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.
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#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
