Twenty-four years after Nefesh B'Nefesh was founded, the organization marked a major milestone on Sunday with the arrival of its 100,000th immigrant from North America.
Six-year-old Amelia Douglas, who will begin first grade in the coming school year, immigrated to Israel with her family: her parents, Jeffrey and Atara; her brother, Netanel, 10; and her sister, Hallie, 9.
To mark the occasion, President Isaac Herzog hosted the Douglas family at the President's Residence after they immigrated from New York to Jerusalem earlier this month. The event was attended by Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer and Nefesh B'Nefesh founders Rabbi Yehoshua Fass and Tony Gelbart.
Herzog welcomed the family at the event and praised the organization's work.
"I am pleased to welcome the Douglas family to Israel, and especially six-year-old Amelia, who is the 100,000th immigrant to make aliyah to Israel through Nefesh B'Nefesh," Herzog said. "One hundred thousand immigrants are one hundred thousand stories of people who chose Israel, chose to build their home and their future here, and became part of the Israeli story."
The president added that the Douglas family is "a living example of the deep connection between Diaspora Jewry and the State of Israel," and thanked the organization's founders and the aliyah and integration minister for decades of dedicated Zionist work.
The Douglas family had been planning the move for years. The turning point came last summer, when they visited Israel for a friend's wedding and realized they wanted their children to grow up and be educated in the country.
A few months later, they made the final decision to immigrate to Israel.
All three of the family's children are named after fallen IDF soldiers and victims of terrorism, reflecting the family's strong emotional connection to the Jewish people and the Land of Israel.
Atara and Jeffrey Douglas shared their feelings about the move.
"Someone once told us, 'We are leading, not leaving.' That sentence became our motto. We do not feel that we are leaving behind the life we knew, but rather choosing to fulfill a dream and build our future and the future of our children in Israel."
Social, economic engine for growth
Sofer noted the significance of the milestone.
"The 100,000th immigrant since the establishment of Nefesh B'Nefesh is an exciting and significant milestone for aliyah and for the State of Israel," he said. "This summer, we are privileged to see many families arriving in Israel with their children and choosing to build their home and their future here. We will continue working to encourage aliyah and provide immigrants with the support they need for the best possible integration."
Gelbart and Fass also reflected on the milestone.
"The 100,000th immigrant is much more than a number," the two said. "It symbolizes the tens of thousands of families who chose to tie their future to the future of the State of Israel. The children who immigrated with us in the early years have already established families here, serve in the IDF, and work in the healthcare, education, and economic sectors."
"That is exactly what we hoped for when we conceived the organization's vision."
Nefesh B'Nefesh's impact over 24 years
NIS 15 billion: The estimated monetary contribution of immigration from North America to Israel's economy.
More than 65%: The proportion of immigrants who arrived with advanced academic degrees.
Approximately 6,000 doctors and professionals: Integrated into Israel's healthcare system.
Approximately 14,000 immigrants: Chose to live in the Negev and Galilee as part of the "Go North" program in cooperation with KKL JNF.
More than 22,000 lone soldiers: Received guidance and support through the joint program with FIDF.
The retention rate of immigrants who have remained in Israel over the years: 90%.