Despite Security Situation, North American Jews 'Come Home' To Israel

Jerusalem (CNSNews.com) - Despite the uncertainties of living in the Middle East and Israel's ongoing war against terrorism, Roni and Tzvi Lobrichter left the comforts of America to "come home" to raise their children in what they believe is the "safe environment" of Israel.

At a time when Israel is trying desperately to downplay fears and woo the return of tourists to the country besieged by nearly three years of terrorism, the Lobrichters and their three daughters were part of a group of 318 North American Jews who moved to Israel this week to stay.

Their flight was sponsored by the Nefesh B'Nefesh organization, a privately funded group, which aims to help North American Jews realize their dreams of settling in Israel.

"It's a dream. It's so amazing to be here. I just can't believe it," said Roni, speaking on the tarmac at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv shortly after she and her family landed on a chartered flight of Israel's national air carrier El Al from New York on Wednesday.

"This has been a dream of ours for many years. This is our home," said Tzvi. The family came from Silver Spring, Maryland. "This is the best place, we think, to raise our children. In spite of everything here, there's a very safe feeling," he said.

"There's a certain spiritual depth that you have in the Land of Israel and among the people of Israel that I don't think you can get anywhere else, and we really wanted to expose our children to this and to raise them in an environment that was infused with that sort of spirit," he added.

Brooke Gerber, 22, from Farmington Hills, Michigan, just graduated from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She arrived with her dachshund, Max, who was a bit nervous, she said, and wasn't sure what was going on.

"I'm so excited right now," Brooke said. "It doesn't seem like its real because I've waited for this for so long."

Brooke will settle in the southern Israeli city of Beersheva where she plans to work as a jeweler. She also hopes to attend graduate school, "to get either a master's in business or go to dental school because it's all like jewelry because it's a lot of fine work."

Boaz, 53, came from New York with his wife and three sons. He said Moses never made it to the Promised Land and he didn't think he would make it either.

"Now, I'm here," Boaz said. "My wife's been wanting to come for years and she just convinced me." He doesn't know yet what he'll do for a living but he has a small Internet business that he can run to help him get by.

Elisha Olivestone, 23, said he was "thrilled" at the reception the Americans were receiving. He came by himself but said his parents are were supportive.

"This is our land. This is where we live. This is where a Jew is a Jew. This is the place to live, no question," said Olivestone, who will work at a religious school near Jerusalem.

The group was welcomed in a ceremony and reception by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Financed Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Absorption Minister Tzipi Livni, other officials and hundreds of well-wishers.

Both Sharon and Netanyahu recalled how their forefathers had immigrated to pre-State Israel and welcomed the new immigrants home.

"I know it's not an easy thing, to move from one country to another country, but here you are coming home," Sharon told them.

The group included young and old, religious and secular, many families with multiple children and even returning Israelis married to spouses from the U.S. or Canada. The oldest immigrant is 71 and the youngest just two weeks.

They are the first installment this summer of some 1,000 North American Jews expected to immigrate with the help of Nefesh B'Nefesh.

Nefesh B'Nefesh was co-founded by Rabbi Joshua Fass and Tony Gelbart to help Americans overcome the financial, professional and logistical difficulties of coming to Israel. The group offers loans of up to $25,000 to help with immigration and absorption expenses, according to need, which become grants after three years.

Fass, who was a rabbi in Boca Raton, Florida, was inspired to co-found the organization after a relative was killed in a terrorist bombing here a couple of years ago.

Gelbart, a private businessman, has given generously to fund the program.

Jews from all over the world are entitled to immigrate to Israel, under the Israeli law - the Right of Return. But immigration figures show that Jewish people from most Western countries prefer not to take up that option. But the number is on the rise.

Although Israel's system for absorbing new immigrants is quite extensive, the bureaucratic red-tape and social and cultural challenges - including learning the Hebrew language - often prove too daunting for Americans and other Westerners, who can easily return to their native lands.

"There were too many obstacles facing the growing number of US and Canadian Jews who want to realize their long-cherished dream of ' Aliyah '- moving to Israel - college debts, outstanding loans or commitments," Gelbart said.

"We have created a support system for resolving such obligations in America and provide expert help on employment, housing, social integration and navigating government processes once they arrive in Israel," he added.

Indeed, the Americans had their paperwork processed right on the plane, then taxis took them to various parts of the country where they will live. They have also been paired with a family in their area to help them adjust.

Of the 519 North Americans who came on the premier flight last July, 99 percent have remained in Israel and 93 percent of the families have one or both spouses working. There have been three weddings and 30 babies born.

The Fasses, who have four children, led the way when they came on the first flight last year. Batsheva Fass was waiting at the airport for her husband to arrive on the plane with this year's group. She said she was happy that the number was double from that of last year.

Last year, she said, she was "overwhelmed. I was so happy to be here, but this time I can have more control over my emotions, look back at...what a good year its been [and]... be the more experienced one and help the ones coming now."

Noa Hirsch, 23, also came on Nefesh B'Nefesh's premier flight last year from Pittsburgh. One year later, she said, she knows she made the right decision to come. She was on hand to greet this year's new arrivals.

"It's been a good, very successful year," said Hirsch. "I know I made the right decision, no regrets." Hirsch studied Hebrew for five months and then found employment with an Internet company.

Her younger brother followed in her footsteps two months ago, and her sister will come on the next Nefesh B'Nefesh flight in two weeks. She has three siblings left in the States and said she thinks her parents might come when the first grandchild is born.

Hirsch said she would encourage this year's newcomers by telling them that they had made "the best decision they could possibly make with their lives."

"It's the right time to come now. I think lots of people will tell them that, 'You're crazy to come now.' I'll tell them that they're not crazy that they made the right decision even if it's difficult," she said.