Parents of lone soldiers to get cheap airfare to Israel

Parents of lone soldiers serving in the Israel Defense Forces may be entitled to subsidized tickets to Israel to attend their children’s army ceremonies.

The Nefesh B’Nefesh group and EL AL Airlines are offering $250 (NIS 920) flights from US and Canada to Israel for parents who would otherwise be unable to visit their sons or daughters during their army service.

The flights are to enable parents to attend one of the three ceremonies that IDF soldiers participate in — the swearing-in ceremony, the ceremony when soldiers receive their unit’s beret, and the ceremony marking the end of basic training.

Nefesh B’Nefesh facilitates immigration to Israel, and works with the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces charity to look after new immigrants during their army service.

“It is a tremendous privilege for us to help parents of lone soldiers reunite with their sons and daughters during their army service,” said Yehoshua Fass, director of Nefesh B’Nefesh. “We want to ensure that families have the ability and opportunity to participate in this special milestone.”

“We are pleased to partner in this important endeavor which will enable parents to proudly witness and support their lone soldier standing in uniform on such a special day or have them spend quality time together,” said Yoram Elgrabli, managing director of EL AL in North and Central America.

The flights, from New York, Boston, Los Angeles or Toronto, will be available to one parent of a lone soldier serving in his or her first year, or of a soldier in an elite unit in his or her second year.