The future of Israel was shaped for generations to come as one of two summer aliyah flights from North America, chartered by Nefesh B’Nefesh, departed for Ben Gurion Airport. NBN works in cooperation with Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, The Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael and JNF-USA. There were 127 children under age 17 on board, representing more than half of the flight’s olim.
This diverse group of newcomers to Israel ranged in age from 6 months to 80 years old and included 34 families, 18 singles, three sets of twins, six future IDF soldiers and 15 medical professionals. Thirty-five percent of the flight (88 olim) will be moving to Israel’s periphery, locations in the north and south of the country outside of the center’s metropolitan areas as well as Jerusalem, under the joint Nefesh B’Nefesh-KKL “Go Beyond” initiative.
The new olim hail from across the U.S., including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Washington, as well as from the Canadian province of Quebec.
“We are inspired to see so many children making aliyah today with their families. As Israel recently celebrated its 70th birthday, the country is now looking ahead to its future—an era that will be shaped by the ingenuity and passion of courageous and pioneering olim who are starting their lives anew in the Jewish state,” said Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, co-founder and executive director of Nefesh B’Nefesh. “The group of young olim arriving today will have the tremendous opportunity to grow and develop in Israel and be part of the modern-day miracle of the Jewish people returning to the Jewish homeland.”
“Welcome home to all the olim from North America arriving today to the State of Israel,” said chairman of the Committee for Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora affairs, MK Dr. Avraham Neguise. “Their aliyah is a fulfillment of biblical prophecies that the Jewish people will return to the Land of Israel. I thank all those involved in making this dream turn into a reality.”
A festive welcoming ceremony took place for the new immigrants at Ben Gurion Airport following the flight’s arrival to welcome the olim to their new home.
The new olim arrived on the first of two Nefesh B’Nefesh charter flights of the year, which, along with eight group aliyah flights and olim arriving independently on a daily basis, will bring over 2,000 people immigrating through Nefesh B’Nefesh this summer from North America. Since 2002, Nefesh B’Nefesh, together with its partners, has brought more than 57,000 olim to Israel from the U.S., Canada and the U.K.
By JLNJ Staff
