For Public Relations and Marketing use only. Not for any additional use unless a written permission granted by SA PRO, Inc.
For Public Relations and Marketing use only. Not for any  additional use unless a written permission granted by SA PRO, Inc.
For Public Relations and Marketing use only. Not for any additional use unless a written permission granted by SA PRO, Inc.
The NBN Mega Event
The NBN Mega Event

Over 1,500 people interested in moving to Israel and gaining Israeli citizenship gathered at John Jay College in Manhattan on Sunday for the ninth annual Nefesh B’Nefesh Israel Mega Event to learn everything they need to know about moving to Israel. Minister of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption Sofa Landver attended the event in order to see firsthand olim preparing for their aliyah.

The event drew the largest crowd ever, indicating a record-high interest in Israeli immigration from the United States. The Mega Event was organized in cooperation with Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption, The Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael, and JNF-USA.

The aliyah fair, themed “Imagine Greater Possibilities,” provided a full-service aliyah-planning experience for prospective olim, giving them the resources and confidence to take the next steps. Participants were able to choose from over 50 sessions, workshops, and one-on-one meetings with various Israeli organizations and aliyah professionals, on topics ranging from home buying and education to professional licensing, health insurance, and much more. Additionally, eight Israeli municipalities were represented at the fair to provide a snapshot of life across the country.

“Every year, our Aliyah Mega Event becomes more of an integral tool for building aliyah confidence,” said Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, cofounder and executive director of Nefesh B’Nefesh. “To see how the Mega Events have evolved in the past nine years and to watch the level of interest in aliyah grow is truly remarkable. It’s also incredible to see that Israeli institutions and municipalities realize the impact olim have on the State of Israel and are eager to be a part of such a landmark event,” he added.

For some participants, attending the event was the initial stage of their aliyah exploration, while for others it provided the important last pieces enabling them to finalize their aliyah plans. From meetings with accountants to financial planners, shippers, and a host of Israeli vendors, participants were briefed on a broad range of matters associated with moving to Israel. This year, as a response to a rising number of medical professionals interested in moving to Israel, representatives from seven hospitals and four healthcare providers were on site to assist leading doctors from the U.S. to join their staffs. Representatives of Israel’s Health Ministry were also on hand to offer on-the-spot licensing and professional consultations.

In addition to New York City, aliyah fairs will be held in Toronto, Montreal, and Los Angeles.

“I’m hoping to enroll in a master’s degree program when I move to Israel so it was really beneficial for me to see all the different Israeli universities and speak to them to see what they have to offer and what their programs entail,” said Yaniv Levi, a 26-year-old who drove nine hours overnight from Ohio to attend the event. “But not only has today been great because of all the in-depth information about moving to Israel, it’s also been awesome to meet likeminded people who will be moving to Israel with me.”

Founded in 2002, Nefesh B’Nefesh, in cooperation with the Israeli government and The Jewish Agency for Israel, is dedicated to revitalizing aliyah from North America and the UK by removing or minimizing the financial, professional, logistical, and social obstacles to aliyah. The support and comprehensive social services provided by Nefesh B’Nefesh to its over 50,000 newcomers has ensured that more than 90% of its olim have remained in Israel.

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