Nefesh B'Nefesh

Nefesh B'Nefesh was originally conceived by Rabbi Yehoshua Fass after a family member was killed in a terrorist attack in Israel on 28 March 2001.{{cite web |url=http://www.jewish-holiday.com/nefesh.html |title=Moving Up |last=Karp |first=Miriam |publisher=Jewish Holiday Online |access-date=26 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071130174612/http://www.jewish-holiday.com/nefesh.html |archive-date=30 November 2007 |df=dmy-all}} Realizing that there were many people who wanted to immigrate to Israel but were concerned about certain obstacles, Rabbi Fass and Florida businessman and philanthropist Tony Gelbart decided to create an organization which would try to make it easier for American Jews to make aliyah.{{cite web |title=An Interview with Rabbi Yehoshua Fass |url=http://www.kolhamevaser.com/2013/05/an-interview-with-rabbi-yehoshua-fass/ |publisher=Kol Hamevaser |access-date=13 May 2015 |archive-date=15 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015044431/http://www.kolhamevaser.com/2013/05/an-interview-with-rabbi-yehoshua-fass/ |url-status=live }}

In the summer of 2002, Nefesh B'Nefesh organized its first chartered aliyah flight.{{cite web |last1=Garber |first1=Stephanie |title=Nefesh B'Nefesh doubles aliyah |date=10 July 2003 |url=http://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/archives/nefesh-b-nefesh-doubles-aliyah/article_31fac8c2-53c9-5916-94a4-03c148a8cfa2.html |publisher=Cleveland Jewish News |access-date=13 May 2015 |archive-date=26 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826195104/https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/archives/nefesh-b-nefesh-doubles-aliyah/article_31fac8c2-53c9-5916-94a4-03c148a8cfa2.html |url-status=live }} In November 2005, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon authorized government funding for Nefesh B'Nefesh on a trial basis.{{cite web |title=Highlights of Jewish News: 5766 September 2005 |date=20 March 2015 |url=http://www.jta.org/2006/10/02/archive/highlights-of-jewish-news-5766-september-2005 |publisher=JTA |access-date=13 May 2015 |archive-date=15 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015045108/https://www.jta.org/2006/10/02/archive/highlights-of-jewish-news-5766-september-2005 |url-status=live }} In May 2006, in response to numerous requests from British Jews interested in aliyah, services were expanded to also include the UK. In December 2006, Nefesh B'Nefesh brought its 10,000th oleh.{{cite web |url=http://www.ou.org/shabbat_shalom/article/9397 |title=Nefesh B'Nefesh Welcomes its 10,000th Oleh! |date=17 January 2007 |work=Shabbat Shalom |publisher=Orthodox Union |access-date=10 November 2012 |archive-date=26 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826195115/https://www.ou.org/life/ |url-status=live }}

File:December Charter Flight.jpg

In January 2008, Nefesh B'Nefesh, in conjunction with Legacy Heritage Fund, announced provision of significant fellowship grants for physicians making aliyah in order to help counteract a projected shortage of physicians in Israel.{{cite web |last1=Halevy |first1=Jonathan |title=Medical alert: Israeli health care is flourishing |date=15 February 2008 |url=http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/34359/medical-alert-israeli-health-care-is-flourishing/ |publisher=J Weekly |access-date=13 May 2015 |archive-date=19 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100219083657/http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/34359/medical-alert-israeli-health-care-is-flourishing/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=NEFESH B'NEFESH AND LEGACY HERITAGE FUND LAUNCH PHYSICIAN ALIYAH CAMPAIGN |date=14 January 2008 |url=http://israeljewishnews.blogspot.com/2008/01/nefesh-bnefesh-and-legacy-heritage-fund.html |publisher=Israel Jewish News |access-date=13 May 2015 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304223953/http://israeljewishnews.blogspot.com/2008/01/nefesh-bnefesh-and-legacy-heritage-fund.html |url-status=live }} In March 2008, with the help of Nefesh B'Nefesh, a Knesset "Lobby for the Encouragement for Aliya from the West" was established. The lobby aims to raise awareness of the unique needs of Western olim and further remove obstacles that they may face during the initial stages of their acclimation.{{cite news |title=Knesset Lobby For Aliyah From the West Launched |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/125542#.VevzFPmqpBc |publisher=Arutz Sheva |date=12 March 2008 |access-date=6 September 2015 |archive-date=17 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017130831/http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/125542#.VevzFPmqpBc |url-status=live }}

