225 new immigrants from the USA and Canada landed a short time ago on the charter flight of the "Nefesh Benefesh" organization. This is the 63rd flight that the organization has taken out in the last 20 years, together with El Al, which was renewed after a three-year hiatus due to the Corona epidemic .
Also on the flight was the 75,000th immigrant, Sam Lyman from the state of Maine, who came to Israel to study medicine at Ben-Gurion University.
The group of immigrants, photo: Efrat Fursher
The large group of immigrants this year was particularly diverse, and included, among other things, young people who immigrated to enlist in the IDF, as part of the "Nefesh Benefesh" and FIDF program to recruit lone soldiers, about 30 medical personnel, 31 families, and about 50 singles, some of whom did not hesitate to declare that they hope to find their chosen ones in Israel.
Sam Lyman.
Photo: Efrat Fursher,
Before taking off from JFK airport in New York, a special farewell ceremony was held for the immigrants.
Upon their landing in Israel, they were received with a festive welcome.
The group of immigrants.
Photography: Shahar Azran,
Rabbi Yehoshua Pess, founder and CEO of "Nefesh Benefesh", said excitedly: "Even after 20 years and 63 flights, I still feel like I'm on the first flight.
It is exciting every time to see the new immigrants, and their faces when they realize that they have fulfilled their dream."
Jacob Haguel, chairman of the Jewish Agency;
Tony Galbert, founder and chairman of "Nefesh in Nefesh";
Sam Lyman and Rabbi Yehoshua Pess, photo: Shahar Ezran
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