Keren's+I-Face+Project

__**toc**__

I-Face Project

Joy Epstein 


 * [|www.zionism-israel.com/ log/archives/00000414.html]**


 * teacher name:**
 * school name:**
 * date submitted :**

Class:י.2 **
 * Name:Keren Amichai

=__**rationale**__=

Faces of Israel

I have chosen to do this project about Joy Epstein who works in an organization called "Nefesh B'Nefesh" which is a Hebrew expression meaning "soul in soul". This organization sends their members abroad to talk and encourage Jewish people and families to come live in Israel . "Nefesh B'Nefesh " organizes a plane to bring, whoever decides to come. It provides support for the Olim (new immigrants to Israel ), including financial help, finding a job, social services and assistance through governmental absorption procedures. Joy Epstein lives in Efrat which is in Gush – etzion and works in Yerushalayim. as a clinical supervisor of the Department of Social Services of Nefesh B'Nefesh. During this project I am going to find out more about this organization and Joys job. I think this organization is very important because there are a lot of Jewish people and families that live abroad, and as a Zionist, I believe that all Jewish people should live in Israel , the country where they belong. I would like to add that most of the people who decide to come to Israel with "Nefesh B'Nefesh", thought of it before but needed help and support in order to enable them to facilitate their idea; and this is why I believe "Nefesh B'Nefesh "has a very important role.
 * [|www.israelnationalradio.com/ archive.htm]**

=**__A profile of Joy Epstein__**=

Joy Epstein, married with 4 children ages 10 – 19, is the clinical supervisor of the Department of Social Services at Nefesh B'Nefesh (NBN), an organization that helps olim come to Israel and adjust to life here. The location of her job is Givat Shaul in Yerushalayim. Joy made aliyah 9 1/2 years ago from Vancouver, to Efrat-Gush Etzion. She has worked in several different social service agencies since she made aliyah and she has a private practice as well. She enjoys early morning power walks, spending time with her children, her family and her friends. She loves to read and to learn.

Joy Epstein got the job thanks to a friend of hers who works for NBN( in the employment department), she called her and asked her if she would be interested in the job. Joy decided to accept the offer because It sounded to her like a great way to combine her skills as a social worker with her experiences as an Olah Chadasha, both positive and negative, and use them to help other olim to have a smoother aliyah experience.

When I asked her why she thinks her work is important she said "Because I really feel that because of the work with the olim, both prior to making aliyah, to help them to prepare themselves and their families for aliyah, and all the work that we do with them after they make aliyah, we are really making a difference in how they acclimate here in Israel".

She says there are many reasons why it is difficult for people to emigrate to Israel, and gave me just a few of the biggest ones: leaving their family and friends behind ,having to start over in a new country with a new language and new culture,concern about whether they will be able to find a job and make a living and fear of failure.

Joy Epstein thinks the younger the Olim children are, the easier time they have adjusting to aliyah.and that most kids do adjust eventually to Israel.

She thinks that teens have the hardest time of anyone making aliyah. This is because Adolescence is a time of identity crises, where kids have a rough time even in the most familiar surroundings as they experiment and struggle with who they are and who they want to be. When their parents take them on aliyah, It is generally not their choice and they then have to deal with their normal adolescent struggles in a situation where they also have all the issues that we discussed above, and they have to make new friends, learn a new language, go to a new school, where everything is different and nothing is familiar. All this while they are dealing with figuring out their relationships with their parents and who they are and who they want to be.

She says whether it is hard for Olim to find jobs in Israel or not depends on a lot of factors :. First of all whether or not they know Hebrew and secondly what profession they have. NBN tells people that other than learning Hebrew, the most important thing is to be flexible and think out of the box about how to use their skills to earn a living. She thinks that there are more job opportunities in the Jerusalem and Central area of the country.

