Today's flight was the sixth and last flight for this summer organized by Nefesh b'Nefesh, an organization "dedicated to revitalizing North American Aliyah by removing or minimizing the financial, professional, logistical and social obstacles" that potential olim face. Another flight is scheduled for December.
Among the new olim (immigrants) were long-time Young Israel of Passaic-Clifton Rabbi Chaim Wasserman, Tuvia Grossman of Associated Press false-caption fame, and a newly-married couple that celebrated a Sheva Brachot meal on the plane.
Nefesh B'Nefesh, with the help of the Jewish Agency for Israel, expects to bring 3,200 new olim this year by this coming December. The number last year was 2,800.
The new Israelis were greeted at Ben Gurion International Airport by Rehovot Chief Rabbi Simcha HaCohen Kook, who noted that today is the 70th anniversary of his famous great-uncle Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook's death. As a Cohen (priest), he blessed them with the Biblical Priestly Blessing.
Gideon Meir, Deputy Director of the Foreign Ministry's Communications and Public Relations Department, was also on hand, and spoke warmly of how natural and special it is to be Jewish in the State of Israel.
Jerusalem Municipality Councilwoman Mina Fenton welcomed the olim on behalf of the capital city. She noted that this month of Elul, which is a Hebrew acronym for the concept of our unique relationship with G-d, can also symbolize, "I am for Jerusalem and Jerusalem is for me, I am for Israel and Israel is for me."
Yishai Fleisher and Walter Bingham of Arutz-7 IsraelNationalRadio.com were among the dozens who waited enthusiastically to greet their new countrymen. "As usual," Yishai said, "I brought a shofar, which is particularly appropriate for this month of Elul. The shofar sound is a dramatic welcome call for Jews coming home as it says in our prayers: 'Blow a great shofar to sound our freedom, and make a miracle to gather our exiles.' As I blew the shofar, a few eyes welled up in tears, while others knelt down to kiss the Holy Land. I told people, 'Welcome home - we've been waiting for you for two thousand years.'"
Walter Bingham produced an hour radio show with sound from the airport Wednesday morning. Click here to hear the coverage.
New oleh Rabbi Chaim Wasserman, 66, recently retired after 36 years as rabbi of the Young Israel of Passaic-Clifton in New Jersey, arrived with his wife Leah. Moving to Jerusalem, they join two of their children, who already live here with their own children, as well as some 100 former members of his synagogue. Rabbi Wasserman taught for many years in Bruriah High School in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
Tuvia Grossman, 25, from Chicago, also arrived this morning, and is moving to Tel Aviv. One of the first terror victims of the PA-initiated Oslo War - he was brutally beaten by Arabs in Jerusalem on its second day, in September 2000 - Tuvia said his move to Israel is a way of showing how a small country can stand up against terror. A picture of his bloodied face was mis-captioned by the Associated Press, implying that he was an Arab attacked by Israelis, and was published in many newspapers - prompting the formation of HonestReporting.com. Click here for more information on the mistakenly-captioned picture and Arutz-7's treatment of the issue.
Click here for Arutz-7's English radio coverage of the historic arrival of 200 new immigrants to Israel..
-- Photos courtesy of Yishai Fleisher and Jonathan Stein
Email subscribers - click here to see the photos.
Waiting to Greet the New Arrivals
Among the new olim (immigrants) were long-time Young Israel of Passaic-Clifton Rabbi Chaim Wasserman, Tuvia Grossman of Associated Press false-caption fame, and a newly-married couple that celebrated a Sheva Brachot meal on the plane.
Nefesh B'Nefesh, with the help of the Jewish Agency for Israel, expects to bring 3,200 new olim this year by this coming December. The number last year was 2,800.
New Israelis
The new Israelis were greeted at Ben Gurion International Airport by Rehovot Chief Rabbi Simcha HaCohen Kook, who noted that today is the 70th anniversary of his famous great-uncle Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook's death. As a Cohen (priest), he blessed them with the Biblical Priestly Blessing.
Rabbi Simcha HaCohen Kook Blessed the New Olim
Gideon Meir, Deputy Director of the Foreign Ministry's Communications and Public Relations Department, was also on hand, and spoke warmly of how natural and special it is to be Jewish in the State of Israel.
Jerusalem Municipality Councilwoman Mina Fenton welcomed the olim on behalf of the capital city. She noted that this month of Elul, which is a Hebrew acronym for the concept of our unique relationship with G-d, can also symbolize, "I am for Jerusalem and Jerusalem is for me, I am for Israel and Israel is for me."
Electronic red carpet
Yishai Fleisher and Walter Bingham of Arutz-7 IsraelNationalRadio.com were among the dozens who waited enthusiastically to greet their new countrymen. "As usual," Yishai said, "I brought a shofar, which is particularly appropriate for this month of Elul. The shofar sound is a dramatic welcome call for Jews coming home as it says in our prayers: 'Blow a great shofar to sound our freedom, and make a miracle to gather our exiles.' As I blew the shofar, a few eyes welled up in tears, while others knelt down to kiss the Holy Land. I told people, 'Welcome home - we've been waiting for you for two thousand years.'"
Starting a new life together
Walter Bingham produced an hour radio show with sound from the airport Wednesday morning. Click here to hear the coverage.
New oleh Rabbi Chaim Wasserman, 66, recently retired after 36 years as rabbi of the Young Israel of Passaic-Clifton in New Jersey, arrived with his wife Leah. Moving to Jerusalem, they join two of their children, who already live here with their own children, as well as some 100 former members of his synagogue. Rabbi Wasserman taught for many years in Bruriah High School in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
Aliyah is for the young at heart!
Tuvia Grossman, 25, from Chicago, also arrived this morning, and is moving to Tel Aviv. One of the first terror victims of the PA-initiated Oslo War - he was brutally beaten by Arabs in Jerusalem on its second day, in September 2000 - Tuvia said his move to Israel is a way of showing how a small country can stand up against terror. A picture of his bloodied face was mis-captioned by the Associated Press, implying that he was an Arab attacked by Israelis, and was published in many newspapers - prompting the formation of HonestReporting.com. Click here for more information on the mistakenly-captioned picture and Arutz-7's treatment of the issue.
Click here for Arutz-7's English radio coverage of the historic arrival of 200 new immigrants to Israel..
-- Photos courtesy of Yishai Fleisher and Jonathan Stein
Email subscribers - click here to see the photos.
Am Yisrael Chai
They came...
FatherLand
MotherLand
Bringing a family