Hundreds of new immigrants arrive in Israel

[Lisa]

Hundreds of new immigrants arrive in Israel
http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=229010
By JEREMY SHARON   07/12/2011 16:39

Immigrants from as far as New Zealand, ages ranging from two-month-old baby to 81-year-old man arrive at Ben-GurionAirport. On Tuesday, 245 North Americans were brought to Israel by Nefesh b Nefesh on a chartered flight dedicated for the new immigrants, in partnership with the Jewish Agency. The new arrivals ranged in age from a two-month old baby to an 81-year old man who made aliyah with his wife.On the flight were 45 families with 103 children, 51 singles, 15 people going in to the army, six dogs and a cat, and they came from states as diverse as Arizona, Colorado and New York as well as from Canada.Minister of Immigrant Absorption Sofa Landver was at Ben Gurion International Airport to greet the newly minted Israeli citizens, along with the chairman of the Jewish Agency Natan Sharansky and Nefesh b Nefesh co-founders Rabbi Yehoshua Fass and Tony Gelbart.“Living in Israel is just more meaningful,” said 24-year old Mika Hakner from New Zealand. “Any big life change is scary but something’s missing for me in New Zealand, there’s not the same spirit that there is in Israel.”Mika, who has a political science degree and will be attending Ulpan Etzion in Jerusalem, said she didn’t think she would miss New Zealand all that much. “Separating from my parents will be hard,” Mika acknowledged, “but I want to live in the country where I most belong.”