Joy said that what Nefesh B'Nefesh changed in the way Aliyah was organized previously, is that it offers the olim a tremendous amount of support and guidance, does a tremendous amount of outreach before aliyah, and to a certain extent really holds the oleh's hands through the whole process. Also, until now the outreach was done by Israeli shlichim whom the potential olim don't really relate to and they in turn don’t relate to the olim. In NBN the support is being given by olim vatikim (veteran olim) who have "been there" and give the advise and support based on what they would have wanted/needed to help them make their aliyah easier.

[|**www.ou.org/israel/ nbn/default.htm**]

Joy told me that the government is trying to make things easier for olim. She said They do give a "sal klitah" (basket of financial help) that helps to ease the financial adjustment in the first 7 months and a package of benefits for new olim. Still, Joy thinks that in the future, a few steps should be taken to make life easier for the Olim, for example, there should be more ulpans set up in schools for kids to help them to learn the language and catch up to their class level. Kuppot cholim (health clinics) need to be made Anglo -friendly, translating their websites and material about the insurance options into English and also having an English speakers options on their phone service. The more communities that have rakazot aliyah (aliytah coordinators) who are always available for the olim and are constantly looking out for their well being and connecting them to resources, the easier it will be for Olim.

I was interested to know where most olim choose to live in Israel and which parts of Israel does she consider most suitable for Olim. She told me that most olim choose to live in communities that have sizeable populations of other Anglo olim, such as Gush Etzion, Beit Shemesh, Modiin, Chashmonaim, Maaleh Adumim, Raanana, etc. She said studies have shown that immigrants adjust best when they settle in communities that share a similar cultural background, where they have friends or family, and where they will be around people that are familiar to them, language wise, and culturally. Therefore she thinks that for most olim, choosing a community where there are other olim (It doesn’t have to be predominantly anglo) will be helpful.

Joy Epstein thinks the large "Anglo Aliyah has definitely helped the economy and brought great professionals to work here. She said that it has also brought with it an expectation of customer service which is improving slowly here and will continue to improve. She thinks that we will see the positive outcomes over time.

The advice she would give someone preparing for Aliyah is for he or she to Get in touch with Nefesh B'Nefesh, do lots of research: communities, jobs, schools, etc,. come on a pilot trip, speak to lots of people and make sure that they have paid off all their debts .She recommends looking at the NBN website, [|www.nbn.org.il] for lots of other advise that they give.

One of the important tips Joy would give someone to help them settle in is to "Learn Hebrew" and another is to" Keep a sense of humor" .She also says one should always ask for help, remember the reasons they decided to make aliyah, have realistic expectations and give themselves time to adjust.

I would like to conclude this profile by saying that this interview opened my mind what it is like to be a new oleh and to understand that it's much harder than it appears! It also showed me what a tremendous service Nefesh B'Nefesh provides in helping people to make this vitally important move to Israel.

 =__Literary Connection__= Hello to you wonderful land

** ביצוע: יהורם גאון מילים: אילן גולדהירש לחן: סטיבן גודמן
 * ** שלום לך ארץ נהדרת

הייתי בפריס וגם ברומא ראיתי את שבעת פלאי תבל, בקוטב הצפוני וגם דרומה, אך אין מקום כמו ארץ ישראל. וכמו גלויות של נוף יפות תמונות בזכרוני עפות, כמו בעד עדשה של מצלמה בתרמילי אותו אשא בכל מקום, בכל מסע קטעי פסיפס מתוך תמונה שלמה.

שלום לך ארץ נהדרת, עבדך הדל נושא לך שיר מזמור. גם אם לעיתים נודד אני על דרך, מה טוב לנדוד אך טוב יותר לחזור.

צריחי המגדלים בירושלים וסמטאות השוק הצבעוני גגות הרעפים של גבעתיים הניבטים מבעד חלוני. את האביב בתל אביב, את סבתי ואת סבי, את החלה ואת נרות שבת, את ים המלח מול אדום ואשת לוט צופה לסדום ואת הקיץ בואכה אילת.