In August 2008, the Jewish Agency for Israel and Nefesh B'Nefesh created a "one-stop shop" designed to streamline the aliyah process and make it easier for olim.{{cite news |title=US aliya ceded to Nefesh B'Nefesh |first=Haviv |last=Rettig |url=http://www.jpost.com/CafeOleh/CafeTalk/Article.aspx?id=112900 |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post |date=1 September 2008 |access-date=10 November 2012}} Under the new "collaborative venture" Nefesh B'Nefesh is the primary source responsible for marketing and promoting the concept of aliyah to Jews in North America. The Jewish Agency is responsible for the aliyah eligibility process with the appropriate authorities in Israel. In September 2008, the Israeli government officially recognized Nefesh B'Nefesh in a decision designed to enhance aliyah from Western countries.{{cite news |last=Pfeffer |first=Anshel |date=31 August 2008 |title=Nefesh B'Nefesh Takes Over North America Aliyah Operations |url=http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/news/nefesh-b-nefesh-takes-over-north-america-aliyah-operations-1.252938 |newspaper=Haaretz |access-date=10 April 2016 |archive-date=22 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422172244/http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/news/nefesh-b-nefesh-takes-over-north-america-aliyah-operations-1.252938 |url-status=live }}

In December 2008, Nefesh B'Nefesh, in cooperation with the Israeli government and the Jewish Agency, and with the support of the Russell Berrie Foundation, launched the "Go North" initiative. The initiative presents prospective immigrants with an unprecedented benefits package to help new olim move to Northern Israel.{{cite news |last=Eichner |first=Itamar |date=15 December 2008 |title=Nefesh B'Nefesh launches 'Go North' campaign |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3638604,00.html |website=Ynetnews |access-date=10 April 2016 |archive-date=24 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424045350/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3638604,00.html |url-status=live }}

In 2009, oil tycoon Guma Aguiar donated $8 million to the organization.{{cite news |title=Guma Aguiar Left Tefillin on Ghost Yacht |url=http://forward.com/articles/162204/guma-aguiar-left-tefillin-on-ghost-yacht/ |newspaper=The Forward |date=4 September 2012 |access-date=9 November 2012 |archive-date=25 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130125160706/http://forward.com/articles/162204/guma-aguiar-left-tefillin-on-ghost-yacht/ |url-status=live }} In September 2009, Erez Halfon became Vice Chairman of Nefesh B'Nefesh. Prior to joining the organization, he served as Director General of the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption from 2006 to 2008.{{cite web |title=Erez Halfon Joins Nefesh B'Nefesh |date=21 July 2009 |url=http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/israel-news/37153/erez-halfon-joins-nefesh-bnefesh.html |publisher=The Yeshiva World |access-date=13 May 2015 |archive-date=26 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150726104337/http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/israel-news/37153/erez-halfon-joins-nefesh-bnefesh.html |url-status=live }}

In February 2010, the Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Immigrant Absorption and Ministry for the Development of the Negev and Galilee agreed to intensify their partnerships with Nefesh B'Nefesh.{{cite news |title=Shalom: Thousands of olim settled in Negev and Galilee |url=http://www.jpost.com/National-News/Shalom-Thousands-of-olim-settled-in-Negev-and-Galilee |publisher=The Jerusalem Post |date=27 January 2011 |access-date=7 September 2015 |archive-date=12 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712212206/http://www.jpost.com/National-News/Shalom-Thousands-of-olim-settled-in-Negev-and-Galilee |url-status=live }} In September 2013, Nefesh B'Nefesh's Bonei Zion Prize was established, "in order to formally recognize the achievements of outstanding Anglo olim and their contribution to the State of Israel." A prize is awarded in each of the following categories: Community & non-profit, education, Israel advocacy, science & medicine, young leadership, and culture, art & sports.{{cite web |title=Bonei Zion Prize |website=Nefesh B'Nefesh |date=4 January 2018 |url=http://www.nbn.org.il/bonei-zion/ |access-date=27 March 2018 |archive-date=28 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328041200/http://www.nbn.org.il/bonei-zion/ |url-status=live }}

