December 27, 2004

Nefesh B'Nefesh and the Jewish Agency will welcome the fourth chartered El Al plane of 2004 to Israel on December 28, which will be bringing more than 200 new Olim to Israel. Nefesh B'Nefesh has brought nearly 3,000 North American Jews to Israel in 2004 alone.

With the latest planeload, there will have been more Olim from North America in 2004 than at any point in the last twenty years.

Tuesday's flight includes Irma Haas, 97, and sister Hilde Meyer, 94, who both survived the death camp at Bergen-Belsen, and then fled to Holland later in the war. The two then relocated to America, living the past 50 years in Manhattan, NY and Englewood, NJ. This Tuesday they will realize their lifelong dream of living in Jerusalem.

The 2004 Olim come from 33 US States and 5 Canadian provinces.

Of the 1600 newcomers who came to Israel on Nefesh B'Nefesh's flights in 2002-03, 99% remain in Israel. 93% of the families have one or both spouses employed, 95 'Sabras' were born to the new Olim and 18 weddings were celebrated.

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