Today I am finishing my degree in Humanities and Social Studies at The Open University and have my own business called Tiny & Mighty by Lolipoptalia Studios where I make Jewish-themed baby gifts. Adjusting to Israel was really hard for me when I was a kid, I was angry at my parents for making this move, I refused to speak Hebrew even though I understood it about 2 months after we made Aliyah and I hated the fact that every food item has some type of tree nut or sesame in it. I am deathly allergic to tree nuts, peanuts, and sesame so that was a giant adjustment.

 

We lived in Raanana for 3 years and then moved to Jerusalem where I felt much more at home. Adjusting became easier and I was starting to enjoy living in Israel as a free-range kid. Our parents would throw us out of the house to the local park or wherever almost every Shabbat for being too loud and they didn't worry about our safety too much. We would hang out with friends and cousins and just wander the streets and that freedom was what really made me.

 

Eventually, most of my cousins made Aliyah and it's been really fun since we're all really close.

 

Today, I appreciate living here. The freedom is what got me. And growing up in Jerusalem was magical, I believe that as a Jew in public it’s always our job to help others, whether it's helping a lady with a stroller onto the bus or giving directions, that’s what you gotta do!

 

My husband and I met at a bus stop right outside the Moshav Fair in 2019 while he was here for Yeshiva. He’s also an Oleh, though much more recent (two months!) and from LA, and we're both twins!”

 

- Talia Schoen