Nefesh B’Nefesh sees steep rise in Aliyah applications

Nefesh B’Nefesh, an organization which helps facilitate immigration to Israel, reported a massive increase in applications for Aliyah (or immigration) this month.

Zev Gershinsky, Executive VP of Nefesh B’Nefesh reported Monday that he “considered waiting until tomorrow for this update, but today – the second to last day of June – Nefesh B’Nefesh has officially reached a record of 1195 opened Aliyah applications this month, three times more than the 398 applications which we recorded in June 2019.

“It is now imperative for all organizations involved in Aliyah to make sure we turn this increased interest into an actual wave of Aliyah. This is certainly possible.”

Last week, Nefesh B’Nefesh, which operates in partnership with the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, The Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth Le’Israel and JNF-USA, announced it signed a contract with EL AL Airlines for 14 group Aliyah flights to arrive in Israel over the next three months. Throughout July, August and September, there will be designated blocks of seats on EL AL flights from JFK to Tel Aviv, reserved for Nefesh B’Nefesh Olim. There will also be two summer group Aliyah flights arriving from the West Coast as well.

“We deeply appreciate the patience and understanding of our Olim as we navigate Aliyah together during this unprecedented time,” said Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Nefesh B’Nefesh. “It is incredible to witness and take part in this moment, where there is an unparalleled increase in Aliyah interest. With hundreds of seats now available for Olim, we look forward to taking a large step forward to ensuring that we can assist in the fruition of these Aliyah dreams.”

This announcement comes in the wake of an unprecedented increase in Aliyah interest from North American Jews, with Nefesh B’Nefesh reporting its highest number of calls and applications these past two months, from the time the organization was founded

in 2002.