שלום לך ארץ נהדרת...

מימיה הכחולים של הכנרת והרקיע התואם מעל. והרגשת הבית המוכרת בתוך עורקי זורמת כמו חשמל. הרי גליל והשומרון, הפרדסים שבשרון, וילדים בגן המושבה את הכרמל ואת הים אחד אחד ואת כולם, תמיד קורצים, אומרים ברוך הבא.

שלום לך ארץ נהדרת...

||

By: Ealan Goldhirsh
 * ** Hello to you wonderful land **

|| || I have been in Paris and in Rome    || I have seen the seven wonders of the world,

I have seen the seven wonders of the world, In the North Pole and southward, but there is no place like Israel. And like beautiful postcards of a view Pictures in my mind are flying, As if in the front of a lens of a camera In my bag I will carry it In every place, in every journey Parts of a mosaic of a whole picture.

Hello to you wonderful land, Your little servant is bringing you a song. Also if sometimes I wander off a path, It is good to wander, but better to return.

The turrets of the towers of Jerusalem And the alleys of the colorful market The tiled rooftops of Givatyim That are seen from my window. The spring in Tel-Aviv, My grandmother and grandfather , the Hallah and the Sabbath candles, the Dead sea in front of Edom and Lot's wife looking out to Sdom and the summer when you come to Eilat.

Hello to you wonderful land, Your little servant is bringing you a song. Also if sometimes I wander off a path, It is good to wander, but better to return.

Kinneret's blue waters And the sky that fits above. And the known feeling of home In my veins is streaming like electricity. The hills of the Gallilee and the Shomron , The orchards that are in the Sharon, And children the kindergarten of the moshava The Carmel and the sea each and every one and all of them, always winking, saing " Welcome".

Hello to you wonderful land, Your little servant is bringing you a song. Also if sometimes I wander off a path, It is good to wander, but better to return.

This is a poem about the homey feeling the poet gets from Israel, a country that although the poet saw a lot of places in the world that most people consider to be the most amazing places in the world ,the poet thinks Israel is the greatest of them all. I connect to this song because I agree with it. I think their many amazing places in the world but the only place I relate to and feel welcomed and actually part of is Israel.

In this poem there are rhymes for example:
 * רומא- דרומה יפות-עפות ||

I think these rimes make the song more interesting to sing and read and furthermore makes the song less "heavy" and more "fun". This song is written in this way: the first verse is about different places in the world the poet has been to and the 2 other verses are about the special places in Israel. I think the poet chose to write this song in this structure for making the message stronger ;in the first verse he writes he has been in all the wonderful places in the world so we won't think Israel is the best place in the world to be because he hasent been to all the other magnificent places in the world. The singing of this song- Yehoram Gaon was born in Israel but both his parents were born and lived for a while abroad. I think from knowing these facts that Yehorams parents planted inside him the love for Israel and raised him since he was young with the knowledge they got by living abroad ;that Israel is the best place to be and live in.This I think resulted the singing of this song. What I take from rhis song is that Israel is the the best place for me to live in the world!.The song makes you remember that by all the special things in Israel it shoes that make you feel at home, for example: "the alleys of the colorful market".

= = **Back ground article and information**

Nbn is an organization that helps Jewish people who want to make aliya to I Israel from: US ,UK ,and Canada, but have something that is stopping them from making it. For example they may need : financial  help , professional advice or if they have logistical problem NBN is more then willing to assist. This organization was founded in the year 2003. Most of the people who made aliya with NBN, at the start ,were religious Jews, as Tony Gelbart, NBN co-founder ,says in an article in the "Jerusalem Report " newspaper and on their Internet site: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1200572507598 "Since Rabbi Fass Founder, Executive Director of NBN (for more information: http://www.nbn.org.il/nbn/fass.htm **)** and I are observant, when we began this project, we naturally attracted people from our close circles," Gelbart explains. "At the time, religious Jews, many of them nationalistic, were the majority of Jews coming to Israel. But as the numbers grow, we're seeing larger numbers of non-religious families and singles on our flights." An article called "Olim strengthen Israel" written by Olive branch was published on the "Jewish week" site: http://www.nbn.org.il/news_files/Washington%20Jewish%20Week.htm discuses a new report that declares that North American adult Olim increased Israel's economy, because every one of them spends about $200,000 here.This report was shown in a news conference the together with fact that 3,000 north American olim came to Israel in the year 2004 ,this number means there were 20% more olim then last year. The Jewish Agency and Nefesh B'Nefesh sponsored this event.

