I wish this will improve the quality of the actual Alyah accomplishements. Jewish agency seems to be an old silly man who just doesn't care anymore for nothing and have no morals nor principles. Jewish Agency does it job without soul and without care and without responsability.That's what it seems,and that's why so many goyim are entering the country and damaging its precious social tissue that MUST BE KEPT AND IMPROVED and not mistreated! Our return to Israel is the fulfilment of G'od's promise.It seems a Miracle,but this Miracle is a fact,and this fact must be cared as the most precious jewlery in this world. Israel is to be loved by the deepest of our souls and cared as so,in all its aspects,WITH RESPONSABILITY!

This is completely true for Nefesh be Nefesh, which disgustingly discriminates against secular olim.

As far as I am concerned, I don't think that it is a good thing. The Israeli state is giving too much power to private organizations which act without any control.

Watch as NbN increase their push of the modern orthodox and their West Bank settlement whilst ignoring the thousands of potential secular olim who could offer so much (to the real Israel).

Jewish agency does not deserve to take care of alyiah any more.

People keep suggesting this as true and it just isn't. I made aliyah as a secular Jew with Nefesh B'Nefesh and a ton of my friends are in the same boat. Check the numbers in Tel Aviv and the merkaz...the number of secular olim will be much higher there than if you look at Jerusalem. Generally, secular Jews aren't lining up to make aliyah -- that probably explains the discrepancy in numbers.

The problem with recruiting "secular olim" like the Jewish Agency did, there is no "quality control" and large numbers of gentiles and NEO-NAZIS are imported.

To #4, Rysk, TA: The reason is that many religious are interested in aliyah, while usually the secular are not. At least these groups bring JEWS, something that the Jewish Agency rarely does the last several years.

I am an olleh and when staying at a merkaz klita I stayed with a Brit who had come with Nefesh I came with the Jewish Agency and had to do most the work myself that Nefesh did for him. Everything was provided for him including a couple of thousand of dollars start up. I came with the Jewish Agency, had to do my own running about and didnt get thousands of dollars. The other person I was living in an aprtment with was from South America he had to do his own running around and he didnt get thousands of dollars. The jewish agency could certainly be improoved Nefesh have high standards but they only go for the mainly qualified western jews while the Jewish Agency gets the poor mainly unqualified jews from the less developed world .. Nefesh would have never touched the other guy I was living with because he didnt bring any of the profesional skills that the British guy did with his university degree, spoke english so in a better position to deal profesionaly with the western world. Alliyah shouldnt be treated like a business with competition it is there to serve a purpose not make profits for shareholders. Improove standards of the Jewish agency and have some kind of supervision body wich has certain standards expected and the power to enforce those standards. Competition will only make services worse where you will have one organistion for the rich and another for the poor.

THE IDEA TO BRING ANYONE TO ISRAEL-IS TO DILUTE HAREDIM BIRTH RATE DONT YOU GET IT.

The Jewish Agency sends Shlichim to Federations, JCCs, Kollels, Hillels, schools etc, runs programs like MDA, Marva and profressional internships and subsidises Israel programs in the framework of MASA. All NBN Olim also go through a Jewish Agency Aliyah Shaliach. They are Jewish Agency Olim who also get assistance from NBN. And many of them are secular or converts or gay or Reform - all types. Religious Jews generally build stronger connections to Israel which is why they are in the majority.

Just because I am Gay and Reform doesn't mean that I am not religious; or was that not your intent, your wording is slightly confusing.

Holy Mackeral!!! You mean NBM might bring RELIGIOUS JEWS to the land of Israel???What a CONCEPT!!!

My intention was to highlight the fact that although NBN are accused of being selective and only helping the orthodox (and for that the implication is also heterosexual) that they also help people of all backgrounds. I erred in using the word religious when I meant to use orthodox - I beg your pardon.

quality of the immigrants and also the first thing they all should be jews?? jewish agency only brings non jews and the jews are left far behind.. and god only knows where all the fund vanishes?? does it reacht he right people?? the govt should bring only jews and from all over the world . not only from uk and USA... jews are in India and other countries also.. no fund is ever given to them???

...and you'll understand why Nefesh b'Nefesh is more successful: http://www.jewishagency.org/ http://www.nbn.org.il/

She can't stop praising them for their assistance in the process. I've also met her friends who were on her flight who are also secular Jews and have only good things to say about NBN. The majority of the flight did, however, consist mainly of more observant families. This simply reflects the character of today's olim rather then any form of discrimination. Its also extremely logical to assume that an oleh, if coming not because of oppression, but rather motivated purely by ideological reasons, will tend to be more religious. Their motivation is rooted in the Torah, which secular Jews sadly tend to abandon.

The trouble with this is that we'll begin to see phony agencies pop up to embezzle monies....just like the criminal who stole $248,000 from the Discharged Combat Soldier Fund. The Jewish Agency could use help in modernizing it's procedures, but don't throw the baby away with the bath water.

Betach, no need to beg my pardon, I was confused, I appreciate you clarifying your stance. Best, Matan

I made aliyah with nefesh b\nefesh in August 2006. I am secular, and I can state that about 25% of those on my aliyah flight were also secular. they do not discriminate against anyone...they provide great, helpful service unlike the jewish agency. everyone who works for them is friendly..smart, hard-working. they should shut down the jewish agency completely and have organization like nefesh do aliyah. israel--and olim--would be better off.

In preparation for aliyah, I have attended NBN group and individual meetings. They treat all applicants, religious or secular, with equal respect. Secular Jews, however, seem to be less interested in aliyah.

Seeting up organisation to facilitate Aliyah ? Why do we need this NOW ? I though so many people wanted to emigrate to Israel ? Is it that complicated ? To make it short ...Jewish Agency was created for a specific purpose...in a specifi period of time, and has played its role. The entire immigration process should be reviewed. The state of Israel should give MORE MONEY to Olim when they are in israel and less to organisations. The Jewish Agency never stopped olim to commit suicide when in "transit camp " ( absorbtion centers) such as Neve Avivim....The Jewish Agency is something from the past anyway, Israel must make some changes to ensure that ANYONE WILLING TO ESTABLISH HIMSELF IN ISRAEL ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF RETURN can do it as simply as 1-2-3 ! Is that too difficult to understand ?

I prefer the latter.

I heard that they in Paris they were offering a one-year Ulpan for lawyers to start to learn the Israeli bar at the same time as Hebrew. Excellent! Very practical and efficient. I wish that AMI would expand to outside of France. That would be worth paying for!