Aliyah surges: 225 immigrants arrive on Nefesh B’Nefesh flight, August set for 20-year record
Nefesh B’Nefesh’s 65th aliyah charter flight – and the first since the Gaza war began – landed at Ben Gurion International Airport on Wednesday morning, carrying 225 new immigrants (olim). The arrivals included 45 families and 125 children, part of a surge that is expected to make August the busiest month for aliyah (immigration) in two decades, with more than 1,000 new immigrants projected to come to Israel.
According to Nefesh B’Nefesh, “The Olim span a wide array of fields, including medicine, education, engineering, law, finance and more.”
David Tauber, a new immigrant from Philadelphia, shared his thoughts on the experience with The Times of Israel.
“I have so many emotions now,” Tauber said upon landing in Israel.
“We’re living a dream,” he continued. “We’re here to be a part of the rebuilding of our land.”
Israeli Minister of Aliyah and Integration Ofir Sofer joined the flight and welcomed the influx of newcomers, calling their arrival especially meaningful amid ongoing global backlash against Israel.
“It is very exciting to be on the special flight with 225 new Olim, who chose to immigrate to Israel right now,” he said.
“We are continuing to see more and more newcomers choosing to be part of the Zionist story, at a time when the State of Israel is facing difficult times and worldwide anti-Semitism is on the rise at an alarming rate.”
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
