\"This is the most exciting thing in the world,\" said one woman witnessing the deplaning of almost 400 new olim from North America in Ben Gurion International Airport at this hour. \"They just blew the shofar…\" She is among hundreds of people who came this morning to greet a special El Al flight, carrying close to 400 new immigrants (olim) from North America. This is the largest amount of North American olim ever to have arrived on one plane. The group was organized and largely subsidized by the now-famous Nefesh B\'Nefesh organization, with the help of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, the Jewish Agency, the Israeli Government, AACI (Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel), and Tehilla. Another 1200 Nefesh B\'Nefesh immigrants from North America are expected in the coming year.
The group is comprised mostly of young families, the average age is 35, and about 3/4 of them have decided to live in the Jerusalem and Ramat Beit Shemesh areas. Others of the families will live in Raanana and Gush Etzion, and two - the Parkers of Denver, Colorado and the Acardis of Monsey, NY - will move to Kokhav Yaakov, between Jerusalem and Psagot/Beit El.
Another eyewitness related, \"There is such a feeling of solidarity here... The olim are downright happy to be here, and are very moved... We are greeting them in a big hangar-like building, in a very well-arranged ceremony. At this moment, a choir is performing for them. Deputy Absorption Minister Edelstein is here, as is Binyamin Netanyahu, MK Tzvi Hendel, and Prime Minister Sharon is said to be on his way... There is real joy in the air...\"
Among those greeting the group at a special tarmac ceremony will be Nefesh B\'Nefesh Directors Rabbi Joshua Fass and Tony Gelbart, President of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, and others. Rabbi Fass and Mr. Gelbart founded Nefesh B\'Nefesh about a year and a half ago, following the terrorist murder of a 14-year old cousin of Rabbi Fass. The Jewish Agency helped locate suitable candidates, of which 531 will arrive today and in the course of the summer.
The Nefesh B’Nefesh office in Jerusalem will help the olim find housing, employment, adoptive Israeli families and more. Each family will receive a special allocation ranging from $5,000 to $30,000 each to help ease their first steps in Israel. If they remain in Israel for at least three years, the allocation need not be repaid.
The group is comprised mostly of young families, the average age is 35, and about 3/4 of them have decided to live in the Jerusalem and Ramat Beit Shemesh areas. Others of the families will live in Raanana and Gush Etzion, and two - the Parkers of Denver, Colorado and the Acardis of Monsey, NY - will move to Kokhav Yaakov, between Jerusalem and Psagot/Beit El.
Another eyewitness related, \"There is such a feeling of solidarity here... The olim are downright happy to be here, and are very moved... We are greeting them in a big hangar-like building, in a very well-arranged ceremony. At this moment, a choir is performing for them. Deputy Absorption Minister Edelstein is here, as is Binyamin Netanyahu, MK Tzvi Hendel, and Prime Minister Sharon is said to be on his way... There is real joy in the air...\"
Among those greeting the group at a special tarmac ceremony will be Nefesh B\'Nefesh Directors Rabbi Joshua Fass and Tony Gelbart, President of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, and others. Rabbi Fass and Mr. Gelbart founded Nefesh B\'Nefesh about a year and a half ago, following the terrorist murder of a 14-year old cousin of Rabbi Fass. The Jewish Agency helped locate suitable candidates, of which 531 will arrive today and in the course of the summer.
The Nefesh B’Nefesh office in Jerusalem will help the olim find housing, employment, adoptive Israeli families and more. Each family will receive a special allocation ranging from $5,000 to $30,000 each to help ease their first steps in Israel. If they remain in Israel for at least three years, the allocation need not be repaid.