FIRST 2009 CHARTER ALIYAH FLIGHT
KICKS OFF RECORD SUMMER OF 3,000 OLIM
Minister of Immigrant Absorption Sofa Landver and Chairman of the Jewish Agency Natan Sharansky welcomed 232 North American Olim at Ben Gurion Airport
(JERUSALEM; 7 July 2009)- Nefesh B’Nefesh and the Jewish Agency welcomed today 232 new Olim from North America on their first summer charter Aliyah flight of 2009. Among the 3,000 Olim arriving this summer, are 430 new IDF soldiers, 40 doctors and 32 families moving to Israel’s North through the new ‘Go North’ program.
Today’s newcomers included Yehudah and Aviva Zuller of Staten Island, NY, who named their son Gilad in solidarity with Gilad Shalit who was captured one week prior to the infant’s birth. Gilad Zuller celebrated his 3rd birthday last week.
Close to 100 youngsters arrived on today’s flight together with 22 new Olim who will join the IDF almost immediately after their arrival. While many of the Olim originate from the tri-state area (NY-NJ-CT), significant numbers also hail from the West Coast and Middle America including Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota and Iowa.
Hundreds of families and friends as well as Israeli dignitaries gathered at Ben Gurion Airport to welcome the country’s newest citizens at the Nefesh B’Nefesh arrival ceremony. Those present included: Minister of Immigrant Absorption Sofa Landver; Minister of Transportation Yisrael Katz, Chairman of the Jewish Agency Natan Sharansky, Angelica and Scott Berrie; Director of Immigration and Absorption at the Jewish Agency Eli Cohen; and Co-Founders of Nefesh B’Nefesh Rabbi Yehoshua Fass and Tony Gelbart.
“We are looking forward to a new and exciting summer as we prepare to welcome a record number of Olim home,” said Tony Gelbart, Co-Founder and Chairman of Nefesh B’Nefesh. “Together with the Jewish Agency, we have created a widespread network of support and guidance in the pre and post Aliyah stages, so that each Oleh has a successful Aliyah.”
"The series of flights with new immigrants arriving from North America in the coming weeks expresses to my joy the fruitful partnership that exists between the Jewish Agency for Israel and Nefesh B’Nefesh,” said Chairman of the Jewish Agency, Natan Sharansky “I have no doubt that this partnership between these two organizations is a blessed and winning combination.”
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FOR MORE INFORMATION: Renana Levine, +972 54 244 9747 / [email protected]
Founded in 2002, Nefesh B’Nefesh in cooperation with the Israeli government and the Jewish Agency for Israel, is dedicated to revitalizing Aliyah from North America and the UK by removing or minimizing the financial, professional, logistical and social obstacles of Aliyah. The support and comprehensive social services provided by Nefesh B'Nefesh to its 20,000 newcomers, has ensured that 98% of its Olim have remained in Israel. www.nbn.org.il
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