Over 600 young women gathered at the Renaissance Hotel in Jerusalem last night for an inspiring evening dedicated to North American Aliyah. The participants currently live abroad, mostly in the United States, and are studying in Israeli seminaries for a year or more. The event was organized by Aloh Naaleh, a grassroots group of prominent rabbis and laymen aimed at encouraging North American Jews to consider aliyah (immigration to Israel). The purpose: to encourage the participants to both strongly consider aliyah and explain its importance to their families and friends abroad.
"One young woman said that she very much wants to come on aliyah," said Chaya Passow, one of the organizers, "but she has a very tight-knit family, and she wouldn't want to come without them, so she wants to bring her mother here to see what Israel has to offer so that hopefully they could all come together."
The young women, studying in close to 20 different institutions in Jerusalem and elsewhere in Israel, were treated to inspirational talks by Rabbi Sholom Gold of Har Nof, Jerusalem; Rabbi Meyer Fendel of Aloh Naaleh; Dyonna Ginsburg, who studied in a one-year program a few years ago, and has since made aliyah, studies in Hebrew University, and is active in Tehilla Tze'irah and Yavneh Olami; and Mrs. Shira Smiles, another recent new immigrant who teaches at two of the one-year yeshiva institutions herself. They spoke of the centrality of the Land of Israel and the opportunity that much of American Jewry appears to be missing. Musical entertainment was provided by Chaim Dovid and Band.
Aloh Naaleh seeks to "legitimize Aliyah and to place it firmly on the agenda of the North American Jewish community." Last night's event complemented the organization's Men's Chanukah Melave Malka, which attracted 800 students. Aloh Naaleh can be reached at aloh-naaleh@aaci.org.il.
"One young woman said that she very much wants to come on aliyah," said Chaya Passow, one of the organizers, "but she has a very tight-knit family, and she wouldn't want to come without them, so she wants to bring her mother here to see what Israel has to offer so that hopefully they could all come together."
The young women, studying in close to 20 different institutions in Jerusalem and elsewhere in Israel, were treated to inspirational talks by Rabbi Sholom Gold of Har Nof, Jerusalem; Rabbi Meyer Fendel of Aloh Naaleh; Dyonna Ginsburg, who studied in a one-year program a few years ago, and has since made aliyah, studies in Hebrew University, and is active in Tehilla Tze'irah and Yavneh Olami; and Mrs. Shira Smiles, another recent new immigrant who teaches at two of the one-year yeshiva institutions herself. They spoke of the centrality of the Land of Israel and the opportunity that much of American Jewry appears to be missing. Musical entertainment was provided by Chaim Dovid and Band.
Aloh Naaleh seeks to "legitimize Aliyah and to place it firmly on the agenda of the North American Jewish community." Last night's event complemented the organization's Men's Chanukah Melave Malka, which attracted 800 students. Aloh Naaleh can be reached at aloh-naaleh@aaci.org.il.