"2,000-Year-Old Seeds Planted in the Soil of the Holy Land" Some 250 Jews arrived in Ben Gurion International Airport today to begin new lives in Israel, on this year's second Nefesh B'Nefesh flight. Israel National Radio's Yishai Fleischer and Ezra HaLevi were on hand, and the following are excerpts from their moving broadcast, anchored by Tamar Yonah: Yishai: "I'm actually on the tarmac now, and the people are coming off the plane right now [shofar blasts are heard in the background]. There's no doubt about it, the Aliyah Revolution is going on right here! It's not just talk, or our Aliyah Show, but the real thing. [Nefesh B'Nefesh co-founder] Rabbi Fass is here, and soldiers are greeting them - I have to say, I've been at these flights a few times, and it gets more exciting each time. This is Zionism and Redemption taking shape right in front of us - with regular people, a little haggard after their flight, making it happen right here and now. It's like they are little seeds who have been kept safe for 2,000 years, only now to be planted in the soil of the Holy Land..." Jan Siegelman, a freshly-arrived oleh: "Hi Tamar, this is Jan! I'm on your mailing list [of the Tamar Yonah Aliyah Show]." Tamar Yonah: "Hi, welcome! ...We were in touch before you came, and you were looking for a place to live, and you finally got lucky to find a place to live in Eli, just north of Jerusalem." Jan Siegelman: "I would change the word 'lucky,' and say that we are actually 'blessed.' We actually didn't have a place to live until three weeks ago, when the Mayor of Eli, Lior Shtahl, met us in Atlanta and we sat and talked, and he said he has a place for us to live, and that was it! ... The mayor will be here to pick us up and bring us to our new home." Yishai Fleischer [a few minutes later, with shofar blasts in the background]: "That's Jan, the person you just spoke to, blowing the shofar; I can see the sky opening up as he heralds the Aliyah revolution and a personal revolution for himself... I see a large 'Aliyah Revolution' sign in front of me... You know, Aliyah is just a beginning, the first step of a long and happy process, the first step and the right step. It's also an educational thing here, with the soldiers of the Armaments Corps on hand, learning the centrality and importance of Aliyah first-hand. Here's one officer; would you like to say a few words?" IDF officer, in between carrying luggage for the new arrivals: "We are very happy to be here and welcome the new immigrants to Israel." Ezra HaLevi: "There are all sorts of groups here: army youth groups and bands, and moshav [cooperative community] members, and many others holding signs - I think there are more than there were for the last flight. Word is spreading throughout the country that the Jews are coming home, and the people are here to welcome them." Yishai Fleischer, a short while later: "The IDF Rabbinate's band just played 'Moshiach, moshiach,' and everyone was dancing - the feeling was electric! Then they sang HaTikvah, I blew the shofar - and now they're getting on the buses, and beginning their new lives. ... Tamar, here's a new immigrant who just arrived who wants to speak with you." New immigrant: "Hi Tamar, this is Yaffah daCosta! I'm here!" Tamar: "Wow, Yaffah! Hi! This is great! For anyone who doesn't know who Yaffah is, she was a frequent caller on our Tovia [Singer] and Tamar shows, and you've been telling everyone that you're making Aliyah - and now you're finally here! Just great!" Tamar and Yaffah then briefly discussed the latter's background as a descendant of the Anousim - Portugese Jews who were forced to adopt, at least on the surface, Roman Catholicism some 500 years ago. She is now an Orthodox Jewess, and plans to "go to Jerusalem for a few weeks, and later I'll spend a few months in Tiberias, and then I'll decide where I want to live." Yishai Fleischer: "It's appropriate that this flight comes right after Tu B'Av, the holiday of love and unity and marriage; this flight represents the match between the Jewish People and the Land of Israel and the G-d of Israel. Just an all-around joyous and uplifting experience..."