Nefesh B'Nefesh today celebrated the arrival of its 100,000th North American Oleh, a landmark achievement since the organization's founding in 2002. In recognition of the occasion, President Isaac Herzog welcomed the family to the President's Residence alongside Israel’s Minister of Aliyah and Integration, Ofir Sofer, and Nefesh B'Nefesh Co-Founders Rabbi Yehoshua Fass and Tony Gelbart.
The milestone was marked by the Aliyah of Jeffrey and Atara Douglas, who arrived from New York to Jerusalem with their three children, Nathaniel (10), Hallie (9), and Emilia (6), Nefesh B’Nefesh’s 100,000th Olah.
Since its founding, Nefesh B'Nefesh has transformed the Aliyah experience for North American Jews by streamlining bureaucracy, providing comprehensive guidance before and after arrival, and helping Olim successfully integrate into Israeli society.
"I am delighted to welcome to Israel the Douglas family, including their six-year-old daughter Emilia, who is the 100,000th Olah to make Aliyah with Nefesh B'Nefesh to Israel," said President Isaac Herzog. "The Douglas family is setting a wonderful example for millions of Jews all over the world, and I wish them every success in their integration and new life here in Israel. I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation for the amazing work of Nefesh B'Nefesh under the leadership of Rabbi Yehoshua Fass and Tony Gelbart, who have changed the whole model of Aliyah. I would also like to thank the Minister of Aliyah and Integration, Ofir Sofer, for his ongoing efforts to support and strengthen Aliyah to the State of Israel. May you all continue to go from strength to strength."
"This celebration belongs not only to Nefesh B'Nefesh, but to every Oleh who chose to turn the dream of Israel into a life lived here," said Tony Gelbart, Co-Founder and Chairman of Nefesh B'Nefesh. "Each person who made Aliyah has contributed to Israel in ways both visible and unseen. Together, they have helped build stronger communities, strengthened the country's economy, enriched its culture and ensured a vibrant future for generations to come. Looking back at where we began makes us incredibly proud, but what excites us even more is imagining what the next 100,000 Olim will accomplish."
“This milestone isn't simply about welcoming our 100,000th Oleh, it's about the generations that have followed," said Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Nefesh B'Nefesh. "It's about the sabra children born because their parents chose to build their future in Israel, and the grandchildren who know no other home. It's about communities that have flourished, careers that have strengthened the country, soldiers who have defended it, educators who have inspired it, physicians who have healed it and entrepreneurs who have built it. The true impact of Aliyah can't be measured by a single number, as every Oleh creates a legacy that extends far beyond themselves. Today, the Douglas family adds their own chapter to that growing legacy."
“The arrival of Nefesh B’Nefesh's 100,000th Oleh is an exciting and meaningful event for both Aliyah and the State of Israel," said Ofir Sofer, Minister of Aliyah and Integration. “This summer, we are proud to welcome many families making Aliyah with their children, choosing to build their homes and futures in Israel. Each of them strengthens the country while deepening the enduring bond between the Diaspora Jewish community and Israel. We will continue to promote and encourage Aliyah while ensuring that new Olim and their families receive the support they need to successfully integrate into the country."
What began as an organization focused on making Aliyah more accessible has grown into a national organization helping to address some of Israel's most pressing national needs, from strengthening the country's medical workforce through the International Medical Aliyah Program (IMAP) and MedEx initiatives, to supporting Lone Soldiers and Bnot Sherut, developing the Negev and Galilee, cultivating the next generation of Zionist educators, and helping Olim successfully integrate into communities throughout the country, a reflection of the organization's belief that Aliyah is not just about bringing people home, but about helping build Israel's future.
Making Aliyah has long been part of the Douglas family's vision for the future. Their connection to Israel is reflected in many aspects of their lives, including the names of their three children, each named in memory of a fallen Israeli soldier or victim of terror. During a visit to Israel last summer, while attending the wedding of close friends, Jeffrey and Atara found themselves looking around the celebration and realizing they wanted their own children to grow up in that same environment. A return visit a few months later confirmed what they already knew, it was time to make Aliyah.
"Someone once told me, 'We're leading, not leaving,'" said Atara Douglas. "That has become our mantra. That's exactly how we feel as we begin this next chapter in Israel with our children. We wanted to live and experience Jewish history as it unfolds, to be part of the story of Am Yisrael in our homeland through both the moments of joy and the moments of challenge. We are finally fulfilling our dream."
