Danielle Yablonka, Miss Israel and founder of DY Judaica, on how October 7th ended her modeling career and why Tel Aviv is holier than Jerusalem.
On this episode of Yalla, Let's Go!, Erica Marom and Abbey Onn talk with Danielle Yablonka, a Miami-born model and pro-Israel content creator who made aliyah through Masa and spent her first months teaching English in Rishon LeZion during wartime. She explains how the Miss Israel pageant works, how she went from first runner-up to Miss Israel, and what it means to represent Israel at the 75th Miss Universe in Puerto Rico. She also talks about the Zionist thirst trap, the Spanish Inquisition necklace behind DY Judaica, dating in Tel Aviv, and her aliyah advice, from Nefesh B'Nefesh to proving your Judaism.
Danielle's grandparents were Holocaust survivors, and she traces her activism back to them. After October 7th, her modeling work stopped. When she moved to Israel, she taught English to elementary school students while sirens sent the school to shelters.
KEY TOPICS
00:00 - Intro
00:53 - Meet Miss Israel Danielle Yablonka
02:22 - Danielle's Life Story: Miami to Miss Israel
02:41 - Holocaust Survivor Grandparents, BBYO and StandWithUs
03:15 - Campus Antisemitism and Pro-Israel Social Media
03:59 - Making Aliyah After October 7th
05:04 - How October 7th Ended Her Modeling Career
07:09 - How the Miss Israel Pageant Works
08:34 - From First Runner-Up to Miss Israel
09:37 - Miss Universe Training in Miami and New York
10:24 - Security and Antisemitism at Miss Universe
12:03 - Imposter Syndrome as a New Olah
13:09 - Teaching English in Rishon LeZion During Wartime
14:50 - The Zionist Thirst Trap and Full-Time Activism
16:44 - DY Judaica's Spanish Inquisition Necklace
18:31 - Dating in Tel Aviv: 50 First Dates
19:51 - The Tel Aviv Beach Moment Behind Her Aliyah
20:39 - Why Hardship Makes Israelis Happier
22:58 - Aliyah Advice: Nefesh B'Nefesh and Proving Judaism
24:12 - Fire Your Therapist, Find Your Support
25:12 - Why Tel Aviv Is Holier Than Jerusalem
27:05 - Rapid Fire: Bissli, Achla and Shabbat
RESOURCES
Follow Danielle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielleyablonka/
Follow Danielle on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@danielleyablonka
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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
