Jewish Agency for Israel

During the past year, Nefesh B’Nefesh facilitated 16 special “aliyah” flights from North America, bringing 381 families with 674 children, and an additional 1,579 singles, many of whom volunteered for the Israel Defense Forces as lone soldiers.

Amira Aharonovich, 47, was named as CEO and director general.

The organization will hold informational fairs in major American cities, including Boca Raton, Miami, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Chicago, to empower potential immigrants to get ahead in their planning process.

In partnership with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in coordination with Federation, the Jewish Agency engaged with the Israel Trauma Coalition to dispatch a mission of five post-trauma and grief specialists from Israel right following the Oct. 27 shooting.

“Music is and has always been one of society’s greatest connectors,” said Liran Avisar Ben-Horin, CEO of Masa Israel Journey.

The former Zionist Union leader visited Jewish Federations in New York, Boston and Philadelphia, promoting the Jewish Agency’s mission to “inspire Jews throughout the world to connect with their people, heritage, and land, and empower them to build a thriving Jewish future and a strong Israel.”

The partnership and investment by the Israeli Ministry of Education and Ministry of Diaspora Affairs represent “an important recognition that the program is impactful on students and teachers in both Israel and the Diaspora,” said Andrea Arbel, director of the Partnership Unit at the Jewish Agency.

His election comes at a time of a deepening strain between Israel and Diaspora Jewry due to a number of issues, including egalitarian prayer at the Western Wall, as well as the Israeli Rabbinate’s control over Jewish conversion and marriage.

He will replace Natan Sharansky, a former Soviet dissident who has served as the head of the Jewish Agency since 2009.