Plane Filled With N. American Immigrants Lands in Israel

August 3, 2005

The chartered flight was organized by the Nefesh b’Nefesh organization, which assists North American Jews wishing to make Aliyah (immigrate to Israel). Nefesh b’Nefesh is bringing a record of 1,800 Jews to Israel this summer.

More than 220 immigrants, 100 of them children, were on Wednesday’s flight, the fourth of six due to land this summer.

Former Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau and Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive VP of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, accompanied the olim (new immigrants) on their journey to their new home.

Rabbi Lau addressed the new immigrants both at New York’s JFK airport and upon their arrival at Ben Gurion Int'l Airport.

The rabbi said that Aliyah is a national treasure at any time, however, at this time, in which the Jewish people commemorate the destruction of the two Temples in Jerusalem and ahead of the implementation of the Disengagement Plan, the group's immigration is a much-needed morale booster and a shot of encouragement for Israeli society.

Israel National Radio’s coverage of the historic event can be heard at 6:00 p.m. Israel time, and 11:00 a.m. New York time on 
Walter’s World, with Walter Bingham, and will be available on-demand shortly after.

SOURCE: Arutz Sheva