Second Jewish Agency/Nefesh B'Nefesh special EL AL flight of 2006 to arrive at Ben-Gurion Airport on Thursday; for the first time, around 100 Bukharian Jews from New York will make aliyah this year under leadership of their rabbi

The Jewish Agency said in a statement that on Thursday, July 20 the second Jewish Agency/Nefesh B`Nefesh special EL AL flight of the year will arrive at Ben-Gurion Airport from JFK International Airport in New York City at 8 a.m., bringing 230 North American Jews to 
their new homes in Israel.

The flight will be preceded by a farewell ceremony at JFK hosted by The Jewish Agency for Israel and Nefesh B’Nefesh, to mark the start of a record-setting year of immigration to Israel. According to the Agency, an estimated 2,300 olim (new immigrants to Israel) from all across the United States and Canada, including Hurricane Katrina survivors, prominent rabbis, professionals in various fields, teachers, homemakers, and their families will make aliyah this summer.

According to the Agency, for the first time around 100 Bukharian Jews from New York will make aliyah this year under the leadership of their rabbi, Michael Boruchov. If this 'pioneer' group succeeds, hundreds more Bukharian Jews may follow their lead in the years to come, the statement said.

(07.19.06, 12:06)