Jerusalem Municipality grants Nefesh B’Nefesh permanent aliyah center
Amid the rise in demand for Jews to make aliyah, the Jerusalem Municipality has granted a space for Nefesh B’Nefesh, an organization that helps North American Jews immigrate to Israel, to build an aliyah center that will help new immigrants transition into their new lives.
The new aliyah center, to be located in Jerusalem’s National District Court near the Supreme Court, will serve as a spot in the country’s capital to help all olim upon their arrival. It will also help the city itself absorb and acclimate the growing number of immigrants moving to Jerusalem. By building the center, the Jerusalem Municipality and Nefesh B’Nefesh aim to attract more olim to the city, which in turn will have a long-lasting positive effect on Jerusalem’s economy.
“We have recently been heavily investing on encouraging aliyah to Jerusalem, while at the same time focusing on assisting the olim transition into their new lives in the city,” Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion said. “Jerusalem is a city that encourages aliyah, largely due to the full range of services we provide to our olim.”
“As a leading organization, Nefesh B’Nefesh will in the coming months have a permanent home in Jerusalem,” he said. “I would also like to thank Tony Gelbart, chairman of Nefesh B’Nefesh, for the incredible assistance he gives to Jerusalem’s olim.”
Gelbart said: “We are deeply appreciative to Lion and the City Council, who have seen the immense value of aliyah for Jerusalem and for all of Israel and recognized the need to establish a permanent home base for Nefesh B’Nefesh in their city.”
“As we witness the next exciting chapter of Jewish history unfold, we look forward to taking part in assisting Jews from all walks of life and all over the world to fulfill their dream and come home to Israel,” he said.