On Wednesday morning, a special El Al flight, organized by the "Nefesh B'nefesh" organization, brought 215 new immigrants to Israel from the US and Canada. This marked the 64th chartered flight undertaken by the organization in collaboration with partners such as the Ministry of Immigration and Absorption, the Jewish Agency, the “Kimat Israel” Fund, and JNF USA. Throughout the years, this collaborative effort has helped over 75,000 new immigrants relocate to Israel.
The recent arrivals hail from a diverse range of locations across the US and Canadian provinces, including New York, New Jersey, California, Texas, Ohio, Massachusetts, Ontario, Minnesota, Illinois, among others. They join more than 1,300 North American Jews who have chosen Israel as their new home since the beginning of the year.
Diving deeper into the demographics, data reveals that the immigrants have mainly opted to settle in cities like Jerusalem, Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Ra'anana, Beit Shemesh, Haifa, Afula, and Modi'in-Maccabim-Reut. Professionally, they come from various sectors including medicine, education, engineering, accounting, social work, and occupational therapy.
🎉 Welcome to the Land of Milk and Honey! 🇮🇱 72 New Olim returned home early this morning at @bengurionairpor!
— Nefesh B'Nefesh (@NefeshBNefesh) August 8, 2023
We are here to support you every step of the way - before and well after you land. Visit our Facebook page to see more pictures from today’s arrival 🛬 pic.twitter.com/C5UAStny6M
Building on the success of last summer's pilot program, the "Nefesh B'nefesh" charter flight this year in collaboration with the Ministry of Immigration and Absorption and the Population Authority implemented a full absorption procedure on board. To streamline the immigration process, passengers completed all requisite paperwork during the flight and received their immigrant certificates before landing. This efficient process alleviates the need for immigrants to schedule separate appointments and saves them valuable time upon their arrival in Israel.
Welcoming the new citizens, Immigration and Absorption Minister Ofir Sofer said, "Meeting the new immigrants as they arrive in Israel is always a heartwarming experience. It's truly inspiring to see people of all ages, from families to the elderly, making the monumental decision to embrace Zionism and make Israel their home. I wholeheartedly wish all the newcomers success, a smooth transition, and a heartfelt welcome back to their ancestral homeland."
We are all ready to make history!!! Watch the live broadcast of Nefesh B'Nefesh’s 64th charter flight starting at 7:15 AM Israel time - watch it live at https://t.co/H0kaiIe7ut @danielmgeller and I are ready! pic.twitter.com/kRS1JSzexw
— Uri Pilichowski (@RationalSettler) August 16, 2023
Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, the Co-founder and CEO of "Nefesh B'nefesh", echoed similar sentiments, "Every year, as we witness the realization of the Zionist dream, it fills us with pride. This particular flight is special as it brought young individuals, many of whom are eager to serve in the IDF, and skilled professionals spanning from healthcare to hi-tech, enriching the diverse tapestry of Israel. Our commitment to these new citizens doesn't end here; we will stand by them, assisting in their transition and integration as proud Israeli citizens."