<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE">__**Two links for**__ <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE">__**background articles and information:**__ 1. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1200572507598

2. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?apage=2&cid=1200572507598&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull.

Open this link and see NBN in the News ... [|**Hollywood Family making Aliyah**] Taken from: www.nbn.org.il =__Creative Piece__=

The pieces are all the different kinds of Jewish people: non-religious, religious ,Charedim, left wing, right wing , Hassidic ,Reform. Every one has different views and looks which I'm presenting as different shaped puzzle pieces. Only together, when we all cooperate, share the good sides of our part of the nation can we complete the "picture" of who we ,the Jewish nation, are .We can see something perfect with all the puzzle pieces together ,and then carry on working as a team in front of G-d and the rest of the world. Even if only one piece of the puzzle is missing, it effects all the rest of the puzzle ,the picture is not whole ,not perfect any more. As it is for the Jewish nation, if one of the sides in it is missing .Also, If this puzzle is of 1,000,000 peaces if one of the peaces is missing it is very noticed, and its hard to manage with out it. [|**www.israelnationalnews.com/ news.php3?id=107923**] = = =**__ Reflection __**=

I did not have any expectations for this project because I did not know exactly how it would be and what would be expected from me. I would not change my project if I could because I think it came out well. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE">I learned about Joy Epstein and " Nefesh B'nefesh" where she works. I learned about Aliya, Why is it difficult for people to emigrate to Israel , How do children and teenage Olim cope with Aliyah , Is it hard for Olim to find jobs here, and so on and so forth. I hope I improved my writing skills writing this project .I don't remember having big surprises while working on It, but I did learn that I love the land of Israel ,It is a special land unlike any other and that Is why some people make a big effort to get here ,and live here.

[|**www.israelnationalnews.com/ news.php3?id=107923**]

