Nefesh B’Nefesh

Nefesh B’Nefesh
Name	Nefesh B’Nefesh
Founded	2002
Founder	Tony Gelbart; Rabbi Yehoshua Fass ; Rabbi Donniel Hartman
Headquarters	Jerusalem; New York City
Area served	Israel; Diaspora
Product	Aliyah facilitation; immigration services; grants

Nefesh B’Nefesh is a nonprofit organization that facilitates and promotes aliyah (Jewish immigration to Israel) from North America and other communities. Founded in 2002, it partners with Israeli institutions and international Jewish organizations to coordinate logistical, financial, and social services for olim. The organization has worked with governmental and non-governmental entities to shape aliyah policy and to provide programs for professionals, families, and lone soldiers.

History

Nefesh B’Nefesh was established in 2002 by Tony Gelbart, Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, and community leaders to address declining aliyah from United States and Canada following events such as the Second Intifada and demographic shifts in the Jewish diaspora. Early collaborations included partnerships with the Jewish Agency for Israel, the Government of Israel, and philanthropic donors from Philanthropy in the United States and Jewish philanthropy. Over its first decade Nefesh B’Nefesh organized charter flights with community organizations including United Jewish Communities, Federation of Jewish Mens Clubs, and regional federations in cities such as Los Angeles and Toronto. In 2005 the organization expanded programmatic ties to municipal bodies like the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration (Israel) and to advocacy groups in Washington, D.C., enabling streamlined procedures aligned with Israeli immigration law and processes administered by the Ministry of Interior (Israel). As aliyah patterns shifted in the 2010s, Nefesh B’Nefesh launched initiatives targeting professionals, retirees, and lone soldiers, collaborating with institutions including Bar-Ilan University, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The organization’s activities intersected with major events affecting Jewish migration, such as the 2014 conflict in Gaza Strip and rising antisemitism in parts of Europe and the United States, prompting expanded outreach.

Mission and Objectives

Nefesh B’Nefesh states its core objective as increasing and improving aliyah by reducing barriers faced by olim from communities including United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and other Western countries. Its mission complements roles played by the Jewish Agency for Israel and the World Zionist Organization by focusing on individualized case management, financial incentives, and integration supports. Strategic objectives emphasize professional placement with employers such as Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Intel, and start-ups in the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange ecosystem; academic alignment with Weizmann Institute of Science and Israeli universities; and social integration through partnerships with municipal authorities like the Jerusalem Municipality and civil society groups including Israel Defense Forces support networks for lone soldiers.

Programs and Services

Nefesh B’Nefesh operates a suite of programs covering pre-aliyah counseling, flight logistics, aliyah grants, and post-arrival assistance. Key services include individualized casework coordinated with the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration (Israel), charter and commercial flight arrangements linking hubs such as John F. Kennedy International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, and Ben Gurion Airport. Professional placement programs align olim with corporations including IBM, Microsoft, and medical centers like Sheba Medical Center and Hadassah Medical Center. Educational initiatives connect candidates with institutions such as Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and Hebrew University of Jerusalem for credential recognition. Social integration offerings include veteran and lone soldier support with Friends of the IDF networks, and community-building projects in municipalities like Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut and Be'er Sheva.

Impact and Statistics

Since inception, Nefesh B’Nefesh reports facilitating tens of thousands of olim, contributing to aliyah waves from regions such as North America and influencing demographic shifts within Israel’s population centers like Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Haifa. The organization’s programs have targeted specific cohorts including medical professionals, engineers, and entrepreneurs, interfacing with employers like Google and research centers such as the Weizmann Institute of Science. Analyses by entities such as the Central Bureau of Statistics (Israel) and policy groups in Jerusalem have cited Nefesh B’Nefesh’s role in changing the composition of immigrant inflows and in supporting settlement patterns in development towns and high-tech clusters. Its grant programs have been compared with incentives administered by the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration (Israel) and philanthropic funds from foundations connected to donors in New York City, Los Angeles, and Toronto.

Governance and Funding

Nefesh B’Nefesh is governed by a board of directors that includes leaders from Jewish communal life, philanthropy, and Israeli civic institutions. Funding sources comprise private philanthropists, charitable foundations, and partnerships with Israeli ministries such as the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration (Israel) and municipal authorities. Major donors and institutional partners have included philanthropic entities associated with families and foundations in United States and Canada, collaborating with organizations such as the Jewish Agency for Israel and regional federations. The organization maintains operational offices in locations including Jerusalem and New York City and coordinates with airlines and logistical partners for transport and settlement services.

Controversies and Criticism

Nefesh B’Nefesh has faced criticism on several fronts, including debates over its role relative to the Jewish Agency for Israel and questions about selective targeting of affluent or highly skilled olim versus vulnerable populations. Critics in outlets and public forums in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem have argued about the equity of grant allocation and the impact on settlement patterns, while some community leaders in Montreal and Los Angeles have raised concerns about prioritization of certain demographics. Discussions in Israeli political circles and among entities such as the Knesset have addressed the balance between state-led aliyah policy and private sector initiatives. Additionally, contested cases relating to professional credential recognition and housing integration have involved local municipalities and advocacy groups in Beit Shemesh and Gush Etzion.

Category:Immigration to Israel