Eve Karlin, a 38-year-old fitness trainer from Tel Aviv, shared her aliyah story, rooted in a deep connection to her Jewish identity. Born and raised in a Jewish family in Boston, Massachusetts, she attended a Jewish school and spent summers from age nine to 16 at a Jewish camp. At 17, she first visited Israel through Taglit-Birthright Israel, a Jewish-American organization’s trip offered to Jewish residents. “The moment I stepped off the plane, I felt a unique energy. I fell in love,” she recalled.
After high school, Karlin earned a degree in dance and business administration at James Madison University in Virginia. She then worked as a professional dancer on a cruise ship for two years before training as a fitness coach.
She settled in New York, later moved to Miami and by 29 landed in Los Angeles. During this time, she joined another Israel trip, enjoying it so much that she became a group leader and guided four trips, forming friendships with Israelis.
Karlin always dreamed of moving to Israel, but her career as a fitness trainer kept her busy. Post-COVID-19, Los Angeles grew less safe, with increased homelessness and drug issues. Antisemitism also surged, prompting her to conceal her Star of David necklace in some settings. After October 7, she became an active advocate for Israel, raising $22,000 in donations. During a final visit with her beloved grandmother, who passed away soon after, she was urged to make aliyah. “She told me, ‘I think you need to move to Israel,’” Karlin said.
Last winter, massive wildfires approached her Los Angeles apartment, forcing her to pack essentials. Noticing her suitcase held mostly family photos, she realized experiences mattered more than possessions. “Maybe I should follow my heart and move to Israel?” she thought.
Despite Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, Karlin trusted the IDF and wasn’t deterred. Before starting the aliyah process, she sought her parents’ blessing. They were concerned but supportive. Her friends weren’t surprised, given her constant talk of Israel.
“When I boarded the plane, I burst into tears from excitement. It’s hard to leave everything you know,” she said. On June 12, she landed in Israel, moved into a rented apartment in Jaffa and dined at the Flea Market with a friend. She planned to attend Tel Aviv’s Pride Parade and a party that weekend but, exhausted, opted to rest early.
Her first morning was jarring, awakened by air raid sirens as war with Iran erupted. Unfamiliar with the situation and lacking a safe room in her apartment, she stood in the stairwell, shaken but unharmed. During the next siren, kind neighbors invited her into their safe room.
For days, she ran six minutes to a nearby shelter during alerts. “Thankfully, I’m an athlete,” she said. After five sleepless nights, she moved to a hotel, finding safety and community in its shelter during sirens.
One evening at the beach, she saw someone playing guitar as others sang, struck by Israelis’ resilience. “People here live with such intensity and positivity, even in war,” she noted.
Karlin plans to study Hebrew at an ulpan and start offering personal fitness training. She dreams of finding a Jewish partner. “I know he’s here; I just hope I find him,” she said. Despite a challenging start and fears after hearing of deaths in safe rooms, she remains committed. “I can’t let fear stop me. If we all leave, there won’t be an Israel,” she said.