Occurring four months later than last year's November event, the fourth annual Yeshiva University Aliyah Fair was held on Wednesday night, March 26. With over 250 YU students and representatives from eight Israel-related organizations present, Israel Club Vice President Rachel Aviv, (SCW '09) called the night "a major success."

Referring to this year's program as more of an "Israel fair" than an aliyah fair, Aviv explained that the intention was to attract a broader range of students. Aviv, working together with Avi Gilboa (YC '08), wanted to expand the agenda from presenting strictly aliyah-based content to encompassing many organizations related to Israel. The two began contacting organizations several months ago and decided to broaden the venue by inviting Israel advocacy groups as well.

In addition to hosting Nefesh B'Nefesh (NBN) and the Jewish Agency, this year's fair featured Stand With Us, an Israel education and advocacy organization, and the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), among others.

"A lot of people who came this year wouldn't have come to a regular aliyah fair, but they came to find out about summer opportunities, and how to become active on Israel's behalf," noted Gilboa. "These people like Israel, love Israel, but aren't necessarily thinking about aliyah, so we catered to them."

The two most popular booths throughout the night, NBN and the Jewish Agency, provided the necessary resources for those students who did in fact come to gain information about aliyah.

Akiva Werber, senior shaliach (representative) of the Jewish Agency, stated that several students have already opened aliyah files and are in the process of making aliyah later this year. "But," he added, "these students already made their plans; it's late in the year [to be having the aliyah fair]. This is absolutely a mistake. The fair should have been in September."

Werber attributes the comparatively fewer students in attendance this year to the lateness of the fair. "It's good they have one now, and it's important-but it's not the prime time."

Gilboa was pleased with the turnout from the Yeshiva and Stern College campuses and suggested that perhaps the decision to hold the fair in the spring semester was to accommodate the students who recently returned from learning in Israel for a year and half.

This scheduling change had a noticeable consequence, in that many students already have summer plans and can no longer enroll for the programs being offered.

Shiffy Staiman (SCW '10) spoke to the Jewish Agency about summer options. "They have all these interesting programs and one is for internships for the summer, and they even help you find housing, and that's really convenient," she explained. "But, it's almost too late. If you want to do it, you have to apply right now."

However, Staiman said that the fair was still helpful to her in other ways. She plans to make aliyah after finishing school, and aliyah-related events provide her with better information and more confidence regarding her decision.

"Overall, I think they had a good selection of tables because they had things for people who are making aliyah more immediately and they can help you find jobs in Israel. But I'm not ready for that," continued Staiman. "I went to other booths and asked about making aliyah in the future. I'll always have different questions that need to be answered in terms of making aliyah, based on what I'm up to in life."

Staiman appreciated the availability of Nefesh B'Nefesh at the fair, and their availability in general at YU. "I find that they've been accessible, which is great."

NBN also scheduled personal meetings with students on both undergraduate campuses, held later in the same week.

"We make you independent researchers," explained NBN Advisor Avi Silverman. "We give people information so they can be independent." He offered students a booklet and brochure about creating a social life in Israel, as well as a step-by-step guide for aliyah preparation.

"Most people we met tonight have been to [an] Israel learning [program] and aliyah is on their mind," Silverman remarked. "Most people want to come after undergrad to get a free Masters in Israel, which is terrific. They've also chapped [understood] the idea that they can network while learning-it's brilliant. That's the best way to do it."