Co-Founders of Nefesh B’Nefesh, Rabbi Yehoshua Fass and Tony Gelbart, were presented with the Zionist Impact Award at the Jerusalem Post New York Conference on Monday. The award was presented in acknowledgment of the organization’s efforts in addressing the country’s needs through four key areas – Aliyah and Integration, National Service, National Development, and Zionist Education, thereby ensuring long-term commitment to building meaningful lives in Israel and contributing to the nation’s growth.
Since its founding in 2002, the organization has assisted nearly 100,000 olim while maintaining a 90% retention rate, positioning itself as one of the central forces shaping Israel’s future through immigration.
Working in partnership with Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, The Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael, and Jewish National Fund-USA, Nefesh B’Nefesh operates a wide range of initiatives that address some of Israel’s most pressing national needs, from healthcare shortages and workforce gaps to strengthening the country’s periphery and supporting Lone Soldiers serving far from their families.
Among the organization’s flagship initiatives is the International Medical Aliyah Program (IMAP), which assists physicians and medical professionals in navigating Israel’s licensing and employment systems while encouraging them to settle in regions with critical healthcare shortages. At the same time, programs such as Go Beyond encourage Olim to build their lives in Israel’s North and South, helping revitalize communities outside the country’s major population centers. Nefesh B’Nefesh also plays a major role in supporting thousands of Lone Soldiers and National Service volunteers through housing assistance, resilience programs, mental health support, and career guidance.
“For more than two decades, Nefesh B’Nefesh has demonstrated that Aliyah is not only a personal dream, but a national solution,” said Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, co-founder and executive director of Nefesh B’Nefesh. “Every doctor, teacher, engineer, young professional, and retiree who comes to Israel strengthens the fabric of the country and helps address some of Israel’s most pressing challenges.”
According to Tony Gelbart, co-founder and chairman of Nefesh B’Nefesh, the organization’s long-term vision has always centered on harnessing the strength of world Jewry to help advance the State of Israel.
“Nefesh B’Nefesh was founded on the belief that aliyah could transform both individual lives and the future of the State of Israel,” said Gelbart. “Today, we see that vision becoming reality as nearly 100,000 olim contribute directly to Israel’s national priorities by strengthening its healthcare, advancing education, supporting economic development, filling critical workforce gaps, and helping communities across the country thrive.”