It was a celebratory start to the Jewish New Year as Nefesh B’Nefesh, in cooperation with Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, the Jerusalem Municipality and its Aliyah and Absorption Authority, recently hosted 400 new immigrants to Jerusalem from around the world.

The third annual event began with informational panels offered in four languages. The newcomers then enjoyed special greetings from Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion and Zev Gershinsky, executive vice president of Nefesh B’Nefesh, as well as a concert by Jerusalem-based classic rock band Pritzat Disc.

The event was held at the Nefesh B’Nefesh Aliyah Campus in the center of Jerusalem. There, panels regarding the rights and benefits of olim were held in four languages: English, Russian, French and Spanish. Veteran olim, as well as representatives from aliyah organizations, shared knowledge on the rights and benefits to which new immigrants are entitled, as well as specific services pertaining to Jerusalem.

According to Nefesh B’Nefesh, Israel’s capital city continues to be the leading destination among North American olim. The organization reported that since January 2023, 564 Jews from the United States and Canada have made Jerusalem their new home, expected to be joined by about 850 more by the end of the calendar year. They bring skills in core fields; leading professions include physicians, educators, lawyers, social workers and nurses.

The Jerusalem Municipality reports that since the start of 2023, some 1,579 individuals have made aliyah to Jerusalem. Of these, about 900 are Russian-speaking, 150 speak French, and some 90 speak Spanish.

In addition to Lion and Gershinsky, other dignitaries at the event included Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Shmuel Marciano; Pini Glinkewitz, director of the Jerusalem Municipality’s Aliyah and Integration Authority; Ziva Avrahami, director of Ulpan Etzion and a representative from the Jewish Agency for Israel; as well as staff from the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration.