Next Wednesday the 50,000 Nefesh Be Nefesh New Immigrant to Zion Arrives in Israel including 75 Lone Soldiers .

233 New Olim from North America, Including 75 Lone Soldiers who will be Volunteering for the IDF Due to Arrive in Israel Next Wednesday

233 North Americans will arrive in Israel on an El Al Boeing 777 chartered by Nefesh B’Nefesh and officially make Aliyah next Wednesday, August 17. The flight is being facilitated in cooperation with Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah & Immigrant Absorption, the Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth Le’Israel (KKL), JNF-USA and Tzofim-Garin Tzabar.

The passengers include 75 young men and women who will become Israeli citizens and volunteer in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). They are moving to Israel as ‘Lone Soldiers’, youngsters who left their families in the US and Canada to move to Israel and volunteer for the Israeli Army. They will join the over 900 Lone Soldiers from the US, and the 3,000 Lone Soldiers from around the world who are currently serving in the IDF.

The flight’s other passengers include a diverse mix of people from 22 US states and one Canadian province, including 24 families, 78 children and 10 medical professionals. Ages of immigrants range from 3.5 weeks to 85 years old.

With this flight, NBN will celebrate its 50,000th immigrant brought to Israel with the organization, which was founded in 2002.

A special welcome ceremony will be held at Ben Gurion Airport upon the flight’s arrival and will include: President Reuven Rivlin; Minister Tzachi Hanegbi; Minister of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption Sofa Landver; Director of the Aliyah, Absorption and Special Operations Unit of the Jewish Agency for Israel, Yehuda Sharf; Chairman of Garin Tzabar, Eli Ben Yosef; and Co-Founders of Nefesh B’Nefesh, Rabbi Yehoshua Fass & Tony Gelbart.

About Nefesh B’Nefesh (www.nbn.org.il):

Founded in 2002, Nefesh B’Nefesh in cooperation with the Israeli government and The Jewish Agency for Israel, is dedicated to revitalizing Aliyah from North America and the UK by removing or minimizing the financial, professional, logistical and social obstacles of Aliyah. The support and comprehensive social services provided by Nefesh B'Nefesh to its almost 50,000 newcomers has ensured that over 90% of its Olim have remained in Israel.