The Jewish Agency for Israel together with The Ministry of Immigrant Absorption have initiated the integrative “Communal Aliyah and Absorption Project – Better Together” – Aliyah V’Klita Kehilatit, for new immigrants from North America.

The program’s goal is to help potential new immigrants form a like-minded group to exchange information, provide emotional support and share the experiences and preparations for aliyah.  The group will then make aliyah to select cities in Israel, and receive a special comprehensive absorption package.

Focal points of the Communal Aliyah Absorption Program are:

• The formation of a cohesive social group prior to aliyah, facilitated through the exchange of common interests and similar goals. The creation of a support system in the pre-aliyah process, sharing of dreams, anxieties and expectations, as well as technical and practical information.
   
• Arriving in Israel together with a ready social network, enabling olim to share the challenges and impressions of the first absorption stages. Olim benefit from the support of a community going through similar experiences, thereby reducing the difficulties during the initial acclimation period.
   
• To enable the absorbing community to offer more extensive benefits to members of group absorption.  This includes both tangible assistance, as well as mentoring by veteran English-speaking families, social and absorption activities and aid in bureaucratic formalities with the assistance of a project coordinator over-seeing the entire absorption process.

Benefits provided by the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, the Jewish Agency and the local Municipality to project participants include:

• A professional project coordinator who will assist project participants in all aspects of their absorption during the first year.
• Initial temporary housing for a two-week period at a local apartment or Jewish Agency Absorption Center at no cost.
• In addition to the regular Ulpan Aleph (Initial Ulpan), further ulpan hours will be offered to program participants. 
• Students will receive subsistence allowance if studies take place during morning hours.
• Job search assistance.
• Assistance in finding suitable housing.
• Financial rental assistance for housing for the first six months.
• Special assistance for employment training or retraining for a period of two years from aliyah.
• Subsidy for private business initiatives.
• Special assistance for olim children in the school framework including tutoring and Hebrew lessons.
• Municipally arranged social and cultural activities, which include lectures, trips, educational seminars and programs.
• English-speaking host families to assist in the absorption process.
• Additional local discounts for special programs or activities.
• Exemptions in the Arnona Municipal Tax for the first year.

For additional information please contact:

Israel
Ora Morali Program Coordinator
(P) 02-6214524, oram@moia.gov.il

North America
Gila Gurevich - Communal Aliyah Absorption Program – Director
gilag@jafi.org     (P) 212-339-6951   (F) 212-318-6134

or your local Aliyah shaliach