLetsGo #LifeInIsrael #MakingAliyah #JewishIdentity #StartupNation #AmericanJews

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  Episode #16

  Nadav Keyson, CEO & Co-Founder of Riverside, on Getting a First Job in Israel, Building a Successful Startup, and Embracing Overconfident Israelis

  Aug 18, 202615 minS1

  In this episode of Yalla, Let's Go!, Erica and Abbey sit down with Nadav Keyson — CEO and co-founder of Riverside, the podcasting and video platform behind Taylor Swift's New Heights interview, Hillary Clinton's recordings, and Aleph's own Invested podcast — for a conversation about building a global company from Tel Aviv, moving from Amsterdam with his brothers, and why he has never once considered leaving. Nadav grew up in Amsterdam and moved to Israel four and a half years ago, joining the brothers who had already made the move. He and his brothers Gideon and Yonatan built Riverside out of the ashes of an online video debate platform for Dutch politicians, and chose Tel Aviv over Amsterdam and the United States for the company's first office. He opens up about the Israel Police using Riverside to document witness testimonies after October 7th, the first paying customer who turned out to be a scam, what makes Israeli hiring different from Dutch hiring, and why the smartest people here go to startups instead of corporates. Also in the episode: From Amsterdam to Tel Aviv: moving toward something, not away from something Riverside's origin story: the online video debate platform for Dutch politicians Building a company with your brothers — and dividing product from tech October 7th: how the Israel Police used Riverside to record witness testimonies Taylor Swift, New Heights, Hillary Clinton — and the first paying customer who scammed them Hiring in Israel vs. the Netherlands: authority, risk appetite, and where talent goes Why he has never considered moving Riverside to the US Aliyah advice: lose the excuses, get the immigrant mentality, land the first job At 70, looking back: a fuller, more meaningful life — and a bigger company This is a sharp, practical conversation about building a global company from Israel — and why he wouldn't build it anywhere else. Subscribe for more conversations with people who live, work, build, and stay in Israel.

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  Yalla, Let's Go!

  Daniil Chernov, Co-Founder of Reboot Startup Nation, on Moving with a Job, Building a Community for 14K Russian Olim, and the 1,000 Rides That Followed October 7

  Aug 4, 202625 min

  In this episode of Yalla, Let’s Go!, Erica and Abbey sit down with Daniil Chernov — Russian-born oleh, co-founder of The Reboot Startup Nation, Nevo Network board member, and an analytics leader who has worked at some of Israel’s biggest tech companies — for a conversation about arriving with a job but no network, building community from scratch, and what eight years in Israel taught him about impact. Daniil grew up in a small city near Moscow, studied theoretical physics, decided it was too theoretical, and moved into tech. He made aliyah in 2018 while working at Gett — an arrival so smooth he calls it his “golden aliyah” — and then discovered that having a job is not the same as having a professional network. He and Katerina Greenstein launched The Reboot Startup Nation the day before Russia invaded Ukraine, and pivoted overnight from serving Russian-speaking olim already in Israel to absorbing an entire new wave of them. After October 7th, he turned that same community into Israel Delivery Aid, a volunteer logistics operation that ran roughly 1,000 rides carrying gear, food, water, mattresses, and evacuees across the country. Also in the episode: Making aliyah from Moscow in 2018 with Gett — and why he calls it a “golden aliyah” The specific loneliness of arriving with a job but no professional network Launching The Reboot Startup Nation the day before the war in Ukraine began Israel Delivery Aid: 1,000 volunteer rides organized out of a tech community after October 7th Co-founding with a Ukrainian partner while Russia and Ukraine were at war Moderating 14,000 community members through the hardest conversations Why he has more ability to create impact in Israel than he ever had in Russia Hit by a car on an electric scooter — and what the Israeli healthcare system did next His wife Ksusha and the reality of building a music career in Israel Aliyah advice: learn Hebrew, even if it’s only the alphabet This is a practical, funny, and quietly moving conversation about networks, generosity, and what one person can actually build in a country this small. Subscribe for more conversations with people who live, work, build, and stay in Israel. #DaniilChernov #TheRebootStartupNation #RussianAliyah #Israel #Aliyah #IsraeliTech #NevoNetwork #October7 #TelAviv #RussianOlim #YallaLetsGo #LifeInIsrael #CommunityBuilding #TechCommunity #MakingAliyah KEY TOPICS  0:00 – Intro 0:56 – Meet Daniil Chernov: Russian Oleh, Israeli Tech Leader, and Community Builder 2:19 – Life Story in One Minute: Theoretical Physics to Israeli Tech 2:59 – Making Aliyah from Moscow in 2018 with Gett: The “Golden Aliyah” 4:02 – Two Very Different Aliyahs: His Experience vs. His Wife’s 5:16 – The LinkedIn Party That Showed Him He Had No Network in Israel 6:00 – Launching The Reboot Startup Nation the Day Before the Ukraine War 6:08 – Building a Russian-Language Tech Community for Olim in Israel 8:11 – After October 7th: How Israel Delivery Aid Was Built 9:30 – 1,000 Volunteer Rides: Gear, Food, Water, and Evacuations 11:39 – Co-Founding With a Ukrainian Partner While Russia and Ukraine Were at War 11:57 – Moderating 14,000 Community Members Through the Hardest Conversations 13:26 – Why He Has More Impact in Israel Than He Ever Had in Russia 14:32 – How Israelis Help Strangers: One Cold LinkedIn Message 15:28 – Hit by a Car on an Electric Scooter in Tel Aviv 15:59 – The Doctors’ Protest, the Ambulance, and the Emergency Room 17:29 – Waiting a Week for Surgery: Inside the Israeli Healthcare System 19:25 – Shoulder Surgery, Private Clinics, and Insurance Through Work 19:48 – Would He Ever Leave Israel? Not Back to Russia 20:52 – His Wife Ksusha and the Israeli Market for Non-Mizrahi Music 22:13 – What He Loves Most About Israel: Freedom and People Who Show Up 23:03 – Aliyah Advice: Learn Hebrew, at Least the Alphabet 23:34 – How Good Is His Hebrew After Eight Years? 23:59 – Rapid Fire: Entrecote in a Tortilla, Tachles & “Who Is a Jew?” RESOURCES Follow Daniil on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniilchernov/ Learn more about The Reboot Startup Nation: https://www.israel-reboot.com/ Subscribe to Yalla, Let’s Go here: https://www.aleph.vc/yalla-lets-go  Learn more about Aleph: aleph.vc  Sign up for Aleph’s monthly email newsletter: https://newsletter.aleph.vc/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@yallaletsgopodcast  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yallaletsgopodcast/  Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yallaletsgopodcast  Follow Aleph on Twitter: https://x.com/aleph ‍Follow Aleph on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aleph-vc/ ‍Follow Aleph on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleph.vc/ CREDITS Hosts: Erica Marom, Abbey Onn  Executive Producer: Sarah Bard Producer: Sofi Levak, Dalit Merenfeld, Myron Shneider Video and Editing: Nadav Elovic Music and Creative Direction: Uri Ar  Content and Editorial: Jackie Goldberg Design: Nimrod Sapir

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