= = =**__ Appendix __** =

<span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE">  __Questions for the Interview__ __** Please tell me a bit about yourself( family, aliyah, hobbies etc……..) My name is Joy Epstein. I am married and have 4 children ages 10 - 19. I am a social worker and family therapist. I made aliyah 9 1/2 years ago from Vancouver, B.C to Efrat. I have worked in several different social service agencies since making aliyah and I have a private practice as well. I enjoy my early morning power walks, spending time with my children, my family and my friends. I love to read and to learn. How did you get to Nefesh B'Nefesh and to this job? I have a friend who I have known for a long time and she works for NBN in the employment department and she called and asked my if I would be interested in the job. Were is the your work geographically? In Givat Shaul in Yerushalayim. 1.  What exactly is your job description in Nefesh B'Nefesh? I am the clinical supervisor of the Department of Social Services of Nefesh B'Nefesh. 2.  Why did you choose this job? It sounded like a great way to combine my skills as a social worker with the my experiences as an Olah Chadasha, both positive and negative and use them to help other olim to have a smoother aliyah experience. 3.  Why do you think this work is important? Because I really feel that because of the work with the olim, both prior to making aliyah, to help them to prepare themselves and their families for aliyah, and and all the work that we do with them after they make aliyah, we are really making a difference in how they acclimate here in Israel. 4.  Why is it difficult for people to emigrate to Israel? There are many things that make it difficult to emigrate. These are just a few of the biggest things. 5.  How do teenage Olim cope with Aliyah ? I think that teens have the hardest time of anyone making aliyah. Adolescence is a time of identity crises, where kids have a rough time even in the most familiar surroundings as they experiment and struggle with who they are and who they want to be. When their parents take them on aliyah, It is generally not their choice and they then have to deal with their normal adolescent struggles in a situation where they also have all the issues that I mentioned above in question #4, they have to make new friends, learn a new language, having to go to a new school, where everything is different and nothing is familiar. All this while they are dealing with figuring out their relationships with their parents and who they are and who they want to be. That is not to say that one should never bring a teen on aliyah, but I always tell parents that they really need to know their teen well. They need to know that they have a good strong relationship with their teen. It is important to remember that if the teen is already struggling and having issues, they will not get better and they certainly wont go away when you make aliyah, that is not the solution. If the teen is relatively well adjusted, has a strong sense of positive self esteem and confidence, If he/she comes before 10th grade, has been prepared properly by parents, has been involved in the plans, and the family makes aliyah to a community that supports aliyah and has teens who have adjusted well to aliyah to be friend the teen, and is given lots of tutoring to help the teen to catch up academically, then they can and probably will do ok. This is what I tell parents, but there are no guarentees. How do children cope with Aliyah ? The younger the children the easier time they have adjusting to aliyah. Most kids do adjust eventually to Israel. 6.  Do most Olim have family in Israel? Not all but most at least have some friends if not family. But we do have a small percentage who come without any friends and family. They definitely have a much harder time, and I generally recommend that they start off in a mercaz klita to give them the opportunity to meet people. 7.  Is it hard for Olim to find jobs here? It depends on a lot of factors and professions. 8.  Is the Government supportive of this organization's work? Yes 9.  How did Nefesh B'Nefesh change in the way Aliyah was organized previously? NBN offers the olim a tremendous amount of support and guidance, does a tremendous amount of outreach before aliyah, and to a certain extent really holds the olehs hands through the whole process. Also, until now the outreach was done by Israeli shlichim who the potential olim dont really relate to and they don’t relate to them. In NBN the support is being given by olim vatikim who have "been there" and give the advise and support based on what they would have wanted/needed to help them make their aliyah easier. 10.  Are Israelis supportive of Olim? In general yes. 11.  What do you consider will be thing that attracts more immigrants from America? Guarantees of jobs here and peace. Also, ironically, many orthodox families are making aliyah because the cost of day school education in the states is astronomical and they just cant afford it. Although they are very Zionistic, Israel becomes a more realistic alternative because of this. 12.  What qualities do find in the Olim that prompts them to come to Israel? 13.  