An El Al Boeing 777 chartered by Nefesh B’Nefesh departed New York’s JFK International Airport on Tuesday, carrying 232 Olim (new immigrants) from the U.S. and Canada who will begin new lives in the Jewish State. The flight was facilitated in cooperation with Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption, the Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth Le’Israel, JNF-USA, and Tzofim-Garin Tzabar.

Fifty-nine of the inspiring young men and women on board will volunteer for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as “lone soldiers”—young people who left behind their homes, families and friends—in the coming months. They will join the 850 lone soldiers from the U.S., and the 2,800 lone soldiers from around the world, who are currently serving in the IDF. Nefesh B’Nefesh, in cooperation with Friends of the IDF (FIDF), cares for thousands of lone soldiers serving in the IDF through the Lone Soldiers Program, which offers guidance and support for all lone-soldier immigrants during each stage of their service: pre-immigration, pre-recruitment, during active military service, after release from the army and during adjustment to civilian life.

The passengers on this special flight included 29 families with their 75 children as well as nine couples and 86 singles.

Among the Olim who made Aliyah and are volunteering for the IDF are Eitan Benchabbat, 19, and Avioz Hanan, 21 from Teaneck; Tal Bluevise, 18, from Livingston; Michael Bruck, 18, from Paramus; Joshua Drill, 19, from West Caldwell; Joseph Levy, 18, from Cherry Hill; Lihi Moshe, 18, and Dotan Rand, 18, from Fair Lawn; Cochava Silvera, 18, from Bergenfield; Jesse Talmud, 22, from East Brunswick; and Ariel Zuckerman, 18, from Oakhurst.