72 North Americans Arrive on Aliyah Flight, Including 20 ‘Lone Soldiers’

During Chanukah, when Jews celebrate sovereignty over the Land of Israel and the military victory of the Maccabees against a more powerful nation, a flight of 72 immigrants from the US and Canada included 20 young men and women eager to join the IDF.

A flight of 72 North Americans making Aliyah (immigration to the Jewish state) arrived at Ben- Gurion Airport Wednesday morning on a Nefesh b’Nefesh (NBN) chartered flight. Among them, 20 will be volunteering to serve in the IDF as “lone soldiers,” having no immediate family in Israel, Israel National News (INN) reported.

NBN, in cooperation with the Israeli government and The Jewish Agency for Israel, is dedicated to revitalizing Aliyah from the USA, Canada and the UK by removing or minimizing the financial, professional, logistical and social obstacles, its mission statement reads.

The Nefesh B’Nefesh Lone Soldiers Program, in cooperation with Friends of the IDF (FIDF), cares for all Lone Soldier immigrants during each stage of their service: pre-immigration, pre-recruitment, during active military service, after release from the army, and during adjustment to civilian life.

“During the holiday of Chanukah, we commemorate the miracles and wonders experienced by the Jewish people thousands of years ago during the days of the Maccabees. Today as we welcome these 73 new olim to Israel, we celebrate our own modern-day miracle, Aliyah,” said Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, co-founder and executive Director of Nefesh B’Nefesh, according to INN. “Tonight, as they go home to light the 5th candle of Hanukkah, the flame of their candles won’t only be symbolizing the victory of light over darkness, it will be symbolizing the light of hope, faith and a promising future that they represent for all of us.”

Seventeen of the arrivals are joining Nefesh B’Nefesh’s Go North and Go South programs, which encourages new immigrants to populate these areas.

By: United with Israel Staff

Source: United with Israel