Mazal tov! Israel welcomes 215 new North American olim

In these cynical times, Nefesh B'Nefesh's 64th charter flight 
brings a fresh burst of idealism and excitement to the 
Jewish state.

By Erica Schachne 
August 16, 2023 

Israel's 215 new immigrants, hailing from the 
United States and Canada, landed Wednesday 
morning at Ben-Gurion Airport on a Nefesh B'Nefesh flight, 
disembarking amid much exhilaration as they 
took their first steps in their new home.

They arrived on the 64th Nefesh B'Nefesh 
chartered aliyah flight through El Al, joining 
the 75,000 olim the organization has brought 
here since its first charter flight in the summer 
of 2002.

Who are Israel's newest citizens?
They represent a variety of ages and walks 
of life: 22 families with 75 children among them, 
15 single men and women, and 17 retirees. 
The youngest aboard was four months old, 
and the two oldest - who incidentally sat next 
to each other - were 77.

Israel's medical system is set to benefit from 
the integration of seven new doctors and 
15 health professionals.

The Go Beyond initiative, a cooperative venture 
by Nefesh B'Nefesh and Keren Kayemeth 
LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund that helps develop 
Jerusalem and the periphery, will steer the course 
for 27 participating olim.

Deserving of special mention are 45 lone 
soldiers who will join the ranks of Israel's 
bravest.

Why wait to touch down on land to receive 
immigration documents? 
During the flight, 
the new olim filled out relevant forms as part 
of a new initiative to limit bureaucracy and streamline 
the aliyah processing. Representatives of the 
Aliyah and Integration Ministry, and the Population 
and Immigration Authority, then handed out 
immigration certificates while the new immigrants 
were still on board.

"It was my absolute joy to welcome these 
new olim upon their arrival in Israel," Aliyah 
and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer (Religious 
Zionist Party) said. "It is especially exciting 
to see families with children and young adults 
embrace the Zionist dream of making aliyah.

"Since becoming the minister, I have made it my 
personal goal to increase the number of olim 
from the US, with various programs expected 
to launch soon toward this objective. I wish the 
new olim much success, as well as a smooth 
and comfortable absorption in Israel. 
Welcome home."