If you are a Baltimorean in the midst of preparing for aliyah to Eretz Yisrael, or even if you are just beginning to think about it, you probably attended at least one of the aliyah-related events that have taken place during the last few months in our very aliyah-oriented community.

In fact, according to Nefesh B'Nefesh (NBN), which has been hosting aliyah seminars and events in Baltimore and across the country for the past seven years, and is bringing American Jews Home in record numbers, close to 500 individuals have made aliyah from Baltimore since 2002 - ninety-seven of them in 2009 alone. Of course, aliyah from Baltimore has been going on long before NBN was around, but the organization, with all the resources and assistance it offers, has made the process easier than ever.

In case you were not at any recent aliyah events, here's what you missed.

A Home of One's Own

Ten Israeli real estate agents set up their booths at the Hilton Pikesville, on September 14, to share their expertise with about 200 prospective olim and potential investors. The housing fair was organized and/or sponsored by the Israel Aliyah Center, Bayit BeIsrael, and Israel Dirot. Shelly Levine, a 25-year "vatika" (veteran) of the Israel real estate business, was impressed by the seriousness of the Baltimore participants. In today's economic environment, she explained, people aren't going to housing fairs out of curiosity. Rather, these were sincere, Israel-conscious individuals who are considering the purchase of a home or property in Israel. "They are very wise to be thinking of buying an apartment. Israel real estate is gold," says Shelly. "It is the most solid real estate investment in the world. In all my years in the business, I have never seen anyone lose money from their investment in real estate in Israel, nor have I seen any signs of an economic downturn in Israeli real estate."

If you'd like to find out more about owning a place of your own in Eretz Yisrael, you can visit Shelly's website (www.tivuchshelly.com ), or call her at 972-2-566-2499.

Getting Serious

On October 27, NBN was in town to host an Aliyah Planning Seminar. Held at the Park Heights JCC, the event attracted more than 30 men and women from the broad spectrum of the Jewish community. They participated in a dynamic informational workshop covering topics like preparing for aliyah, choosing a community in Israel, employment, schools, and more.

Kim Ephrat, Associate Director of Employment for NBN, hosted the seminar and introduced the attendees to NBN's amazing website (www.nefeshbnefesh.org .il). It's worth visiting the website "just for fun," and surely if you are thinking aliyah for any time in the foreseeable future.

Along with the seminar, NBN also offered "One-to-One" personal aliyah planning meetings with NBN staff, by appointment only. If you missed the seminar, you can check the NBN website for upcoming seminars and personal planning meetings in Baltimore. In the meantime, check out Nefesh B'Nefesh "webinars." These are live seminars conducted each Sunday over the internet and telephone. Some recent discussions have been about "Commuting and Telecommuting," "Budgeting in Israel," "How to Plan an Efficient Pilot Trip," Rights and Obligations of Army Service," "Starting Your Own Business in Israel," and "The Healthcare System in Israel."

Mr. Michael Porcelain, a 23-year-old Baltimorean who is planning his aliyah, says that NBN is "a pleasure to deal with." A love of the Land was instilled in Michael by his parents, Glenn and Barbie Porcelain, by his Yeshivat Rambam education, and by his post-high school year-and-a-half of study in Israel at Yeshivat Lev HaTorah. He will, iy"H, be on NBN's December 29th flight, along with several other single men and women from the Baltimore/Silver Spring area.

"When you read through Tanach and study halacha, you see how much our lives as Jews revolve around Eretz Yisrael," says Michael. "For so much of our history, we've been running away from something. Now we have a Home to run to. There's never been a better time to make aliyah."

Michael will head for an absorption center in Jerusalem, where he will enroll in the five-month intensive Ulpan Etzion program, after which he will serve in the IDF (army) for six months. And after that? Michael hopes to land a job in business or a non-profit organization. What about making the move as a "single"? Michael openly admits that it makes him a bit nervous, but he is confident that his friends who currently live in Israel will provide him with a good support system. And he hopes that his aliyah will inspire his family members to start making their own aliyah plans.

A First

On August 16, aliyah-minded individuals gathered at the Shearith Israel Congregation (the Glen Avenue shul) for a seminar geared specifically to the "black hat" (for lack of a better term) community. Although NBN has run many aliyah seminars in Baltimore, this was the first aimed at this particular population.

The seminar was conducted by Rabbi Yigal Segal, who lived in Baltimore for 10 years before making aliyah in 2005 with his wife Rivki (the former director of the Rebbetzin Freida K. Hirmes Women's Institute of Torah) and their five children. Rabbi Segal recently joined NBN as a pre-aliyah advisor focusing on chareidi communities in North America and the United Kingdom, and tailoring NBN's services to those communities' special needs.

