Despite the ongoing Gaza War, aliyah applications from North American Jews have surged significantly, with Nefesh B'Nefesh reporting a 70% increase in new cases opened compared to the previous year. The organization has processed 13,000 immigration files from the US and Canada this year, up from 7,500 during the same period last year.
The surge in interest comes as Nefesh B'Nefesh marks its 22nd anniversary since its founding by Rabbi Yehoshua Fass and businessman Tony Gelbart. In response to growing demand, the organization is opening a new center in Tel Aviv. The facility aims to expand support services for new immigrants and lone soldiers in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. The innovative center is designed to enhance immigrant support services and will serve as a dynamic space offering various aliyah-related core services and activities.
Nefesh B'Nefesh has long supported lone soldiers, alongside other organizations, including through special assistance days at the Soldiers' House in Tel Aviv. The new 8,600-square-foot center, supported by JNF-USA, Friends of the IDF (FIDF), and the Marcus Foundation, will further ease the transition for new immigrants and lone soldiers.
The new center will provide guidance and support services for new immigrants and lone soldiers, offering programs for immigrant communities in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, employment opportunities, and professional development.
The facility will be divided into two wings – an immigrant wing focusing on employment guidance, community events, integration tools, and bureaucratic assistance, and a wing dedicated entirely to lone soldiers. This joint program between Nefesh B'Nefesh and FIDF will provide resources to approximately 3,500 service members.
Additionally, the facility will house a resilience center, developed in partnership with Sheba Medical Center, providing mental health support for lone soldiers and their families.
Acccoring to Gelbart and Fass, "The opening of the new center in Tel Aviv is a dream come true, and we thank our partners for their assistance in establishing it. Three years after opening the Nefesh B'Nefesh House in Jerusalem, we recognized the growing need within the immigrant community for a place that provides comprehensive bureaucratic and social support.
"The expansion to Tel Aviv is a natural and necessary step, aimed at making our services and support more accessible to immigrants in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. The new center will complement our Jerusalem headquarters' activities, allowing us to provide immigrants with an optimal experience and help address Israel's national needs through the power of immigration."
