Canadian olim arrive at Ben Gurion Airport

A large number of Canadian Jews, including many from Toronto, packed up their families, belongings and lives and moved to Israel this week. An historic flight marked the first time an entire plane load of Canadian Jews left en masse to fulfil the age-old Jewish dream of moving to Israel. The flight left Pearson International Airport in Toronto on July 12. These immigrants will be moving as part of an organization called Nefesh B'Nefesh (Jewish Souls United- http://www.nbn.org.il/) that assists North American Jews who wish to move to Israel, known in Hebrew as making 'Aliyah' (literally 'ascending'). Altogether, over the coming summer, some 400 Canadians, out of 1,800 North American Jews are expected to make the move, with a total 3,200 coming during the course of 2005. The Canadian flight arrived in Israel at the same time as a flight from New York City and the two planes were greeted in a moving welcome ceremony by thousands of well-wishers, including Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and other government dignitaries.

[Isranet photos]

The following are the remarks made by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to the olim from Canada and the United States at Ben-Gurion Airport Wednesday, July 13.

Good day to all of you. Joy and sadness often go hand in hand here. Your arrival is a great joy to us, but yesterday [in Netanya] we faced another murderous terrorist action which certainly saddens us all. I take this opportunity to send my condolences the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured.

Yesterday, I instructed the security forces to increase our activities and target, as much as possible, the heads of the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization. We will not stop until they cease their murderous attacks.

Welcome home to the promised land.

Aliyah is the primary goal of my government. The future of the Jewish People and the State of Israel depends on Aliyah.

Israel is the only place in the world where it is possible to lead a fully Jewish existence. Only here can you ensure that your children and grandchildren will remain Jewish.

Your being here is very important to us. Maybe this is the most important thing for the Jewish people, to live here – for all our people to be moving over here.

I promise you that we will do all we can to assist you on this journey home, although I must tell you that we had a little talk here, and we already discussed the proposal that next year, Nefesh B’Nefesh will bring 10,000 Jews from other countries, from the United States and Canada.

Life in Israel is not always easy. But you have our support, and we will help you in any way we can.

I hope that you will encourage your friends to make aliyah, to raise their families here alongside your families, and to build their homes and businesses here.

I wish to say to you and to Jews all over the world: We always needed you, but we need you now more than ever.

Come to Israel. We need you here.

Thank you.