From NY to Ramat Gan: Fulfilling the Zionist dream
Couple in their 70s among 235 new immigrants who landed in Israel this week, feeling 'it's never too late'
Isador and Sandy Aronson were amongst the 235 new immigrants onboard the plane that took off at the beginning of the week from New York to Tel Aviv.
The two are not a brother and sister who chose to move to Israel and start new families. Isador and Sandy, who are 79 and 73 years old, respectively, are a couple who decided that it is never too late and joined the young immigrants.
“We have children and grandchildren in Israel and decided that the time has come to make aliyah,” they said.
The new immigrants landed at the Ben-Gurion International Airport on Monday with the help of the Jewish Agency and the Nefesh B’Nefesh organization which assists Jewish people in their immigration to Israel.
The excitement upon landing was immense but it started way earlier; while still at the New York airport.
Aronsons make their dream come true (Photo: Amnon Meranda)
Tears were running down their faces and the goodbyes from their family members were difficult.
Nineteen-year-old Adina Katz from New York left her family on her quest to fulfill a dream. “I am a Jew and this is my home. It is difficult for me, but I am sure that I am making the right move,” she said.
She plans on studying chemistry at the Bar Ilan University. Her father Stuart confirmed, “I am happy that she is doing this. This is a great feeling.”
When asked whether or not the extended family plans on making aliyah he answered, “Of course, we have been planning to do so for the past 20 years.”
Eddie Schneider from Washington had a hard time stopping his tears. His 22-year-old son Ami boarded the plane with an aspiration of living in Ramat Gan and studying electrical engineering at Bar Ilan.
“I am proud of him and will miss him greatly,” said Ami’s father. “Israel is a big part of our lives and he wants to do this more than anything.”
Welcome to Israel (Photo: Amnon Meranda)
Not only relatives came to bid farewell. Dozens of Bnei Akiva youth movement members were very excited about the aliyah of their adored counselor, 20-year-old Shoshana Cohen.
“We are sad to say goodbye but are happy that she is fulfilling her dream. We hope to make aliyah when we grow up,” one of them said.
Important cell phone numbers
The Nefesh B’Nefesh organization was founded by Rabbi Yehoshua Fass and Tony Gelbart. Its goal is to encourage aliyah from North America to Israel and to ease the bureaucratic complications that stand before a person in this position, amongst other things, by assisting to fill out forms while en-route.
The current immigration was conducted in cooperation with the Jewish Agency.
While still in the Big Apple, the new immigrants-to-be met Knesset Members Gilad Erdan (Likud) and Yoel Hasson (Kadima), who are the co-chairs of the Knesset Caucus for Western Aliyah.
The current affairs lovers in the crowd recognized the two but didn’t really know where from. “Hey, I saw a picture of you in the newspaper” and “hey, aren’t you that guy from the government?” were some of the responses received by the two.
Hasson and Erdan heaped praises upon the immigrants and instilled a little more Zionism. “Israel was built at the hands of new immigrants in its first 60 years and your job is to continue standing before the challenges and building the country in the next 60 years,” said Erdan.
“The step you are taking is very courageous. Now the responsibility is transferred to us and we will do everything in order to ease your absorption,” added Hasson.
Hasson and Erdan gave the new immigrants their cellular phone numbers before arriving in Israel and said this was "for anything you need help with or any request.” Now, all they have to do is adapt.
The writer was a guest on the Nefesh B'Nefesh flight from the US
