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Photo: Eli Elgarat
New immigrants from US (archives)
Photo: Eli Elgarat

96 US singles move to Israel

Prime Minister Olmert, Absorption Minister Ederi greet new arrivals on final summer Nefesh B'Nefesh aliyah flight

Nefesh B'Nefesh, an organization dedicated to revitalizing aliyah from North America and the UK, brought its final summer flight to Israel on Tuesday, carrying the last 215 of over 2,200 new immigrants who moved to Israel on 15 aliyah flights over the last few months.

 

Tuesday's flight, which brought 96 singles and 29 families to Israel, marked the end of Nefesh B'Nefesh's summer influx of immigrants. Over this season, the organization helped over 2,200 people make aliyah - including almost 400 singles, 265 families with approximately 600 children, and 115 people who joined the IDF.

 

"From small children, to the 100 singles and new IDF soldiers, as well as retirees and Holocaust survivors, today's flight symbolizes the intergenerational contribution of Aliyah to the State of Israel," said co-founder of Nefesh B'Nefesh, Tony Gelbart.

 

"I'm proud to be able to say, that all of this is just the beginning, and we are prepared to bring thousands more North American and British Jews to Israel in the coming years."


Prime Minister Olmert greets new immigrants (Photo: Sasson Tiram)

 

Nefesh B'Nefesh has been responsible for bringing over 12,000 American, Canadian and British Jews home to Israel, since 2002. The support and comprehensive social services provided by the organization, from the planning stages to arrival in Israel and beyond, have ensured that 99% of its immigrants have remained in Israel, and 94% of the families have one or both spouses employed.

 

"This has been a momentous and exhilarating summer for us, and this final flight is the culmination of months of planning, dedication and effort," said Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, co-founder and executive director of Nefesh B'Nefesh.

 

"We look forward to providing our services to hundreds more olim arriving in the coming months, while making their move to Israel easier and smoother."

 

Upon arrival in Israel, hundreds of families and friends greeted the plane at a festive welcoming ceremony at Ben-Gurion Airport, including: Prime Minister Ehud Olmert; Minister of Immigrant Absorption Yaakov Edri and director-general of the ministry, Erez Halfon; the chief rabbi of Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Israel Meir Lau; Former Israeli Ambassador to the US and co-chairman of Nefesh B'Nefesh Danny Ayalon; and co-founders of Nefesh B'Nefesh Rabbi Yehoshua Fass and Tony Gelbart.

 


פרסום ראשון: 09.04.07, 18:19
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