First Summer Group of Jews Return Home
 
by Pinchas Sanderson
http://www.israelnationalnews.com

Nefesh B’Nefesh welcomed its first summer aliya flight at Ben-Gurion 
International Airport today (Thursday). The flight brought 220 new 
immigrants from North America to Israel. This was the first of thirteen 
flights expected to bring more than 2,000 new immigrants over the 
course of the summer. Tracey Levy, formerly of Houston, Texas, 
who arrived on today's flight is the organization's 15,000th new immigrant.

The new immigrants arrived from more than 21 different US states and 
two Canadian provinces. The oldest amongst them is 87 years old 
and the youngest only two months. The immigrants will be making 
their homes in communities across Israel, including the major cities 
of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Haifa, smaller cities such as Bet Shemesh, 
Tzfat and Rechovot, and various smaller communities and kibbutzim. 

Forty-seven single new immigrants arrived on the flight; four young 
women were met by their Israeli sweethearts at the airport.  One of 
the 39 families on the flight is literally “building a new home in Israel”; 
their former home on Long Island was struck by a tragic fire. The new 
immigrants are also brought their pets with them to Eretz Yisrael: 
four dogs and two cats. 

They came from a wide range of backgrounds and professions, 
including engineers and scientists, hi-tech and business professionals, 
therapists and artists. A former librarian at the New York Public 
Library is bringing a very special collection of more than 3,000 books 
with her. Amongst the immigrants are 15 young men and women 
who will be inducted into IDF service following their arrival. 

Leading Israeli dignitaries attended the welcome ceremony, including 
Rechovot Chief Rabbi Simcha HaKohen Kook, former Israeli 
Ambassador to the US Danny Ayalon, and NBN Co-Founders Rabbi 
Yehoshua Fass and Tony Gelbart.