In November 2021, Nefesh B’Nefesh opened its new Aliyah campus opposite the Supreme Court in Jerusalem.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-17 |title=Giving Olim a Home Away from Home |url=https://www.jpost.com/aliyah/article-743347 |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en}} As of August 2022, Nefesh B'Nefesh has facilitated the aliyah process for over 75,000 people.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-07 |title=Over 75,000 immigrants later, aliyah organization is about a lot more than charter flights |url=https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/359411 |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=Israel National News |language=en}}

In 2021, Nefesh B'Nefesh received more than 10 million shekels in grants from the Israeli Ministry of Aliyah and Integration.Judy Maltz: “More U.S. Jews Moved to West Bank Settlements in 2021 Than Any Other Year in Past Decade”. Haaretz, 11 August 2022.

Nefesh B'Nefesh provides assistance with Israeli bureaucratic procedures and helps olim overcome cultural gaps. The Government Advocacy Department works with governmental and institutional bodies, such as the Ministries of Interior and Immigrant Absorption. The department provides information for olim, such as guides for dealing with government offices and agencies, and information regarding benefits.{{cite web |url=http://www.moia.gov.il/Publications/moleh_en.pdf |title=Guide for the New Immigrant |date=2016 |publisher=Ministry of Immigrant Absorption |access-date=10 April 2016 |archive-date=23 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423055159/http://www.moia.gov.il/Publications/moleh_en.pdf |url-status=live }}

Nefesh B'Nefesh provides chartered and group aliyah flights with El Al Airlines, Israel's official airline.{{cite web |title=Aliyah Flight: Options & Schedule |url=http://www.nbn.org.il/aliyahpedia/aliyah-process/aliyah-processing-flight-logistics/aliyah-flight-options-schedule/ |website=Nefesh B'Nefesh |date=26 July 2021 |access-date=7 September 2015 |archive-date=12 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912073613/http://www.nbn.org.il/aliyahpedia/aliyah-process/aliyah-processing-flight-logistics/aliyah-flight-options-schedule/ |url-status=live}}

In January 2008, Nefesh B'Nefesh, in conjunction with the Legacy Heritage Fund, offered fellowship grants to physicians making Aliyah. NBN also began working directly with the Israeli Ministry of Health to enable medical professionals to convert and receive their licenses efficiently.{{cite web|title=Medical alert: Israeli health care is flourishing|url=https://jweekly.com/2008/02/15/medical-alert-israeli-health-care-is-flourishing/|date=15 February 2008|website=The Jewish News of Northern California}}

In 2019, the organization launched a 'MedEx' track for prospective immigrants to help smooth the process for medical professionals who were moving to Israel.{{cite web |title=Israel eases immigration process for medical professionals |url=https://azjewishpost.com/2019/israel-eases-immigration-process-for-medical-professionals/ |website=AZ Jewish Post |access-date=1 September 2019 |archive-date=1 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901181552/https://azjewishpost.com/2019/israel-eases-immigration-process-for-medical-professionals/ |url-status=live }}

An annual “MedEx” event is held in the United States, at which medical professionals, who are in the process of making Aliyah, can meet representatives from the Israeli Ministry of Health licensing division, the Israel Medical Association (IMA), Israel's National Health Funds (Kupot Holim), and Israeli hospitals.{{cite web|last=Kempinski|first=Yoni|title=Nefesh B'Nefesh's MedEx:When Zionism meets medicine|url=https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/324788|date=28 March 2022|website=Israel National News}} As of 2023, more than 3800 medical professionals from various specialties have made Aliyah through Nefesh B'Nefesh.{{cite web|last=Holt|first=Faygie|title=Nefesh B'Nefesh 'MedEx' info session eases path for medical professionals to make 'aliyah'|url=https://www.jns.org/nefesh-bnefesh-medex-info-session-eases-path-for-medical-professionals-to-make-aliyah/|date=31 March 2022|website=Jewish News Syndicate}}

