By Aviva Zacks
Kimberly Schamroth, 31, made aliyah from Manhattan to Jerusalem with her American-Israeli husband Avi this past November. She has always been a strong Zionist and credits her parents, Camp Moshava I.O. and her schools for fostering her love of Israel. I had the opportunity to interview Kimberly and learn more about her decision to make aliyah and about her life in Israel,
Aviva: Where did you go to school?
Kimmy: I grew up in New Rochelle, New York and went to SAR and Central High School, followed by Midreshet Harova, Stern and NYU College of Nursing.
Aviva: Tell me about when you decided to make aliyah.
Kimmy: When I went on Mach Hach BaAretz and then TVI, I fell in love with Israel. Every time I came here, I felt like a piece of me that was missing was filled, and whenever I left, it was always very difficult. I knew that I would make Israel my home one day.
Aviva: Where else did you get a love of Israel?
Kimmy: My parents are true Zionists and made sure I went to Israel-oriented schools and camp. At SAR, there were shlichim every year from all over Israel who taught in our classrooms, and I always felt a sense of Israeli pride in our day-to-day learning. Our shul, Young Israel of New Rochelle, is very Zionistic as well and made Israel a priority in our community.
Aviva: What was your final motivation to come when you did?
Kimmy: When my husband and I started dating, not only did I meet someone who has such a passionate love for Israel, but I also met my best friend who supports me. There was no question that we could have easily lived the rest of our lives in America but that our future would thrive the most in Israel.
Aviva: What was your aliyah experience like?
Kimmy: I have been incredibly lucky that I came with my husband because he has made this process easier than I could have ever imagined. It’s true that I found it difficult to leave my home and my job, but my husband has helped bridge the gap between the different cultures or the language barrier and the bureaucracy that could be quite difficult at times. He has really made aliyah an easy and smooth transition for me. Of course, there are hiccups and bumps in the road, but my husband, in-laws and friends have all made me feel very welcome.
Aviva: What are you doing professionally?
Kimmy: I’m a registered nurse and my background is in fertility medicine. I was working as a surgical nurse at one of the leading fertility clinics in New York for five years, and I’m in the process of converting my license in order to be able to practice medicine here in Israel. I have started a fertility consulting company, The Fertility RN, to educate and empower men and women on their fertility journey. I offer consultations — whether to understand their cycle and conceive naturally or through methods of assisted reproductive technology such as egg freezing and IVF. I use social media, such as Instagram (The Fertility RN: www.instagram.com/thefertility_rn/), where I have about 3,000 followers. I host medical professionals from around the world to support my followers through Instagram Live on a variety of topics related to fertility. This has allowed me to help thousands of people along their fertility journey.
Aviva: What do you love about living in Israel?
Kimmy: I love how accepted I have felt from the get-go. I think you could be any type of Jew from anywhere around the world and you could have different customs, different levels of observance or different cultural backgrounds, and there’s an underlying sense of unity. We are all part of something bigger.
Aviva: What do you miss about living in New York?
Kimmy: I miss my friends and my family. Having said that, I feel very blessed that I get to video chat with my family every day.
Aviva: Do you have a message for anyone who’s considering making aliyah?
Kimmy: I had hundreds of questions and I felt comfortable asking them. I think it’s important to advocate for yourself and to be as informed as possible. There are people who could answer your questions and want to support you and welcome you, so it doesn’t have to be a lonely journey. Not everyone is going to have an Israeli partner ushering them into aliyah, but having someone that you can reach out to will be helpful. Aliyah is definitely a scary decision, but it has been the most meaningful thing I’ve ever done in my life.
Aviva Zacks is a writer living in Israel who loves speaking to olim and hearing their stories. If you know of an oleh/olah who is interested in being interviewed for The Jewish Link, please email [email protected]
