Americans, Canadians Immigrate to Israel

Americans, Canadians Immigrate to Israel

By Julie Stahl

CBN News Middle East Correspondent

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Ad Feedback

TEL AVIV, Israel -- Two hundred thirty-two immigrants from the United States and Canada landed in Tel Aviv early Tuesday, intending to make Israel their permanent home.

Among the new immigrants are 29 families that include 75 children and 59 young people who will join the Israel Defense Forces as "lone soldiers," those who have left their families and friends to be part of Israel and the IDF.

Israel's newest citizens arrived on an El Al flight chartered by Nefesh B'Nefesh, an organization that partners with the government to help North American and British Jews make aliyah (immigrate to Israel) and adjust to their new lives here.

Some of the passengers were wearing t-shirts that read, "Keep Calm and Love Israel."

About 4,000 North Americans are expected to immigrate to Israel this year. Since its establishment in 2002, Nefesh B'Nefesh has brought about 45,000 immigrants from the United States, Canada, and England.

"It is truly inspiring to see that Jews everywhere, young and old, and from all denominations, are determined to fulfill the dream of building the Jewish state and strengthening the Jewish nation," Nefesh B'Nefesh co-founder Rabbi Yehoshua Fass said.

Watch for more on this story from CBN News later this week.