225 immigrants from North America arrived this morning at Ben Gurion Airport aboard Nefesh B’Nefesh’s 65th charter immigration flight. This specially chartered EL AL flight, carried out in partnership with Israel’s Ministry of Immigration Integration, The Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael, and Jewish National Fund-USA, marks not only the first charter flight since the Iron Swords War began, but also contributes to a historic peak in immigration. This August will see more than 1,000 new immigrants arriving in Israel, the highest monthly total in over 20 years. Since the events of October 7th, over 7,000 new immigrants from North America have moved to Israel, underscoring an extraordinary commitment to the Zionist dream in the face of ongoing regional conflict.

The immigrants on this flight will join over 90,000 newcomers who have made Aliyah with the assistance of Nefesh B’Nefesh and its partners, since its inception in 2002.

Onboard were 45 families, including 125 children, 10 singles, and 3 retirees. The youngest immigrant was just 9 months old, and the oldest was 72 years old. Among the immigrants were 5 doctors and 19 healthcare professionals, who will soon join the ranks of Israel’s robust medical system. Over 30 immigrants on this flight are part of the Nefesh B’Nefesh-KKL Go Beyond initiative, focused on strengthening Jerusalem and Israel’s peripheral regions.

“It is very exciting to be on the special flight with 225 new immigrants, who chose to immigrate to Israel right now. We are continuing to see more and more newcomers choosing to be part of the Zionist story, at a time when the State of Israel is facing difficult times and worldwide anti-Semitism is on the rise at an alarming rate,” said Minister of Immigration and Integration, Ofir Sofer. “We are working non-stop, in a professional manner, and in full cooperation with other government ministries and organizations that assist with Aliyah, such as Nefesh B’Nefesh, the Jewish Agency and the WZO, to help immigrants integrate into employment, housing and Hebrew studies.”

“Today’s charter flight is not just a symbolic journey home, it’s a tangible investment in Israel’s future,” said Tony Gelbart, Co-Founder and Chairman of Nefesh B’Nefesh. “These immigrants are fulfilling their dream of making Israel their home, just as many have done before them, and many more will do so in the years to come. We’re truly honored to help them all turn those dreams into reality.”

“Every new immigrant is a courageous expression of faith in the State of Israel, especially in its most challenging moments. Seeing children, families, young people and adults choosing to tie their fate to that of the Jewish people is a powerful uplifting declaration of deep belonging,” said Chairman of the Jewish Agency Maj. Gen. (Res.) Doron Almog. “Together, we are building the future of the Israeli society. A future of hope, mutual responsibility, and profound commitment. The Jewish Agency, together with Nefesh B’Nefesh and the Ministry of Immigration and Integration, will continue to support the immigrants here in their new home in the State of Israel”.

“Zionist strength is measured through actions,” said Ifat Ovadia Luski, Chairwoman of Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael. “The immigrants who are choosing to build their lives in the State of Israel constitute a significant part of the strength of the Jewish nation. Their arrival, especially during these times, is a tremendous expression of trust in the resilience of Israeli society. Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael, which is devoted to the development of the country, is proud to be a partner in these immigrants’s absorption. Each and every new immigrant that came today will continue to build, develop and flourish Israel and the future generations in our homeland. Welcome home.”

This year’s charter flight featured a pilot initiative, where representatives from Israel’s Ministry of Immigration and Integration and the Population and Immigration Authority issued Israeli ID’s and immigration certificates mid-flight, allowing the newcomers to officially finalize their Aliyah process before landing.

The new immigrants hail from cities and communities across North America, including New Jersey, New York, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Florida, Ontario, Washington, Ohio, Iowa, and beyond. Their destinations in Israel range from Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Modi’in to Beersheba, Haifa, and Zikhron Ya’akov. Professionally, the immigrants span a wide array of fields, including medicine, education, engineering, law, finance, and more.