Nefesh B’Nefesh’s second chartered aliyah flight arrived in Israel
on Tuesday, bringing 210 North American olim, including 88-year-old Exodus passenger Frances Greenberg. The newcomers are among 2,000 North American and British Jews making aliyah this summer through Nefesh B’Nefesh.
Since being founded in 2002, Nefesh B’Nefesh has revitalized western aliyah, by removing the financial, professional, social and logistical obstacles that prevent many people from actualizing their dreams to move to Israel. Last week Nefesh B’Nefesh celebrated the aliyah of its 15,000 new immigrant.
Immigrant's Experiences
Making the team / Liat Shpigler
As an old-new immigrant, Liat Shpigler often wonders if it is more fitting to present herself as American-Israeli or as Israeli-American
Greenberg, who was a passenger on the famed Exodus ship in 1947, is the only family member to survive the war. After the Exodus was denied entry to Israel, she was sent back to Germany and met her husband who wanted to live in the United States.
“It’s time to fulfill the dream of my youth,” she said to Nefesh B’Nefesh staff. “After 60 years, I am finally coming to Israel to stay!”
Greenberg meets her grandson Elad Kraus (Photo: Sasson Tiram)
Also on board the flight were 50 singles, including 23 people joining the IDF through the Garin Tzabar program. There were also two former Iranians who had fled Iran to the United States, and are now moving to Israel.
Hundreds of families and friends of the new Olim as well as Israeli dignitaries and flag waving guests greeted the charter aliyah flight at Nefesh B’Nefesh’s arrival ceremony at Ben-Gurion airport.
Those present included Deputy Speaker of the Knesset MK Yuli Edelstein, VP of Commercial & Industry Affairs for El Al Rami Levy, Gilad Avrahami of the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, and Co-Founder and Executive Director of Nefesh B’Nefesh Rabbi Yehoshua Fass.
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