U.S. Jews starting new lives in Israel by Oren Yaniv New York Daily News December 29, 2004 Some 250 people boarded a plane at Kennedy Airport yesterday and flew to Israel to start a new life, capping a year of surging emigration to the Jewish state. "Life has more meaning in Israel," explained Josh Phillipson, 29, as he prepared to board El Al Flight 3004 at Terminal 4. He was one of more than 2,800 Jews who moved to Israel from the U.S. and Canada in 2004, the most since 1983. American Jews, once a tiny fraction of total immigrants to Israel, now make up 10% of newcomers. Yesterday's group - ranging in age from months-old babies to elderly sisters, ages 94 and 97 - was aided by Nefesh B'Nefesh organization. After three years of activity, Nefesh B'Nefesh is considered the major factor for the increase in immigration from America, which more than doubled since 2001. The organization offers grants, job placement and assistance to immigrants before and after they settle in. Arye Mekel, Israeli ambassador to the U.S., suggested that recent calm in the Middle East also may be a factor. "It could be that people now feel that the wave of terror is behind us," he said, "and an era of peace is upon us." For Rivka and Aharon Green, of Indianapolis, security did not play a role in the decision to move, but rather the choice of schools for their year-old daughter and the abundance of kosher food. "It's always tough to leave your family, and it's going to be tough to leave the United States," said Rivka Green, 38. "But we're weighing that against the positives." Jewish immigration has been one of the main stated goals of Israel since its inception in 1948. About 40% of the world's Jews currently live in the country. Being part of a community was the reason cited by Sara Melman, 28, of Woodmere, L.I., who is moving to Jerusalem with her husband and four young children. "We wanted to be a part of the Jewish nation and support the state of Israel," she said. Like virtually all others, she said they plan to keep their American citizenship along with the Israeli one. Before boarding the chartered airliner, passengers were greeted by a few officials, including Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, executive director of Nefesh B'Nefesh. "You are creating history," he told them. "You give some infusion of hope and joy because you're choosing Israel."