Record Aliyah

New North American immigrants arriving from New York the morning of July 13.

An all-time record number of 520 new immigrants from North America arrived in Israel in a single day on July 13.  Just before 10 a.m. a specially chartered El Al Jumbo from JFK in New York touched down at Ben Gurion Airport carrying some 360 tired, but obviously elated Jews from the United States.  Just outside a special hanger the mainly young olim made their way down the mobile stairs to be meet by family and friends, and a large press contingent. Less than ten minutes later another El Al charter from Toronto, a Boeing 767, arrived alongside the Jumbo carrying an entire plane load of 160 Canadian olim. This is the highest number of Canadian Jewish immigrants ever to arrive in Israel at any one time.   The two flights, the first of seven scheduled to arrive this summer, were organized by Nefesh b’Nefesh.  The organization that began in 2002 to encourage more aliyah from North American Jews will by the end of this year have brought a running total of nearly eight thousand individuals to live in Israel.  Nefesh b'Nefesh is successfully attempting to revitalize North American aliyah by reducing the bureaucratic aspect of immigration and tangibly helping the prospective immigrants with pilot trips, financial aid and grants ranging between $1000 and $20,000 per family depending on various criteria. In close cooperation with the Jewish Agency the organization has changed the face of North American aliyah beyond recognition. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, surrounded by very heavy security, took time off from a very busy schedule to briefly welcome the new arrivals.

[Isranet photos]