What steps should be taken to make life easier for the Olim? The government is trying to make things easier for olim. They do give a sal klitah that helps to ease the financial adjustment in the first 7 months and a package of benefits for new olim. There should be more ulpans set up in schools for kids to help them to learn the language and catch up to their class level. Kuppot cholim need to be made anglo friendly, translating their websites and material about the insurance options into English and also having an English speakers options for phone service. The more communities that have rakazot aliyah like in Efrat, Gush Etzion, Maaleh Adumim, that are always available for the olim and are constantly looking out for their well being and connecting htem to resources, the easier it will be for Olim. 14.  Where do they usually choose to live? Most olim choose to live in communities that have sizeable populations of other anglo olim, such as Gush Etzion, Beit Shemesh, RBS, Modiin, Chashmonaim, Maaleh Adumim, Raanana, etc. 15.  Which parts of Israel do you consider most suitable for Olim? Studies have shown that immigrants adjust best when they settle in communities that share a similar cultural background, where they have friends or family, and where they will be around people that are familiar to them, language wise, and culturally. Therefore I think that for most olim, choosing a community where there are other olim (It doesn’t have to be predominantly anglo) will be helpful. Also, I think that there are more job opportunities in the Jerusalem and Central area of the country. 16.  Do you think that the large "Anglo Aliyah" has benefited Israel? Yes,. 17.  In what ways? it has definitely helped the economy and brought great professionals to work here. I think that it has also brought with it an expectation of customer service which is improving slowly here and will continue to improve. I think that we will see the positive outcomes over time 18.  You presently work with Canada, the UK and the States are there plans to bring Nefesh B'Nefesh to other countries? Not that I know of. 19.  What advice would you give someone preparing for Aliyah? Get in touch with Nefesh B'Nefesh. Do lots of research: communities, jobs, schools, etc. Come on a pilot trip, speak to lots of people, make sure that you have paid off all your debts, and everything that I said before. You can look on our website, [|www.nbn.org.il] for lots of other advise that we give. 20.  What tips would give someone to help them settle in? Learn Hebrew!!! Keep a sense of humor, Always ask for help, Remember the reasons that you decide to make aliyah, Have realistic expectations and give yourself time to adjust. 21.  Have you heard any good jokes or sayings that new Olim have made –up to help them cope? Im not good at jokes, I am sure there are many though, there are even a bunch of olim comedians who perform in Jerusalem everyweek, who do aliyah routines that I understand are hysterical. __**Articals for Back ground artical and informtion**__ = = ** <span style="COLOR: #f41aee; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff">Olim strengthen Israel ** JERUSALEM (JTA) -- A new study found that recent North American immigrants to Israel are a major economic asset to the Jewish state. Each adult North American immigrant represents about $200,000 in value to the Israeli economy upon his or her arrival, according to a study commissioned by Nefesh B'Nefesh, a grassroots organization that encourages North American //aliyah//. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE">The report -- and the announcement that almost 3,000 North American Jews immigrated to Israel in 2004, a 20 percent increase from last year -- were presented at a news conference Tuesday sponsored by Nefesh B'Nefesh and the Jewish Agency for Israel, which works with the private group Olive branch, in Arabic
 * 1) What exactly is your job description in Nefesh B'Nefesh?
 * 2) Why did you choose this job?
 * 3) Why do you think this work is important?
 * 4) Why is it difficult for people to emigrate to Israel?
 * 5) How do teenage Olim cope with Aliyah ?
 * 6) How do children cope with Aliyah ?
 * 7) Do most Olim have family in Israel?
 * 8) Is it hard for Olim to find jobs here?
 * 9) Is the Government supportive of this organization's work?
 * 10) How did Nefesh B'Nefesh change in the way Aliyah was organized previously?
 * 11) Are Israelis supportive of Olim?
 * 12) What do you consider will be thing that attracts more immigrants from America?
 * 13) What qualities do find in the Olim that prompts them to come to Israel?
 * 14) What steps should be taken to make life easier for the Olim?
 * 15) Where do they usually choose to live?
 * 16) Which parts of Israel do you consider most suitable for Olim?
 * 17) Do you think that the large "Anglo Aliyah" has benefited Israel?
 * 18) In what ways?
 * 19) You presently work with Canada, the UK and the States are there plans to bring Nefesh B'Nefesh to other countries?
 * 20) What advice would you give someone preparing for Aliyah?
 * 21) What tips would give someone to help them settle in?
 * 22) Have you heard any good jokes or sayings that new Olim have made –up to help them cope?
 * __ Interview with Joy Epstein __**
 * __ Introductory Questions
 * 1) leaving their family and friends behind
 * 2) having to start over in a new country with a new language and new culture
 * 3) concern about whether they will be able to find a job and make a living.
 * 4) Fear of failure
 * 1) if they know hebrew
 * 2) what profession they have, anyone in hitech or computers will have an easier time than someone who let's say is a nurse, who has to take a hebrew proficiency exam and then a test to get licensed that is very difficult and discourages many nurses from even trying to get licensed. NBN tells people other than learning hebrew, the most important thing is to be flexible and think out of the box about how to use your skills to earn a living.


