Alan (23) and Leora (22) Katz, a young couple from Teaneck, NJ, made Aliyah to Israel this morning, September 13, with assistance from Nefesh B’Nefesh, the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, the Jewish Agency and Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael just three days after the two got married in New Jersey. They will be moving to Haifa.
“We wanted to start a new life in Israel and what better way to do it than at the beginning of a Jewish New Year. We are so excited to embark on this new beginning,” Alan Katz said immediately upon their arrival at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.
The couple started dating eight months ago after a mutual friend introduced them. Instead of going on a typical honeymoon to a tropical island somewhere following their wedding Sunday, they decided to make Aliyah to Israel instead, fulfilling both of their lifelong dreams. They especially wanted to make Aliyah at this time and begin the Jewish New Year in Israel – as Israelis.
“The State of Israel couldn’t ask for a better present for the New Year than having this young, charming couple making Aliyah right after their wedding, fulfilling their mutual dream of building their future and family in Israel,” said Erez Halfon, Vice Chairman of Nefesh B’Nefesh. “Nefesh B'Nefesh will help Leora and Alan with all the arrangements after the wedding to make sure that their first Rosh Hashana as a married Israeli couple will be one that they never forget."
Alan grew up in Teaneck, NJ and graduated from Yeshiva College at Yeshiva University. He will be attending the Technion American Medical School in Haifa with the goal of studying medicine and becoming a doctor in Israel.
Leora grew up in East Brunswick, NJ and received a BA from Stern College at Yeshiva University. She will be attending the IDC in Herzliya to study for her MA in Diplomacy and Conflict Studies with the hope of someday working in the Israeli Foreign Ministry.