Nefesh B' Nefesh events kick off summer ‘aliyah season’

Nefesh B’Nefesh launched the 2026 summer aliyah season this week with two celebratory community events.

The first event, on Monday in New Jersey, welcomed over 450 attendees. An event in Toronto drew 200 people on Tuesday.

The gatherings — organized together with Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, the Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael, and Jewish National Fund-USA — brought together a diverse range of people making aliyah from North America this summer, including 478 families.

Throughout the summer, Nefesh B’Nefesh is expected to facilitate the arrival of olim on 47 group aliyah flights through ElAl Airlines. The flights, staffed by Nefesh B’Nefesh teams to assist throughout the aliyah process, will depart from major hubs across the United States, including New York, New Jersey, Miami, Boston, and Los Angeles.

This week’s events kicks off what is anticipated to be a robust summer aliyah season. Participants connected with fellow olim, engaged with aliyah advisers and partner organizations, and celebrated their approaching journey home. The evenings featured music, community programming, and resources designed to support olim as they prepare for their futures in Israel.

“The summer aliyah season represents an important moment for both the olim and the State of Israel,” said Co-Founder and Executive Director of Nefesh B’Nefesh, Rabbi Yehoshua Fass. “It is incredibly meaningful to see hundreds of olim taking this significant step and beginning their aliyah journey together. These events provide an opportunity for families, friends and their local communities to celebrate that decision and ensure that every Oleh feels supported as they prepare for their futures in Israel.”

The summer months consistently represent one of the busiest periods of the year for North American aliyah, with over 2,300 expected to immigrate in the coming weeks and months. Many of this summer’s olim are expected to arrive from communities across the United States and Canada, including New York, New Jersey, Florida, California, Ontario, and Quebec. Upon arrival, many choosing to live in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Beit Shemesh, Ra’anana, Modiin, Haifa, and communities across Israel’s northern and southern regions.

Special guests at the kickoff events included Director-General of Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, Deganit Sankar-Lange; Director-General of the Ministry of the Negev and Galil, Yohanan Mali; Director-General of the Ministry of Labor, Rubi Shemesh; Director of the Jewish Agency’s Aliyah and Absorption Unit, Eran Berkovich; and Nefesh B’Nefesh Co-Founders Rabbi Yehoshua Fass and Tony Gelbart.

Reported by NBN.