Aliyah Chronicles

Most aliyah stories have a moment . The lightning bolt. The dramatic phone call. The big announcement at Shabbat dinner. Judy's Katzin doesn't. And honestly? That's exactly what got me. She didn't make Aliyah with a checklist in hand or some grand ideological mission statement. She came to Israel as a kid, fell in love with Jerusalem, kept coming back… and one day just sort of looked around and re...

This one's personal. If you've listened to Landings & Layovers , you already know Marty. He's my co-host, one of my closest friends, and someone whose Aliyah story I've heard in pieces over the years. What I didn't realize until this conversation is that all those pieces were really just the trailer. Marty's journey to Israel starts long before his Aliyah. His family has roots in Israel dating...

What happens when Aliyah wasn't your choice? Lin was just eight years old when her mother moved them from eastern Russia to Israel. She didn't speak Hebrew, didn't fully understand what Aliyah meant, and wasn't making the decision herself. Like many children who move countries, she simply followed where life took her. Years later, everything changed. After spending more than a decade building a li...

What happens when you come to Israel for a year and never leave? In this episode of Aliyah Chronicles , Matthew sits down with Talia Krief to discuss a journey that began with a gap year and turned into an entirely new life. Talia shares how growing up in a religious community in the Midwest eventually led her to Israel, why she chose to make Aliyah at just 18 years old, and how she navigated one...

Yoel Israel — Why Waiting Might Be the Biggest Aliyah Mistake What happens when someone decides as a teenager that they're going to make Aliyah and then actually follows through? In the first episode of Season 2 of Aliyah Chronicles, Matthew sits down with longtime friend Yoel Israel to talk about the decision to move to Israel, the realities of building a life here, and why he believes too many p...

Telma Haviv's Journey of Aliyah and Identity In this episode of Aliyah Chronicles, host Matthew Fleischman sits down with Telma Haviv, a mother, tour guide, and former member of the IDF spokesperson unit, who made Aliyah from Paris in 2020. Telma shares her journey of rediscovering her Jewish identity, embracing Israeli culture, and building a life rooted in purpose and resilience. Telma opens up...

From Siberia to Self-Discovery: Paulina Bulgakova's Aliyah Journey Episode Summary: On this episode of Aliyah Chronicles, host Matthew Fleischman sits down with Paulina Bulgakova, an artist who made Aliyah from Siberia seven years ago. Paulina's journey is one of resilience, reinvention, and finding freedom—both personally and professionally. Paulina opens up about discovering her Jewish heritage...

When it comes to life-changing decisions, making Aliyah—moving to Israel—is one of the most profound journeys a person can undertake. For Anna Rajko, a French-born social media manager, this decision was more than just a move; it was a transformative experience that shaped her identity and her future. In her conversation on Aliyah Chronicles , Anna shared her unique story, from her roots in Brazil...

In this promo episode, get a first look at Aliyah Chronicles , a podcast that dives into the personal journeys of individuals who have made Israel their home. This isn't just about the move; it's about the lives people have built here, the dreams they've pursued, and the experiences that shape them. From dedicated Zionists to curious cultural explorers, from the ultra-observant to proudly secular,...