Last 2009 flight of North American olim leaves for Israel

NEW YORK (Press Release)–The final charter Aliyah flight for 2009 – organized by Nefesh B’Nefesh and the Jewish Agency, in cooperation with Israel’s Ministry of Immigrant Absorption – departed Tuesday from JFK airport, carrying 210 new immigrants to Israel from the USA and Canada.

 Tuesday’s flight  caps off a record year of North American Aliyah, in which 3,800 Olim** moved to Israel from the USA and Canada. This was the largest number of Jews to make Aliyah from North America within one year since 1983.

Additionally, Nefesh B’Nefesh facilitated the Aliyah of 621 Jews from the UK, bringing the total number of Olim assisted by Nefesh B’Nefesh (in cooperation with the Jewish Agency) to 4,421. This figure not only reflects an organizational increase of over 38% from last year but also indicates that Nefesh B’Nefesh has assisted 27% of the global Aliyah to Israel this year.

“The rising interest in Aliyah from North America is very encouraging for the State of Israel, and is a clear indication that Aliyah is becoming more of a mainstream choice for many Jews” said Co-Founder and Chairman of Nefesh B’Nefesh Tony Gelbart. “We are confident that the numbers of Western Olim will continue to rise and look forward to helping make the move easier and more successful for thousands more newcomers in 2010 and beyond.”

At the welcome ceremony to be held in Ben Gurion airport, Israeli Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Regional Cooperation and Minister of the Development of the Negev and Galil MK Silvan Shalom was to announce a new joint government initiative with Nefesh B’Nefesh to encourage Aliyah to Israel’s periphery. As part of the initiative, the Ministry of the Development of the Negev and Galil and the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption will provide increased support for Olim who move to the North and South of the country as of 2010.

The new Olim will also be greeted by Nathan Jacobson, who was recently appointed the Canadian Chair of Nefesh B’Nefesh and generously sponsored the charter flight. Mr. Jacobson is a well known international businessman involved in various multinational companies and is heavily involved with multiple Jewish and Israeli philanthropies around the world.

Among the 210 Olim on the flight are 81 singles, who are among over 950 singles who have made Aliyah through Nefesh B’Nefesh this year. In response to the overwhelming reaction among Israelis to the arrival of so many single western Olim this past summer, Nefesh B’Nefesh has teamed up with popular Jewish dating site ‘JDate Israel’ (www.jdate.co.il) to create a portal for its Olim to meet Israeli singles.

* Aliyah = immigration to Israel

** Olim = immigrants to Israel

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Preceding provided by Nefesh b’ Nefesh