In 2024, the MedEx program was expanded globally, and renamed as International Medical Aliyah Program (IMAP), in a joint initiative with Israel's Ministry of Aliyah and Integration and Ministry of Health, as part of Israel's efforts to address the doctor shortage in the country.{{cite web|last=Yasur Beit-Or|first=Maytal|title=Nefesh B'Nefesh inaugurates medical aliyah program to combat Israel's physician shortage|url=https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/03/11/nefesh-bnefesh-inaugurates-international-medical-aliyah-program-to-combat-israels-physician-shortage/|date=11 March 2024|website= Israel HaYom}}{{cite web|last=Markovitz|first=Pearl|title=Nefesh B'Nefesh's MedEx Initiative Goes International|url=https://jewishlink.news/nefesh-bnefeshs-medex-initiative-goes-international/|date=14 March 2024|website=Jewish Link}}{{cite web|title=Nefesh B'Nefesh launches international physician aliyah program|url=https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/386564|date=11 March 2024|website=Israel National News}}

In December 2008, NBN, the Israeli government, and the Jewish Agency, with support from the Russell Berrie Foundation created the Go North program,{{Cite web |url=http://www.thejewishstar.com/stories/go-beyond-push-launched-by-nefesh-bnefesh,14665 |title='Go Beyond' push launched by Nefesh B'Nefesh |website=The Jewish Star |date=8 November 2017 |language=en |access-date=2019-03-07 |archive-date=8 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308002958/http://www.thejewishstar.com/stories/go-beyond-push-launched-by-nefesh-bnefesh,14665 |url-status=live }} offering incentives to prospective immigrants to move to northern Israel.{{cite web |url=http://www.nbn.org.il/about/special-programs/gonorth-program.html |title=Go North |publisher=Nefesh B'Nefesh |access-date=30 November 2012 |archive-date=26 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121126032209/http://www.nbn.org.il/about/special-programs/gonorth-program.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web|last=Eichner|first=Itamar|title=Nefesh B'Nefesh launches Go North campaign|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3638604,00.html|date=15 December 2008|website=YNet}}{{cite news |title=Numbers Up for Nefesh B'Nefesh's 'Go North' Program |url=http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/anglo-file/numbers-up-for-nefesh-b-nefesh-s-go-north-program-1.320535 |publisher=Haaretz |date=22 October 2010 |access-date=7 September 2015 |archive-date=8 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308023808/http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/anglo-file/numbers-up-for-nefesh-b-nefesh-s-go-north-program-1.320535 |url-status=live }}

In 2013, Nefesh B'Nefesh, KKL and JNF-USA created a comparable program entitled "Go South," incentivizing olim moving to southern Israel.{{cite web|last=Linde|first=Steve|title=Healing the South:A road less traveled for new immigrants to Israel|url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/healing-the-south-a-road-less-traveled-for-new-immigrants-to-israel-463238|date=7 August 2016|website=The Jerusalem Post}}

In 2017, the programs were combined as Go Beyond.{{cite web|title=Maine couple makes aliyah following their three children, who are all medical students|url=https://www.jpost.com/aliyah/article-732784|date=26 February 2023|website=The Jerusalem Post}}

In 2021, Nefesh B'Nefesh created UpGrade, an employment program offering career training courses for olim.{{cite web|last=Rosenbaum|first=Alan|title=Nefesh B'Nefesh, Salesclass retrain olim for hi-tech sales jobs|url=https://www.jpost.com/jpost-tech/nefesh-bnefesh-salesclass-retrain-olim-for-hi-tech-sales-jobs-666717|date=9 June 2021|website=The Jerusalem Post}}

In cooperation with the Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces (FIDF), Nefesh B’Nefesh established the Lone Soldiers Program to assist immigrants serving in the IDF, regardless of their country of origin. The program supports approximately 3500 lone soldier olim, serving in a range of positions in the IDF, annually.{{cite web|title=First lone soldier wedding hosted at Nefesh B'Nefesh Aliyah Campus in Jerusalem|url=https://www.jpost.com/aliyah/article-720365|date=23 October 2022|website=The Jerusalem Post}}

The Ori program assists Lone National Service Volunteer olim with their needs during their year of service. In its first year, 2019, Ori helped 150 girls from all over the world, who completed their national service in medical institutions, educational facilities, and government organizations.{{cite web|last=Rosenbaum|first=Alan|title=Nefesh B'Nefesh launches 'Ori' to assist Lone National Service Volunteers|url=https://www.jpost.com/j-spot/nefesh-bnefesh-launches-ori-to-assist-lone-national-service-volunteers-589760|date=16 May 2019|website=The Jerusalem Post}}

