Moreshet, Israel, located in the Lower Galil, welcomed Elan and Dena Vorzman and their three children as new olim last week. The Vorzman family was part of the cohort of 232 olim who made aliyah on the July Nefesh B’Nefesh flight.

The Vorzmans hail from Houston, Texas, and were formerly Highland Park, New Jersey, residents. The family joined Dena’s sister and her husband, Ruchie and Effie Wiesel, who made aliyah to Moreshet from Teaneck in 2016. This is the first time that the community will reunite siblings. The Vorzmans are the sixth family with a New Jersey connection to make aliyah to Moreshet; the community includes olim from Bergen, Union, Middlesex and Monmouth counties.

Elan discussed the family’s decision to make aliyah on Facebook: “We’re making aliyah for a few reasons. Our kids are 15, 13 and 11 and we wanted them to have an opportunity to experience some of their childhood in Israel, which is so kid-friendly. Also, most of Dena’s family is in Israel…it’s great that so much of our family is there. Lastly, we are thrilled for the opportunity to be a part of Israel now. We have the chance to do what Jews have been praying for—for thousands of years. It seems like, ‘What are we doing anywhere other than in Israel?’”

Dena added, also on Facebook, “Last year we visited Israel when my brother got married in Jerusalem. One evening, as we watched the sunset in Moreshet, I said to Elan, ‘We need to be here. We are part of the same culture, our holidays are the same, this is home.’”

Moreshet celebrates its new olim in a most unique fashion: the town holds a welcome parade and ceremony to get the entire community involved in ensuring the new olim have a successful aliyah experience.