American olim at Ben-Gurion airport. Photo: Sasson Tiram, courtesy of Nefesh B'Nefesh.

Despite the escalating security situation in Israel, 64 new Olim from the United States made aliyah to Israel on Tuesday with Nefesh B’Nefesh. The new immigrants arrived at Ben-Gurion Airport, and hail from Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Virginia.

The youngest immigrant is an eight-month-old baby, while the oldest, Lottie Herman, is 92. Herman, who fled Germany in 1939 for America, will be settling in Jerusalem.

Among the other olim was Becky Kupchan, 26, from Chicago. Kupchan will be moving to Beer Sheva, the capital city of Southern Israel.

“Although the security situation in Israel is very tense right now, and in Beer Sheva where I’m about to move rockets are falling, I am not afraid and I trust the Israeli government and the IDF,” said Kupchan, after she arrived at Ben-Gurion Airport. “I’m a Jew and I’ve always dreamed about making Aliyah to Israel, my home – and at home you always feel safe.”

“The Olim who’ve chosen to make Aliyah to Israel during these challenging days are real heroes, and each one of them fills our heart with pride and great inspiration,” said Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Nefesh B’Nefesh. “Becky from Chicago, who has chosen to live in the city of Beer Sheva in the South, is one of them and we will do whatever we can to assist her in her new home in the State of Israel.”

The aliyah of Tuesday’s group was made in partnership with the Ministry of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption, the Jewish Agency for Israel, KKL and JNF-USA, and Nefesh B’Nefesh.

According to Nefesh B’Nefesh 97% of its olim have remained in Israel thanks to its support programs and comprehensive social services, which have been provided to more than 38,000 newcomers.