 * <span style="COLOR: #f218d2; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff">Long Ride Home **

Ezra Raoul Weissman, dressed in jeans and a loose sweater, looks at his parents anxiously as he waits for the ceremony to begin. They stand together, a small circle, alternately embracing then standing apart, as if they want the moment never to end, so they will never have to say goodbye. Weissman says he wants to get on the plane. "I'm so proud of him," says his mother, then adds, "I'm so sad." Weissman, 22, a recent graduate of Hofstra College from Philadelphia, was one of 191 U.S. and Canadian olim (immigrants to Israel), who, together with six dogs and two cats and seemingly unlimited pieces of luggage, boarded a chartered plane at JFK airport in New York, in late December 2007, to make aliya (immigrate) to Israel. This was the 16th and final flight of the year for an organization known as Nefesh B'Nefesh (which means "Soul and Soul Together"). In the five years since its founding, Nefesh B'Nefesh (NBN) has brought over more than 13,000 new immigrants from North America, more than 3000 of them in 2007. With comprehensive programs that include financial aid, career advice, social counseling and bureaucratic streamlining, the non-profit organization, which holds tax-exempt status in the U.S. and is funded largely through private donations, has, it claims, "revitalized Western aliya," while putting the Jewish Agency, the quasi-governmental institution traditionally responsible for aliya, and other official institutions on the defensive. On an upper floor of the el al terminal at JFK, NBN and El Al officials have organized a ceremony, complete with a decorated sheet cake and drinks. Quoting psalm 126, Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, co-founder, co-chairman and a chief contributor, recites, "'When we returned to Zion, it was as if we were dreaming.' May the reality of life in Israel surpass your most wonderful dreams." The crowd cheers. Turning to the parents and families, Fass, a former practicing rabbi and Jewish educator from Boca Raton who now lives in Israel, says, "I know this is hard for you, but I know you're proud that a member of your family is going to Israel." Weissman's parents don't seem so sure. And Weissman isn't quite sure what he'll be doing when he gets to Israel. First, he says, he'll go to a residential ulpan, where he'll be in a mid-level Hebrew class, in the coastal plain city of Ra'anana, where many English-speaking Israelis have made their home. Then he'd like to go into the Israel Defense Forces and perhaps continue his studies at one of Israel's universities. "I know I want to live in Israel because I am a Jew," says Ezra, who has been to Israel once before. "I'm not religious, but I want to live in a country where things are Jewish, and the holidays are my holidays." The officials tell the crowd to say their goodbyes and to start moving towards security. "Well, I guess that's it, Dad," says Weissman, slapping his father on the back, then embracing him closely. They walk down the stairs. Weissman fixes his knapsack on his shoulders, straightens his cap, and walks through passport control, not looking back. His parents stare after him, long after he's passed through the opaque doors and they can't see him anymore. NBN is widely conceived of AS being a primarily religious organization that brings Orthodox immigrants to Israel; many of them, the assumption goes, to settlements in the territories. But the reality is a little more complex, says businessman and NBN co-founder Tony Gelbart, who is president and CEO of Old City Partners LLC, an investment company based in Boca Raton, Flordia, with holdings in both the U.S. and Israel. "Since Rabbi Fass and I are observant, when we began this project, we naturally attracted people from our close circles," Gelbart explains. "At the time, religious Jews, many of them nationalistic, were the majority of Jews coming to Israel. But as the numbers grow, we're seeing larger numbers of non-religious families and singles on our flights." On this flight, 82 of the olim were single and another four couples were engaged; 60 percent of them described themselves as non-Orthodox, the majority of them as secular. Of the 32 families, 60 percent described themselves as Orthodox. Not one oleh listed a settlement as his or her destination. "That's fine by me," Gelbart says. "All Jews are welcome." When flying on El Al, Israelis are a rather rowdy crowd, and at least with regard to flight etiquette, these soon-to-be Israelis adjusted quickly, as they hopped from seat to seat and strolled up and down the aisles. Almost no one, it seemed, got much sleep - not even the dignitaries and VIPs accompanying the flight, including Fass, Gelbart, former Israeli basketball star of the 1970s Tal Brody, himself a veteran American immigrant, and