3,633 North Americans immigrated to Israel in 2017

JERUSALEM (JTA)—With the arrival of a flight carrying 93 new immigrants, a total of 3,633 people from North America made aliyah in 2017, Nefesh B’Nefesh reported.

The group flight that landed at Ben Gurion International Airport on Wednesday included 15 future lone soldiers and a soon-to-be bride, according to the organization.

Nefesh B’Nefesh, in cooperation with Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, The Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael and JNF-USA, helps facilitate aliyah—the Hebrew term for Jewish immigration to Israel—from North America and the United Kingdom.

Another 103 Americans and Canadians already living or studying in Israel made aliyah on Wednesday at the Nefesh B’Nefesh offices in Jerusalem.

Many of the 3,633 new immigrants arrived on 19 special aliyah flights from North America, bringing 377 families with 677 children, and an additional 1,677 singles. The oldest immigrant in 2017 was 102, and the youngest five weeks old, according to Nefesh B’Nefesh. Most of the new immigrants settled in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Ra’anana, and Netanya.

There were 3,676 immigrants from North America in 2016, and 3,782 in 2015.

Nearly 29,000 immigrants from around the world arrived in Israel in 2017.