Nefesh B'Nefesh welcomes 100,000th immigrant to Israel

Nefesh B'Nefesh, an organization facilitating immigration to Israel, marked a significant milestone Sunday by welcoming its 100,000th immigrant from North America. The honor fell to the Douglas family: parents Jeffrey and Atara, and their children Netanel, 10, Hallie, 9, and six-year-old Amelia, who is set to begin first grade.

To commemorate the occasion, President Isaac Herzog hosted the Douglas family at the President's Residence in Jerusalem. Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer and Nefesh B'Nefesh founders Rabbi Yehoshua Fass and Tony Gelbart also attended the event. Herzog welcomed the family, emphasizing that each of the 100,000 immigrants represents a unique story of choosing Israel and building a future there.

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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. 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.

"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," Herzog stated. He described the Douglas family as a "living example of the deep connection between Diaspora Jewry and the State of Israel." The family's children are named after fallen IDF soldiers and victims of terrorism, reflecting their strong connection to the Jewish people and the Land of Israel.

The Douglas family's decision to immigrate was years in the making. A visit to Israel last summer solidified their desire for their children to grow up and be educated in the country. "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," shared Atara and Jeffrey Douglas. Minister Sofer also highlighted the milestone as an "exciting and significant" moment for aliyah.

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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.