Gilad Shalit accompanying aliyah flight from NY
Former Hamas captive to land in Israel alongside 231 new immigrants, including 106 kids
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Former captive soldier Gilad Shalit will accompany an aliyah flight including 106 children leaving New York for Israel.
The first chartered El Al aliyah flight of the summer will leave John F. Kennedy Airport on Monday with 231 new immigrants, including 41 families. Fifty-four young singles also will be on board.
The Nefesh B’Nefesh flight is being undertaken in cooperation with the Jewish Agency for Israel, the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption and Keren Kayemeth L’Israel.
A live feed of the immigrants landing in Israel at 7 a.m. Tuesday and the welcoming ceremony will be available at www.nbn.org.il/live.
Some 989 children are scheduled to make aliyah this year, according to Nefesh B’Nefesh, a 20 percent increase over last year.