In late 2012, the Haaretz newspaper published an investigation that made claims against Nefesh B'Nefesh alleging that the organization has not significantly increased aliyah since its founding, that it has double-billed the government for olim who arrived with the assistance of other organizations, and that its employee salaries were bloated.{{cite news |title=Nefesh B'Nefesh an ineffective monopoly with overpaid executives, say critics |first1=Chaim |last1=Levinson |first2=Uri |last2=Blau |first3=Mordechai I. |last3=Twersky |url=http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/magazine/nefesh-b-nefesh-an-ineffective-monopoly-with-overpaid-executives-say-critics.premium-1.471163 |newspaper=Haaretz |date=20 October 2012 |access-date=9 November 2012 |archive-date=8 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108075352/http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/magazine/nefesh-b-nefesh-an-ineffective-monopoly-with-overpaid-executives-say-critics.premium-1.471163 |url-status=live }} Nefesh B'Nefesh denied Haaretz{{'}}s accusations and maintained that government audited figures showed a 140% increase of aliyah in the ten years of the organization's operation, and that another five-year comprehensive government audit found no irregularities or duplication in Nefesh B'Nefesh's invoicing protocol. Nefesh B'Nefesh also stated that its salaries were well within comparative norms and counter claimed that the Haaretz article was politically motivated.{{cite web |url=http://www.nbn.org.il/response.html |title=Nefesh B'Nefesh's response to the recent Haaretz articles on October 20, 2012 |work=Press Releases |publisher=Nefesh B'Nefesh |access-date=10 November 2012 |archive-date=25 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121125023857/http://www.nbn.org.il/response.html |url-status=live }}

In 2014, writing for The Times of Israel, Haviv Rettig Gur claimed the recent rise in aliyah had "nothing to do with the organization's laudable work which eased the aliya process for immigrants' but did nothing to increase their numbers."{{cite news |title=The end of aliya? |first1=Haviv Rettig |last1=Gur |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/the-end-of-aliya/ |newspaper=Times Of Israel |date=9 September 2014 |access-date=23 September 2014 |archive-date=13 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913202251/http://www.timesofisrael.com/the-end-of-aliya/ |url-status=live }} Gur criticized Nefesh B'Nefesh for taking credit for an increase in aliyah that was already on the rebound. He backed up his claim with official statistics that showed American aliyah was just as high in the mid 1990s and that the post year 2000 peak simply "marked an American aliya that had recovered from the terrorism-driven dip of the previous decade."

Nefesh B'Nefesh works in partnership with the following organizations:{{cite web |url=http://www.nbn.org.il/nbn-partners/ |title=Our Partners |publisher=Nefesh B'Nefesh |access-date=10 April 2016 |archive-date=8 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408032650/http://www.nbn.org.il/nbn-partners/ |url-status=live }}

• Friends of the Israel Defense Forces
• Jewish Agency for Israel
• Jewish National Fund
• Marcus Foundation
• Ministry for the Development of the Negev and Galilee
• Ministry of Immigrant Absorption
• Prime Minister's Office

{{portal|Israel}}

• American Zionist Movement
• Birthright Israel
• Zionist Organization of America
• Yom Haaliyah

{{reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite report |date=October 2009 |title=The economic impact of Nefesh B'Nefesh Aliyah on the State of Israel |url=http://www.bjpa.org/publications/downloadPublication.cfm?PublicationID=3948 |publisher=Deloitte |access-date=30 November 2016 |archive-date=13 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100813223621/http://bjpa.org/Publications/downloadPublication.cfm?PublicationID=3948 |url-status=live }}

{{refend}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website}}
• [http://www.jnf.org/about-jnf/nefesh-bnefesh.html Nefesh B'Nefesh] at the Jewish National Fund
• [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Tag.aspx/636 Nefesh B'Nefesh] at Arutz Sheva

{{Zionism}}

{{Organized Jewish Life in the United States}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:501(c)(3) organizations

Category:Aliyah

Category:Diaspora organizations

Category:Immigrant services organizations

Category:International organizations based in Israel

Category:Jewish charities based in Israel

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Israel

Category:Organizations based in Jerusalem

Category:Organizations established in 2001

Category:Zionist organizations

Category:Words and phrases in Modern Hebrew

Category:Organizations supporting immigration and travel to Israel