The Lefkowitz family of New Haven – Rafi and Vered Lefkowitz, and their four children, Erez, 9, Noa, 6, Ella, 3, and Yuval, 1, were among the 239 North Americans who moved to Israel last week to become Israel citizens as part of Nefesh B’Nefesh’s Aliyah charter flight. The August 14 flight took off from New York’s JFK Airport. It was organized in partnership with Tzofim-Garin Tzabar, as well as the organization’s founding partners: Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, the Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth Le’Israel, and JNF-USA.

A physician who conducts occupational medicine research for Yale University, Rafi Lefkowitz intends to perform similar work in Israel, and will also continue to work for Yale. Vered Lefkowitz is a software engineer. The Lefkowtizes say they will live in Jerusalem in order to be close to family and friends.

Founded in 2002, Nefesh B’Nefesh is dedicated to revitalizing aliyah from North America and the United Kingdom by removing or minimizing the financial, professional, logistical and social obstacles of aliyah. According to Nefesh B’Nefesh, since its inception the organization has helped more than 57,000 olim settle in the Jewish state, 90 percent of whom have remained permanently.

For more information about Nefesh B’Nefesh visit www.nbn.org.il.

CAP: Waiting to board their flight at JFK airport are Rafir and Vered Lefkowitz and their children (l to r) Noa, Yuval, Vered, and Ella. Photo credit goes to Shahar Azran.