New immigrants: Hizbullah won’t destroy our dreams

230 new immigrants from North America arrive amidst Katushya, Qassam barrages in north and south, several families headed for hotspots in both areas; Netanyahu greets newcomers, says aliyah is answer to Hizbullah, Hamas

Andrew Friedman|Published: 07.20.06 , 17:09

When the Katushyas started falling over northern Israel last week, Jonathan and Toby Klein looked at each other, and instinctively knew they wouldn't allow Hizbullah to alter their plans to move their family to Mitzpeh Netofa, a small village near the Lebanese border.

"We've been planning this for more than two years, but I've been contemplating it for about 25. Now that everything has finally come together, we're not going to allow Hizbullah to destroy our dreams," said a tired Jonathan during a welcome ceremony for 230 formerly American Jews at Ben-Gurion Airport Thursday.

A new life in Israel (Photo: Reuters)

The Kleins are not alone in their determination to make their home here despite the security situation. Other immigrants are headed for Haifa, Ashkelon, Kibbutz Kfar Hanassi (near the Lebanese border), Hashmonaim, Ramat Beit Shemesh, and of course Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Two approaches

Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, Executive Director of Nefesh B'Nefesh said he wasn't surprised that families didn't cancel their plans because of fighting in the north.

"Look, these people are realistic, they know there are ups and downs here, and they know they are responsible for their safety and that of their families," Fass told Ynetnews. "All we can do is pray there is a resolution to the fighting soon, and that Israel can do what needs to be done to restore quiet in the north."

Fass admitted that several immigrants who plan to make their homes in the north put off their arrivals to other Nefesh flights scheduled for next month, but he said the number of delays was no higher than usual. He also added that on the flight from New York he made the rounds amongst the immigrants, and said he found two main attitudes driving this new batch of Israelis.

"People have been planning to make this move for a year, two years, even more," he said. Some people just want to get on with it already – they've made their commitments to come, they are wedding to the land, now they are more than a little anxious to get on with it."

"Others are galvanized by the situation," he added. "You know, when things are tough at home, it makes you want to be at home even more."

Netanyahu, Riskin greet new arrivals

Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the newcomers, saying aliyah (immigration to Israel) is "the answer" to Hamas and Hizbullah.

"When they talk about occupation, they aren't talking about Gaza or southern Lebanon. They are talking about Tel Aviv, Haifa and Jerusalem," said Netanyahu. "Our enemies don't want us in any centimeter of the Land of Israel. They want us in the sea, just a short drive from here."

Netanyahu also said the Jewish people has faced stronger enemies in its long history, from the biblical Haman to modern times, and praised the immigrants for being a lifeline for Zionism and the Jewish future.

"(Arab opposition) to any Jewish presence in Israel has guided this conflict for 57 years," he said, "but they haven't won. We've won – we've built cities, we've built industry, we've built tourism."

Farewell to the old country

Before departing New York's Kennedy Airport Wednesday, the group attended a farewell ceremony that featured an address by Arye Mekel, Israel's consul general in New York.

"The fact that you are making aliyah at this point in time is a vote of confidence and security in the State of Israel and the victory over terrorism," he said.

Nefesh B'Nefesh was founded in 2002 by Rabbi Fass and American philanthropist Tony Gelbart, in an attempt to spur near-dormant aliyah from North America. Originally, the organization provided financial grants to people who wanted to make aliyah but were prevented from doing so due to financial constraints or responsibilities in America.

The organization still awards grant money (technically it is a loan until an immigrant has been here three years; then it turns into a grant), but it has boomed into a full-scale aliyah support group, with a full social services department, job placement, pre- and post-aliyah counseling, logistical assistance and more.

To date, Nefesh has brought more than 9,000 American immigrants to Israel, and the number is expected to top 10,000 by the end of the summer.

Amidst the tears of joy, singing and hundreds of flags, one arrival was particularly moving.

Four-year-old Nahman looked tired but happy as he sat on his grandmother's lap after the long trip from Los Angeles. He said he was excited about his family's new home in Ramat Beit Shemesh, but that was small cheese compared to the real benefits of living in Israel.