THE JERUSALEM POST WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2007 NEWS NEW RECRUITS: (Left) Twenty-seven immigrants arriving to join the IDF pose for a group photograph. (Right) Jasya Kellman from New York with her dog at the arrival hall of Ben-Gurion International Airport. (Sasson Tiram) Nefesh B'Nefesh brings new soldiers to Israel arrive by the beginning of September. By the end of 2007, NBN cofounders Rabbi Yehoshua Fass and Tony For New Yorkers Shlomit and Shmuel Furmansky and The atmosphere was joyous as the immigrants stepped NBN will have helped over 3,500 people make aliya. Gelbart were also on the flight, along with former Israeli their three children, the move was a special milestone: off the plane, many with tears in their eyes and waving By YAFFI SPODEK Since its inception five years ago, NBN has succeeded ambassador to the US and current NBN Chairman Danny They were reuniting with Shmuel's two sisters, who came Israeli flags; the sound of the shofar, heralding their return, Shuki Bloomberg, 20, finally fulfilled his lifelong in bringing over 11,500 new immigrants to Israel, resulting Ayalon. on NBN's July 10 charter flight. could be heard in the background. dreams of moving to Israel and serving in the IDF, as he in an almost 80-percent increase in North American aliya. "I never get tired of coming on the flight with them," "We had been talking about it for a long time," explained Also on hand to greet the newcomers were several and 26 fellow soldiers stepped off the plane together at Michael Jankelowitz, spokesman for the Jewish said Gelbart. "We are giving them the gift of Israel." Shlomit. "Since Shmuel's aunt [Sarah Blaustein] was killed politicians, including Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu Ben-Gurion International Airport on Tuesday morning. Agency for Israel, said that "over the last four years, two "NBN is committed to continue working, with the great in a terrorist attack in May 2001, we have been thinking and members of the IDF, as well as over 700 guests who Participating in a program called Garin Tzabar, which agencies have developed - NBN in America and Ami in support of the government, until we bring 100,000 olim about it." Now, 19 members of their family have made came to share in the immigrants' celebration. brings Americans to the army, Bloomberg will train France. Under the leadership of [former chairman] Sallai over the next few years," declared Ayalon. "This is our aliya within the last four weeks, and all of them came to "You spent your last Shabbat as Diaspora Jews, and for the IDF together with other immigrants in the first Meridor, the Jewish Agency has revised its strategic long- vision, and it is a real privilege to see it coming together the airport on Tuesday to celebrate. you left your houses and came home," said Rabbi Fass, international religious branch of the program. term plan. In this plan, the agency decided to support these and being fulfilled." Also on board were Ithamar and Miriam Pollak from addressing the crowd. "Anyone today who needed an "It was never a choice of whether or not to serve," grassroots organizations in the free world that encouraged The immigrants were thrilled to be recognized as Connecticut, both of whom are Holocaust survivors. infusion of hope and inspiration should just look at all explained Bloomberg, a native of Chicago. "I always aliya. The plan, in partnering with these organizations, has official citizens of Israel. Many cheered as Hanoch Zamir, Ithamar survived Auschwitz and moved to America in these olim who have returned to Israel." knew I wanted to make aliya, and the army was something been cooperation, transparency and increased numbers, the senior deputy of the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, 1947, while Miriam managed to escape the concentration Netanyahu echoed his message, saying, "You have that I viewed as an obligation that I needed to do for the in order to achieve the goal of increasing aliya from the presented the first teudat zehut (ID card) to the Abramson camps by procuring Aryan papers. As a welcoming come back; this is your land and your home, in the deepest country. It's wonderful to finally be here." West." family from San Francisco. gesture and a reminder of North America, several players sense of the word." Bloomberg is not the only foreigner who has chosen to He added that aliya has been on the rise over the last "I'm feeling a mixture of relief and excitement," from the inaugural Israel Baseball League greeted the new Also present was Col. Golan Bar-Levi, commander of serve in the IDF. According to the army, one out of every five years. In 2006, 3,202 North Americans made aliya, exclaimed Carrie Boit, 23, from Alabama, reveling in the olim at the airport with IBL yearbooks and free tickets to the IDF's Magen center, who praised the 27 new soldiers. and by June 2007, another 742 arrived - up from 708 at the the season's upcoming championship game. five soldiers was born outside of Israel and made aliya. moment. "It's all sort of surreal." "We appreciate your decision to join us, and we look same point the previous year. The new soldiers were accompanied on their flight "We are thrilled to be here," said Josh Wolff, who "NBN invited us to come, and we brought 11 guys forward to having you with us," he asserted. "You have by fellow immigrants, as the plane was filled with 210 The flight contained a diverse group of immigrants arrived with his wife and four children from Boston. "My from all six teams," explained David Rattner, the facilities now become part of the long-term process of designing new olim, including 34 families, 88 children, and 31 hailing from 20 different states and provinces, including son is putting on his tefillin for the first time at the Kotel manager at the Sportek baseball field in Tel Aviv. "These the future of the people of Israel. You will make sure singles. This was the third such flight chartered by Nefesh doctors, lawyers, bankers, jewelers and teachers. The tomorrow morning. After 15 years of planning, ever since people are steadfast supporters of Israel, and they know that the chain of future generations will remain solid and B'Nefesh (NBN) this summer, with six more expected to oldest oleh was 78; the youngest was two months old. we've been married, we finally made it." about baseball, so we thought this was a great idea." unbroken forever.".