America's deepening recession has spurred a record number of North American families to fast forward their aliyah plans and make their move to Israel this summer.

"Many people told us that they had long-term plans to make aliyah but the economic crunch at home became the trigger to move things up," said Yael Katsman, Nefesh B'Nefesh's director of marketing and communications.

"The truth of the matter is that aliyah has been on the rise from North America during the past few years. During the course of the 2008 calendar year, 3,000 people made aliyah from North America. This summer alone we are sending 3,000 people on aliyah. We anticipate that by the end of 2009, close to 4,000 people will have made aliyah from North America to Israel all which is pretty exciting."

The Nefesh B'Nefesh and Jewish Agency charter flight that arrived at Ben Gurion Airport from JFK earlier this week included 232 new North American olim. Among the 3,000 who are expected to arrive during the next few months are 430 Israel Defense Forces recruits, 40 doctors, and 32 families who are moving to Israel's northern periphery through the new Go North program.

This week's newcomers included Yehudah and Aviva Zuller of Staten Island, NY, who named their son Gilad in solidarity with Gilad Shalit. Shalit was captured one week prior to the infant's birth. Gilad Zuller celebrated his third birthday last week.

While many of the olim originate from the metropolitan New York region, significant numbers also hail from the West Coast and Middle America, including Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota and Iowa.

However, those families, couples and singles escaping America's recession will find that the Jewish state is facing rising unemployment. Katsman maintained that despite the tightening job market in Israel, new immigrants believe that they have a better shot at finding a job.

"The market is a bit better here in Israel. Of course a lot depends on what your vocation happens to be. Nefesh B'nefesh has been pretty successful in finding jobs for new immigrants through our job placement program. And the feedback from prospective new immigrants has been that it would be easier for them to make a go of it in Israel than back home."

Tony Gelbart, cofounder and chairman of Nefesh B'Nefesh (along with Rabbi Joshua Fass), is also optimistic about the future of the new immigrants.

"We are looking forward to a new and exciting summer as we prepare to welcome a record number of olim home. Together with the Jewish Agency, wc have created a widespread network of support and guidance in the pre- and post-aliyah stages so that each oleh has a successful aliyah."