A special flight carrying 233 new immigrants from North America landed in Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport Tuesday morning Hebrew sources reported.
According to the Israeli daily Jerusalem Post the Jewish immigrants were met on the tarmac by a high level delegation of leaders welcoming them to their “new home” and wishing them a successful absorption into Israeli society.
The El Al Boeing 777 was chartered by Nefesh B’Nefesh in cooperation with the Ministry of Aliya and Integration the Jewish Agency for Israel Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund and JNF-USA.
The passengers include 21 families 75 children six sets of twins and people working in a range of professions including 26 medical professionals. The oldest is 79 years old and the youngest is eight and a half months old. Thirty-two of the immigrants are moving to the periphery as part of Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund’s Go South and Go North programs.
According to the same source more than a quarter of the olim (68 people) plan to join the Israeli occupation forces over the coming months as lone soldiers.
The flight was met by a slew of VIPs including Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid Jewish Agency head Natan Sharansky Minister of Aliyah and Integration Sofia Landver and Chief Rabbi David Lau.
Nefesh B’Nefesh co-founders Rabbi Yehoshua Fass and Tony Gelbart were also in attendance to welcome the newcomers.
