Tracy Levy, a 24-year-old journalist from Houston, Texas,
and Nefesh B'Nefesh's 15,000th oleh since the program's
inception in 2002, landed early Thursday morning at Ben-Gurion
International Airport together with 300 other Jews from the
US, Canada, and the UK.
A few held babies, others wore guitars on their backs. One
carried her two dogs across the tarmac to a group of waiting
soldiers. These new immigrants, welcomed by 500 guests -
including former MK Geula Cohen and former ambassador to the
US Danny Ayalon - will now embark upon their real journey -
navigating life in Israel.
Some have attempted to undertake this mission before.
Barbara and Judah, a New Jersey couple with two children, made
aliya 24 years ago, but due to unforeseen events, returned to
America. After recently spending a year here, they decided to
try it again, joining this time through Nefesh B'Nefesh, to
ease the process.
Nefesh B'Nefesh, founded by Rabbi Yehoshua Fass and Tony
Gelbart, is committed to aiding Jews from North America and
the UK navigate the often-complicated aliya procedure. "They
helped me with things I didn't know to think about," said
Yosef Garber, an oleh from Chicago who plans on joining the
army after attending Ulpan Etzion this summer.
NBN works with the olim before and after they arrive in
Israel, helping them sort out their finances and providing
direction for governmental absorption protocols, while also
supplying employment assistance and social services.
Mara Hershkovitz, a 19-year-old who arrived alone from New
York, explained, "Nefesh B'Nefesh supports you, because they
understand that everyone leaves someone behind."
Transplanting to locations as far north as Safed or as far
south as Beersheba, the olim said they comprehended the
difficulties of aliya and are ready to accept its challenges.
Some have jobs lined up in the medical, law, financial,
engineering, and marketing fields, but others are waiting to
receive their Israeli identity card before beginning their job
hunts.
Tehila Hessler, who plans to move to Ma'aleh Adumim with
her husband and son, said "We know it won't be smooth going,
but we are prepared to expect the worst, so that we'll then be
relieved when it gets easier."
As a band played "Im Lo Achshav, Matay?" ("If not now,
when?") in the background, Jeff Price, a father of four who
will be telecommuting to the US from Israel, turned to face
his daughter and said, "We wanted to come before it was too
late for the kids. It doesn't matter if it is easy for [Mom
and Dad] - whatever's easy for them is what matters."
The excitement was palpable despite the long days of
adjustment that lay ahead. "I feel elated to finally be making
aliya," said Levy. "Being able to pursue my career in Israel,
as a citizen, is a dream come true."
NBN anticipates receiving a total of 2,000 olim this summer
on five chartered flights and eight group flights.
