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24 NY Natives Move to Israel on JFK Charter Aliyah Flight

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On Monday, July 13, a Boeing 777 chartered by Nefesh B’Nefesh departed New York’s JFK International Airport carrying 221 new immigrants (or Olim) from 14 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and four Canadian provinces.

On Monday, July 13, a Boeing 777 chartered by Nefesh B’Nefesh departed New York’s JFK International Airport carrying 221 new immigrants (or Olim) from 14 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and four Canadian provinces. The flight was facilitated in cooperation with Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah & Immigrant Absorption, The Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael, and JNF-USA.

On board were 32 families, including 95 children, and 53 singles – 12 of whom will be joining the Israel Defense Forces. Also of note were the 46 Olim moving to Israel’s periphery as part of the Nefesh B’Nefesh and Keren Kayemeth L’Israel’s Go North and Go South programs.

Among the Olim who have decided to make Aliyah (move to Israel) today are Aaron Sull, 27, his wife, Tali, 30, and their children, Sarah, 6, Ella, 3, and Akiva, 1, from Buffalo; Michael Lamm, 28, his wife, Rochel, 28, their son, Binyamin, 4, and newborn, Shay, and Elissa Nechemia, 26, from Far Rockaway; Mark Alon, 40, his wife Yosseffa, 37, and their children, Ellyitah, 8, Tehilah, 6, Hillel, 4, and Segulah, 2, from Lawrence; Benny Lang, 33, from West Hempstead; Caleb Leibowitz, 23, from White Palins; Eitan Selter, 23, from Wesley Hills; Zachary Krischer, 22, from Port Jefferson Station; Amy Leidner, 23, from Spring Valley; Karlie Keisler, 20, from Clifton Park; Ezra Barry, 23, from Brooklyn; and Sue Friedman, 90, from the Bronx.

Today’s planeload of Olim is the first of two charters, which, along with six group Aliyah flights and Olim arriving independently on a daily basis, will bring over 2,000 Olim making Aliyah through Nefesh B’Nefesh this summer. An estimated 4,000 newcomers from North America are expected in 2015. Since 2002, Nefesh B’Nefesh, together with its partners, has brought 45,000 Olim to Israel from the U.S., Canada and England.

“The hundreds of new Olim on today’s flight, and the thousands who will be joining them over the course of this year, are the modern-day pioneers helping to build and secure the future of the State of Israel,” said Nefesh B’Nefesh Co-Founder and Executive Director Rabbi Yehoshua Fass. “Over the past thirteen years, it has been an incredible privilege assisting over 45,000 Olim who are fulfilling their dreams, and the hopes of our nation, by returning to the Jewish homeland.”

Friends and family saw the Olim off at a departure ceremony at JFK Airport. Notable guests included Israel’s Minister for Senior Citizens MK Gila Gamliel; Israel’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ron Prosor; The Jewish Agency for Israel’s Director of Absorption Programs Orly Zuckerman; KKL-JNF Vice Chairman Menachem Leibovic; and Nefesh B’Nefesh Co-Founders Rabbi Yehoshua Fass and Tony Gelbart.

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