From the Liveblog of
Thursday, August 22, 2024
Hundreds of North Americans immigrate to Israel, in largest influx since October 7
In the largest influx of new immigrants to Israel since Hamas’s October 7 massacre, two hundred North Americans arrive at Ben Gurion Airport on five group flights facilitated by Nefesh B’Nefesh in partnership with the Aliyah and Integration Ministry, the Jewish Agency for Israel, the Jewish National Fund (JNF) and JNF-USA.
Today marks the highest number new immigrants, or olim, to arrive on a single day this year, Nefesh B’Nefesh says in a statement.
On August 20-28, some 600 immigrants from a diverse array of locations across the US and Canada, including Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Ontario, will arrive in Israel on 14 group flights, the statement adds.
Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer welcomes the new immigrants at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.
“We are in the midst of a blessed month, of witnessing an impressive increase in aliyah [immigration to Israel] from around the world, despite this complex period of conflict in the north and south. I extend my heartfelt wishes to all the new olim who arrived today and over the last week from North America, driven by a strong desire to become an integral part of the Zionist story,” he says.
“This remarkable influx not only highlights their unwavering commitment to the State of Israel, but also underscores the incomparable spirit and unbreakable bond of the Jewish people worldwide to State of Israel,” adds Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, co-founder and executive director of Nefesh B’Nefesh, according to the statement.
