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

15 בספטמבר 2026

אודות פרק זה

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

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