former Israeli ambassador to the U.S., Danny Ayalon, who now serves as Nefesh B'Nefesh's co-chair, together with Gelbart and Fass. Particularly active were the singles; nothing could stop them from flirting on the plane once the fasten-your-seatbelt sign was turned off. After all, says Sara, a young, single woman from New York, "Everyone on the plane is Jewish, so I have a good chance, don't I?" And NBN does have a good track record - claiming that nearly 300 married couples met while in their program - a good number of them on the 31 chartered planes they have brought to Israel. NBN officials also state that another 19,000 people have contacted their offices throughout the U.S. and Canada, requesting guidance and support for making aliya in the near future. "If we had enough money," says Gelbart, "we'd be bringing even more olim to Israel." In its first years, NBN was largely funded by the U.S.-based International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ), headed by Rabbi Yehiel Eckstein, who has recently been appointed to the executive of the Jewish Agency. But due to public opposition - it was embarrassing that Christians seemed more willing than Jews to promote aliya - NBN ended its ties with the IFCJ, although NBN's achievements still feature prominently on evangelical websites. Although he declines to say how much money he or Fass personally contribute to the organization, Gelbart says that the average oleh "costs" well over $3,000 dollars, not including the benefits provided by the Israeli government. "With 3,000 olim this year, that means our budget, including operating costs, is about $11 million a year." Some potential olim receive as much as $23,000 - if the family stays in Israel for at least three years. Yet some of the olim had upgraded their NBN-paid for seats to business class - an indication, it might be assumed, that they did not need the free flight. Gelbart shrugs goodnaturedly. "We're in the business of bringing Jews to Israel," he says. "That's what we do. And we do it well. If a few people take advantage of us, well, so be it. In the larger scheme of things, it really doesn't matter much at all." According to the latest statistics released by Israel's Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, aliya in 2007 was projected to decrease by 9.3 percent, continuing its steady decline over the past seven years. But the numbers of olim from North America, while still small, are actually growing, and NBN takes credit for this, too. This is in line with current thinking in the Zionist organizations. Now that Israel has brought over most of the potential immigrants from Eastern Europe, Russia, the Middle East and Ethiopia, Jewish institutions have begun to shift their attention to the wealthier Jewish communities in the United States, Canada, Britain, France, Australia and South America. Private initiatives - such as, in addition to NBN, the Birthright program, Ami in France, Youth Aliya in Australia, a new NBN initiative in Britain and other smaller organizations in other Western countries - that offer incentives and streamlined, kid-gloved handling are succeeding in bringing Western immigrants to Israel, despite the overall dwindling numbers of immigrants and especially when compared with the apparent inability of the traditional national institutions to bring and retain immigrants from the Westernized, first-world countries. Gelbart attributes the organization's success to its formula - extensive pre-aliya preparation, a paid-for pre-aliya pilot trip, information venues for future olim; streamlined bureaucratic procedures upon arrival in Israel, and extensive career counseling and social services for the first year or so in Israel. Says Ayalon, "The Americans and Canadians on this flight represent one of the very few organized groups of Jews making aliya from first world, wealthy countries. Most of the olim who have come to Israel have come because they needed to or because they had few other options in their lives. But the Jews from Nefesh B'Nefesh are really olim - they are really 'going up' to the land of Israel - they are coming because they want to. And they won't want to if their aliya is cumbersome or bogged down in bureaucratic hassles. That's where we come in. We make things easier - financially, professionally, logistically." But the established Jewish organizations, and most especially, the Jewish Agency, perhaps recognizing that these private upstarts were impinging on their very raison d'?tre, opposed granting them any formal recognition or funding. Although NBN initially worked in partnership during its first few years with the Jewish Agency, more recently, the Agency cut off all ties with the organization. A tense competition between the two organizations continues to simmer just under the surface.

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