Yaffa Abadi & Yonah Hochhauser

When I made Aliyah just over four years ago, I went straight to the dorms of Hebrew U to start the Mechina Program. Making Aliyah all starry-eyed at nineteen, leaving your family behind, and pursuing your Zionist dreams may sound exhilarating but it was equally nerve wracking.

Rothberg was truly a great place for that transition. I was surrounded by international students all with the same goal of exploring Israel and conquering the Hebrew language, I was learning to have independence while still in a framework of organized studying, and of course, I met the love of my life.

It all started when I was sitting, chewing nervously on my pen in the compulsory math exam before starting the year. In strolled a gorgeous young man (ten minutes late I may add), smiling from ear to ear with his “tsevet” shirt on and not a care in the world. I was smitten. As my time at Rothberg went on, my Hebrew vastly improved, and my friendship with Yonah, the smiling young man, solidified.

By the end of the year I felt ready to study my degree of philosophy and Literature in Hebrew and mine and Yonah’s relationship was going strong. It has been three years since then, Both Yonah and I have completed our degrees and are living, working, and enjoying life in Tel Aviv. Right now, our future plans revolve planning a wedding (it’s no easy feat) saving up for a honeymoon and continuing to build our lives in Israel.

Mazal Tov!!