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The flight from the U.S. was the third of seven flights this year bringing immigrants from North America to the Jewish State. It was organized by the Nefesh b'Befesh organization, which encourages Aliyah (immigration to Israel) by removing the financial and logistical obstacles facing North American Jews who dream of making the move.
Israel National Radio's Eli Stutz was on the scene to greet the new arrivals.
"I am here because I think it is so important to make Aliyah. If you are Jewish, Israel is the place to be," said Elana Wenner from Vancouver, Canada, who came to the airport with members of her summer program to welcome the new arrivals. "We need to be together here in Israel to be united, to be together and to make a difference in the world." Wenner says she is excited to make Aliyah herself in the coming years.
Chaim Moche of Montreal stepped off the plane with his family. "We have been here on many visits, we were seduced, and at a certain point we just could not leave," he said. "It is a little like getting married."
"We were planning on moving next year but we decided after our last visit, five weeks ago, to move now," said Peretz Rickett, who made Aliyah from Dallas, Texas. He and his family plan to settle in the Gush Etzion town of Alon Shvut.
Eighty new immigrants also arrived in Israel Wednesday from Ethiopia. They plan to settle in the Jerusalem suburb of Mevaseret Tzion, the northern town of Tzfat, and the coastal city of Ashkelon.
The 150 new immigrants from America will be settling in Beit Shemesh, Jerusalem, Gush Etzion and the communities in the Benjamin Regional Council region of the Shomron, north of the capital.
Listen to the coverage of the arrivals on Israel National Radio
(Photos: Jonathan Stein)
Friends, relatives and fans of Aliyah wait in Ben Gurion Airport's Terminal 1 for the Olim to arrive.
Israel National Radio's Eli Stutz was on the scene to greet the new arrivals.
"I am here because I think it is so important to make Aliyah. If you are Jewish, Israel is the place to be," said Elana Wenner from Vancouver, Canada, who came to the airport with members of her summer program to welcome the new arrivals. "We need to be together here in Israel to be united, to be together and to make a difference in the world." Wenner says she is excited to make Aliyah herself in the coming years.
Chaim Moche of Montreal stepped off the plane with his family. "We have been here on many visits, we were seduced, and at a certain point we just could not leave," he said. "It is a little like getting married."
Eighty new immigrants also arrived in Israel Wednesday from Ethiopia. They plan to settle in the Jerusalem suburb of Mevaseret Tzion, the northern town of Tzfat, and the coastal city of Ashkelon.
The 150 new immigrants from America will be settling in Beit Shemesh, Jerusalem, Gush Etzion and the communities in the Benjamin Regional Council region of the Shomron, north of the capital.
Listen to the coverage of the arrivals on Israel National Radio
(Photos: Jonathan Stein)