New olim (immigrants to Israel) from 23 countries arrived at Ben Gurion Airport last week in honor of Aliyah (Jewish immigration to Israel) Day. The event, organized by the Jewish Agency, marked the arrival of more than 3 million immigrants to Israel since the state's establishment 60 years ago.
Absorption Minister Ya'akov Ederi is on hand, being asked questions about his party's leader, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, which he says he would rather not discuss.
Jews arriving in Israel from France.
A young French Jew arrives in his fabulous new homeland.
A Jewish family choosing Israel as the place to raise their child.
A new oleh (immigrant) from France is interviewed by a journalist about his decision to make the move.
A hareidi-religious couple happy to be in the land where the Torah has so many more applications.
Russian Jews continue to make Aliyah.
The 'Great Shofar' heralds the ingathering of the exiles.
The Russian immigrants vary in age, with a number of students arriving without their families.
The new immigrants are handed roses by Jerusalem schoolchildren who welcome them 'Home.'
Some of the olim are obviously quite hip...
...others have a golden smile...
...many shed not a few tears as they were greeted with open arms and Hebrew songs...
A Jerusalem school-teacher is overcome by emotion at the sight of all the new arrivals.
"It is amazing to see what it was like for our grandparents when they made Aliyah," say two sisters from Jerusalem's Talpiot neighborhood, who came with their class to welcome the new olim.
The new immigrants are treated to speeches, mostly in Hebrew, though headphones providing translation into Russian and French were available.
A pair of patriotic new olim.
Israeli circle-dancing ensued with the entrance of the groups of olim to Ben Gurion Airport's old Terminal 1.
Chief Sephardic Rabbi Shlomo Amar blessed the new arrivals, saying their act of making Aliyah was simple, yet precious, like bread. He proceeded to make a blessing on the bread, which was given out to those present as a prayer for their success and absorption.
The sweet 'mezonot chalah' blessed by Rabbi Amar is eagerly distributed to the new olim.
David, a star on Israel's popular 'A Star is Born' talent show welcomes his own family on Aliyah from France.
Many new immigrants who have never had any contact with a rabbi are excited and emotional at the blessing of Rabbi Amar and the prayer for success accompanying the bread.
Aliyah. The Jewish family reunification program.
A French immigrant displays a Jewish newspaper incorporating Arutz-7's French-language reporting.
"It is no like in the 50s, when we did not know what to expect - you knew about all the problems and you chose to come anyway," said Absorption Minister Ya'akov Ederi.
An older olah displays emotion throughout the ceremony.
Longtime Aliyah activist and former Knesset Member Geulah Cohen observes the Aliyah Day festivities.
Security personnel are offered the crumbs left from the blessed bread. "Blessed by Rabbi Amar, the holiest there is," says the woman passing it out. The security agents split the crumbs.
A new oleh studies a holy book during the speeches.
(Israel News Photos: Ezra HaLevi)