More than 60 people participated in the workshop. The majority of them are interested in making aliyah in the next few years. A few are planning their aliyah for the year 2010. The seminar included a short video message from Rabbi Hirsch Diskind, former principal of Bais Yaakov of Baltimore, who has been living in Eretz Yisrael for many years and maintains strong ties to our community. The discussions focused on education, "American-yeshivish" places to live in Eretz Yisrael, and employment possibilities.

This seminar was Yossi and Naomi Frydman's first NBN event. A Baltimore native and graduate of TA, Yossi spent four years in yeshiva in Eretz Yisrael - at Yeshivas Bais Yisroel and at the Mir, both in Yerushalayim. After marrying another Baltimorean, Naomi Kelman, the new couple went back to Yerushalayim for their shana rishona (first year of marriage). Since returning to Baltimore, Yossi has completed law school, and the Frydmans now have a growing family. All along, they've thought about the possibility of making aliyah. At this point, they are still in the "thinking and hoping" stage, but Yossi says that attending the NBN workshop made their dream more realistic. "We now have a much better idea of what is involved and what resources NBN can provide when we're ready. Rabbi Segal did a great job of explaining all the `basics,' and I recommend that anyone who is considering aliyah - whether in the near or not-so-near future - attend an NBN workshop."

Rabbi Segal reports much positive feedback from this seminar. "We plan to integrate more targeted seminars for the chareidi/yeshivish population into our overseas calendar, specifically in Baltimore," he said. For more information about these events, please contact Rabbi Segal directly at [email protected] .il.

An Aliyah Club

Aside from the community-wide aliyah events and seminars, there is plenty of other aliyah-oriented activity going on around town. One of the foremost movers and shakers on the local aliyah scene is Dr. Rivkah Lambert Adler, the wife of Rabbi Elan Adler of Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah Hebrew Congregation. Rivkah has been the force behind the Baltimore Chug Aliyah, which provides aliyah information and inspiration through meetings and an active email list. More than 230 people subscribe to the Baltimore Chug Aliyah email list. Face-to-face meetings, which are always free and open to the whole community, take place about eight times a year and feature expert speakers from Israel as well as former Baltimoreans who have made aliyah and come to share their first-hand experiences. To subscribe to the Baltimore Chug Aliyah list, send a blank email to [email protected] .

Rivkah's blog, "Bat Aliyah" (www.bataliyah.blogspot.com ) is, in her words, "where I write about longing to come Home to Israel, even though I can't leave America just yet." But on this writer's very first visit to Rivkah's blog, I was delighted to read her announcement that "what seemed utterly impossible just a short time ago suddenly, and I mean suddenly, became absolutely possible." This coming summer, the Adlers will, b'ezrat Hashem, be joining their older daughter, who made aliyah in September 2009. They will make a permanent move to the apartment in Ma'ale Adumim that they bought five years ago, and after settling their younger daughter into a school specifically designed for English-speaking high school-aged girls with a day school background, Rivkah plans to enroll in the free ulpan that is a benefit for all new olim. After that, she plans to continue the work she cherishes, assisting prospective olim in their efforts to come Home. Rabbi Adler's vocational plans in Israel are taking shape. Among other things, he plans to conduct lifecycle events, such as bnei mitzvah and renewal of wedding vows for American Jews who are visiting Israel. He looks forward to visitors from Baltimore being in touch with him if they need an officiating rabbi for a simcha in Israel.

What will happen to the Baltimore Chug Aliyah meetings after the Adlers leave Baltimore? Rivkah hopes someone who is as "meshuga ledavar" (crazy about aliyah) as she is will step up and take over. If you're interested in assuming the leadership of the Baltimore Chug Aliyah this summer or would like to contact Rivkah about anything related to your personal aliyah plans, you can reach her at [email protected] .

Blogging, by the way, seems to have become the latest, greatest way to get your personal message out there. Another former Baltimorean with an aliyah-related blog is Ruth Eastman (aka Ruti Mizrachi). Ruth made aliyah with her husband and sons in October 2007 after living 16 years in Baltimore. In "Ki Yachol Nuchal!" Ruth shares her daily life and memorable musings as an olah chadasha (new immigrant) living in Neve Daniel. Check out her blog (www.rutimizrachi.blogspot.com ), and send her a comment - she'll be so happy to hear from you.

I guess I should take advantage of this opportunity to put in a plug for my own blog, which is being launched in honor of the 12th anniversary of the Galkin Family's aliyah. Although we returned to Baltimore six years later for an "extended visit," we hope and pray to return to our holy Land, along with all Am Yisrael, bekarov (soon). Meanwhile, "Remember Jerusalem" (www.rememberjerusalem.blogspot.com ) is just another device to help me keep Yerushalayim uppermost in my thoughts and prayers and to share my longings for the Land with other like-minded individuals.

To sum up, I think it is safe to say that the spirit of aliyah from Baltimore is alive and well, baruch Hashem! To get in on the action, contact Nefesh B'Nefesh and let them help you find your way Home. There's never been a better time.