Many hundreds of people were on hand this morning to greet 330 new immigrants from North America who flew in on a special chartered plane. The mass aliyah was arranged by Nefesh B'Nefesh and the Jewish Agency for Israel.



Interior Ministry officials greeted them on the plane from New York, and began processing their papers and status during the flight. Another 150 immigrants are expected to arrive today from France, Argentina, and elsewhere.

The new Israelis were greeted as they came off the plane by hundreds of family members and friends, laughing and crying with great emotion. The very exciting and poignant march reached a crescendo as they walked into a giant hall as "Heveinu Shalom Aleichem" - "We have brought you peace" - played loudly in the background. The Pirchei Efrat boys choir also performed for the new olim, singing a harmonious rendition of Hineh Ma Tov - How Pleasant it is for Brothers to Dwell Together.

Prime Minister Sharon was the first to greet the group, opening with an enthusiastic, "Welcome home!" Interrupted by wild applause after many of his sentences, he told the new citizens, "We always need you, and we need you now more than ever. Israel is the place for Jews to live as Jews. We need you, and we need many more like you!" The Prime Minister also surprised some when he said that Aliyah is Israel's #1 priority, followed by peace and security.



Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu mentioned his great-grandfather, "perhaps the first North American oleh," and said that the olim of 100 years ago would have been proud of those who arrived today.