AHEAD OF YOM HA’ATZMAUT, ISRAEL WELCOMES 104 LONE SOLDIERS, 90 OTHER NEW OLIM
By JPOST.COM STAFF
05/01/2014 19:57
Among the olim was London native Josh Steele, a finalist from Israel’s
Master Chef TV cooking competition.
New olim Photo: Courtesy Thirty new Olim from North America arrived
today at Ben Gurion airport and 60 others already here became new
citizens through Nefesh B’Nefesh, in conjunction with Israel’s
Ministry of Aliya and Immigrant Absorption, The Jewish Agency for
Israel, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael and JNF-USA.
At the same time, at the IDF’s Tel Hashomer base in the country’s
central region, 104 lone soldier olim – those who immigrate to Israel
without family and enlist – officially became IDF soldiers as part
of the Friends of the IDF/ Nefesh B’Nefesh Lone Soldiers Program.
Among the olim who became citizens today was London native Josh Steele,
a finalist from Israel’s Master Chef TV cooking competition, who is
the show’s first Anglo participant. He and the other 59 new Israeli
citizens made aliya as part of the Nefesh B’Nefesh Guided Aliya
program. The 104 lone soldiers that enlisted today came from over
20 countries, including Armenia, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada,
Chile, Columbia, Ethiopia, France, Georgia, Italy, India, Mexico,
the Russian Federation, Uzbekistan, the US, UK, Ukraine and Venezuela.
“The fulfillment of the Zionistic aspirations of these 194 olim while
Israel gears up for its 66th Day highlights the integral role of
aliya in strengthening the State of Israel,” said Rabbi Yehoshua Fass,
founder and executive director of Nefesh B’Nefesh. “With 90 new olim,
and 104 new young IDF lone soldier olim coming from over 20 countries
from around the world, I couldn’t think of a better gift the State
of Israel can receive for its 66th birthday.”
The Guided Aliya program allows citizens of the US, Canada, and the
UK currently residing in Israel the opportunity to make aliya through
Israel’s Ministry of the Interior, while receiving the full array of
Nefesh B’Nefesh services. These services include assisted government
processing, financial aid and post-aliya assistance.