Joining up with the Jewish state

Los Angeles Times
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2008/08/israel-joining.html
August 19, 2008

Growing up in Sherman Oaks, Danielle Sheldon described herself 
as "fiercely Zionist."

The 19-year old grew up speaking Hebrew and wore her politics 
literally on her sleeve. While attending UC San Diego, she made 
a point of showing up for Arabic class wearing an Israeli Defense 
Forces T-shirt.

She first visited Israel three years ago and "felt at home 
immediately."

On Tuesday, Sheldon came "home" for good. 

She was one of more than 200 American and British Jews who 
arrived in Israel to perform "aliyah" -- assuming Israeli citizenship 
and committing to a new life in the Jewish state.

"The place I belong most in the world is Israel," said Sheldon, 
who plans to attend graduate school then focus on a military 
career specializing in counter-terrorism.

Sheldon was part of a planeload of new "olim" who arrived in Israel 
early Tuesday morning with the help of Nefesh B'Nefesh -- 
an organization that focuses on bringing North American and 
British Jews to Israel.

"I wanted to contribute to the Jewish state," said Leah Kroll, 
a native Angelino and former reform rabbi. "I didn't want to get to 
the end of my life and be saying, 'I could've. I should've.'"

Organizers of the six-year-old group say they have helped bring 
more 15,000 new Israeli citizens here -- more importantly it has 
helped them stay and avoid the sense of alienation that sometimes 
plagues western Jews here. Several years ago, 54% of new olim 
from America returned to the U.S. within a year, said Danny Ayalon, 
the organization's co-chairman.

"They couldn't find a job. They hated the bureaucracy. They didn't 
feel at home here," said Ayalon, a former Israeli ambassador to 
the U.S.

Nefesh B'Nefesh, however, boasts a 99% retention rate, organizers 
say. The group offers comprehensive follow-up and support to help 
integrate new arrivals, helping with housing and job searches and 
cutting through the daunting Israeli bureaucracy.  

New arrivals on Tuesday were greeting by a raucous flag-waving 
crowd of relatives and well-wishers. At a welcoming ceremony 
former (and likely future) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Natanyahu 
praised them for their decision. 

"It required personal courage. It's not a simple thing to move your 
family and your life," Netanyahu said. "This is your home now. 
This is your country!"
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-- Ashraf Khalil in Jerusalem