"Keep Making Aliyah"
Here is some footage from the Israel end. Kumah folks really came through for Nefesh'b'Nefesh's first Winter flight. We had our new "
Keep Making Aliyah" pin, along with our classic "Aliyah Revolution" pin on everyone getting off the plane.
Later that night, The Kumah Welcome Home Bash rocked with over 100 attendies.
All kinds of Jews got off the plane
Glen, Gila, and the Jasper Kids
Two elderly Holocaust survivors finally arrive 
The Dan family awaits their daughter Shanna and son in law Boaz 
Neo-Zionist baby
The Israel National Radio crew: Tamar, Malkah, Eli, and Yishai
Take a few minutes and listen to the exciting sounds of the arrival:
First Hour Second Hour
"I'm Moving to Israel Today!"
For those of you didn't catch that soon to be Oleh standing outside the early show on CBS this morning (See Ben's post below) we bring you a screen shot:
The sign reads "I'm Moving to Israel Today! New York Today... Home Tomorrow! Go Aliyah!" Hopefully the temperature in Ben Gurion Airport will be a little warmer than 17F!
"Bin'areinu Uv'zkenenu Nelech"
Pinchas told me last night that his 2.5-month-old cousin will be on the Nefesh b'Nefesh flight today. And this morning, my neighbor Danny told me that there will be two sisters on the flight, aged 94 and 97 (see post below). It just goes to show that you're never too old or too young to make Aliyah.
BTW - for the guy who was standing outside CBS studios this morning with a sign that read, "I'm making Aliyah to Israel today," I just want to let you know I saw you. Yasher koach on your "
pirsumei nisa" - publicizing the miracle of the ingathering of the exiles.
One Day Away!
Here's a
press release about tomorrow's NBN flight followed by an Arutz-7 story.
90+ Year-Old Sisters Realize Dream on Final Immigration Flight of the Year
MEDIA ALERT: The last of four dedicated EL AL aircraft in 2004 filled with more than 200 North Americans immigrating to Israel will depart from JFK Airport December 28th. This flight will bring the total number of immigrants assisted by EL AL in its partnership with The Nefesh B'Nefesh Organization and the Jewish Agency for Israel, to nearly 2,000 this year.
This final Nefesh B'Nefesh flight of 2004 will carry a whopping 95 singles to Israel plus some very young-at-heart senior citizens, including:
* Sisters Irma Haas, 97 and Hilde Meyer, 94 -- Holocaust survivors finally making their lifelong dream a reality;
* Ray Walker, 85 -- a New York poet, teacher and activist for the JOFA (Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance) who will volunteer in Israel for terror victim aid organizations;
* Jean Quinn, 67 -- a great grandmother who will volunteer on an archeological dig in the Old City of Jerusalem.
The Nefesh B'Nefesh Organization (http://www.nbn.org.il/ ) is working in close cooperation with the Jewish Agency of Israel (http://www.jafi.org.il/ ).
WHEN: Tuesday, December 28, 2004 2:30 p.m. - departure ceremony and pre-flight media briefing
WHERE: Terminal 4, JFK International Airport Red Carpet Area (near the EL AL check-in area)
WHAT: The departure ceremony will include speeches by Consul General of Israel Aryeh Mekel, Nefesh B''Nefesh co-founders Rabbi Joshua Fass and Tony Gelbart as well as Yoav Weiss from EL AL Israel Airlines.
And from
Arutz-7:
Holocaust Survivor Sisters To Move To Israel
A unique pair of sisters is among over 200 immigrants arriving in Israel Wednesday from North America.
The flight carrying the new immigrants is the fourth such El Al flight from North America chartered by Nefesh B'Nefesh organization and the Jewish Agency for Israel this year. Over 3,000 Jews immigrated from North America through the Nefesh B'Nefesh program thus far.
While Nefesh B'Nefesh immigrants are generally young families and professionals, this week's flight includes two special seniors: Irma Haas, 97, and sister Hilde Meyer, 94, who both survived the Holocaust. Born in Germany, they fled to Holland during World War II, but were ultimately deported to the death camp at Bergen-Belsen. Miraculously, both sisters survived, although their husbands perished. Following the war, the two relocated to America, living the past 50 years in Manhattan and Englewood, NJ.
This Wednesday, they are delighted to realize their lifelong dream of living in Jerusalem.
The 2004 olim (newcomers) come from 33 US States and five Canadian provinces. "As 2004 ends, our young organization has helped thousands of people to begin building new lives in Israel," said Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, founder of Nefesh B'Nefesh. "Our highly regarded absorption system is based on a philosophy of top service, sympathetic support and up-to-date professionalism. The system has helped assure a smooth landing for all our olim."
Of the 1,600 immigrants on Nefesh B'Nefesh's premiere flights in 2002-03, 99% remain in Israel. 93% of the families have one or both spouses employed, 95 children were born to the new olim and 18 weddings were celebrated.
Arutz Sheva's IsraelNationalRadio will be at the airport to cover the arrival live on air. The broadcast can be heard Wednesday on IsraelNationalRadio.com.
Important NBN Flight Update
According to
confirmed information from NBN, Olim are scheduled to arrive at JFK at
1:30PM on Tuesday (not in the Morning as originally announced by Kumah.)
