(Courtesy of Nefesh B’Nefesh) Nefesh B’Nefesh, in cooperation with Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael, Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah & Integration, the Jewish Agency for Israel and JNF-USA, assisted 196 individuals in making aliyah recently. The most recent group flight included 15 future lone soldiers, a soon-to-be bride and 37 individuals moving to Jerusalem, Israel’s North and its South.

These new citizens bring the total number of North American Olim in 2017 to 3,633. During this past year, Nefesh B’Nefesh facilitated 19 special aliyah flights from North America, bringing 377 families with 677 children, and an additional 1677 singles. The Olim ranged in age from five weeks to 102 years old, and were mostly from New York, California, New Jersey, Florida, Maryland, Illinois, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, as well as Quebec and Ontario, Canada.

Nefesh B’Nefesh’s employment and government advocacy departments continued to assist medical professionals by streamlining the licensing process, making it easier for 61 doctors and 16 psychologists from North America and the U.K. to continue their professions in Israel, while contributing to the Israeli healthcare system. Other leading professions for Olim included education, marketing, finance, high-tech and lawyers.

Amongst the top cities to welcome Olim in 2017 were Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Ra’anana and Netanya. The recently launched Nefesh B’Nefesh–KKL “Go Beyond” initiative successfully facilitated the aliyah of hundreds of Olim to Israel’s northern and southern frontiers including Haifa, Tzfat, Zichron Yaakov, Karmiel, Tiberias, Nahariya, Hadera, Yokneam Illit, Pardes Hanna and Maalot in the North and Be’er Sheva, Ashkelon, Eilat, Ofakim, Mitzpe Ramon, Yerucham, Sderot, Arad and Meitar in the South.

“We have had the incredible privilege of assisting thousands of Olim this past year in fulfilling their Zionist dreams, and are pleased to see continued interest in aliyah from Jews living in the Diaspora,” said Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, co-founder & executive director of Nefesh B’Nefesh. “Today’s Olim will begin building their homes in communities across the country, and will be making valuable contributions to strengthening Israel and the Jewish nation.”