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Posted on 07/09/2003 7:24:28 AM PDT by yonif
Nearly three years of unremitting terror have taken their toll in many spheres of our national life, including the economy. The twin plagues of terror and recession have reduced aliya to a near trickle.
It is especially encouraging, therefore, to see an aliya success story from North America, a place from which it is often assumed that Israel cannot attract substantial immigration.
In recent years, Israelis have become used to the idea that traditional reservoirs of immigration have dried up. The massive aliya from the former Soviet Union in the 1990s was a tremendous blessing. Since then, rising anti-Semitism in France and financial collapse in Argentina have produced small increases in aliya from those large communities.
The problem here is not just that the overall flow of immigrants has been dropping, but with the whole model of aliya driven by persecution and other forms of distress. As proud as Israel should be to fulfill the role of refuge and rescuer of Jews, being a destination of last resort is not exactly the fulfillment of the Zionist vision.
This should not just be a place to escape to, but a place that Jews who are comfortable and accepted still choose as their new home.
Today, 930 new immigrants are arriving from North America as part of new program organized by Nefesh B'Nefesh, with the support of the Jewish Agency. In an encouraging sign that the government recognizes the significance of this moment, the immigrants will be welcomed by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Last year, its first year of operation, Nefesh B'Nefesh brought 519 new immigrants here. At that time, Michael Landsberg, executive director of the agency's North American aliya department, stated that this one program produced a 25 percent increase in aliya from this key area. This year the impact seems to be even greater.
According to its Web site http://www.nefeshbnefesh.org, Nefesh B'Nefesh provides a "financial buffer" for potential olim - paying for pilot trips, helping them find jobs, and generally removing financial and bureaucratic barriers during the critical period of transition.
Though it is less than two years old and therefore has only a short track record to judge, the indications are that it is succeeding in increasing aliya substantially with only a relatively small financial investment for each new immigrant. The key, it seems, is stepping in with a helping hand for young families that want to make the move, but are daunted by temporary and surmountable barriers.
"Often it takes a young family several years to earn and save enough funds necessary for the move," the Web site explains. "By the time the requisite amount is saved, invariably the children are at an age that makes a move difficult socially, linguistically, and educationally."
The short experience of Nefesh B'Nefesh seems to show that there is much greater potential for aliya from North America than previously believed. This potential is composed of people who are already thinking of moving here, but need a small amount of assistance and encouragement.
Though the group works closely with the Jewish Agency and has been warmly endorsed by Israeli leaders across the political spectrum, it remains an entirely private initiative. We do not see why this should remain the case.
Another highly successful program, birthright israel, began as a private initiative and expanded into a three-way partnership among private philanthropists, the organized Jewish community, and the Israeli government. Birthright is a very important effort that brings young American Jews here on a free trip, thereby increasing both their ties to the country and to their own Jewish identity. Nefesh B'Nefesh, for a small amount more per person, is bringing American Jews here not just for one trip, but for a lifetime.
Jewish Agency Chairman Sallai Meridor said in a statement endorsing the group, "The goal of aliya from the United States in large numbers is our common dream, as the contribution that North American Jews can make to Israeli society is immeasurable." This is clearly true, and indicates that a small investment of this kind can pay large dividends in every respect.
As throughout our history, every immigrant strengthens us as a nation, contributes to our economy, and builds our morale. Nefesh B'Nefesh is the kind of idea that should have been thought of long ago, but it is never too late. Even this year, it could have helped twice as many potential immigrants who met its criteria for assistance if it had the funding. If the potential exists in a year like this, with its grim security and economic threats, the potential in better years could be substantial.
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