NBN’s Promotion of U.S. Citizen Migration To Palestine: Part 2

Between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023, the by then-Paramus, New Jersey-based “non-profit” Nefesh B’Nefesh [NBN] organization in the USA, which “strives to facilitate and celebrate Aliyah” and “educate towards a stronger connection to Israel,” had a total annual revenue of $9,925,362 and total annual expenses of $7,783,160, according to its Form 990 for 2023; and its total annual revenues exceeded its total annual expenses by $2,142,202.

And, according to the NBN website, in November 2005, historically, “an unprecedented Israeli Government cabinet decision supporting private Aliyah organizations" had then been "passed, instituting" Israeli "State funding for Nefesh B’Nefesh.”

In a September 12, 2022 historical article, posted on the JNS website, about NBN, Faygie Holt also indicated why the U.S. government-armed Israeli government might have wanted to start funding NBN in 2005:

“Jews in North America weren’t exactly getting in line to relocate to Israel. Statistics on aliyah in 2002 found that fewer than 1,000 Jews relocated…that year….There were no outside forces propelling North American Jewry through the gates of Ben-Gurion Airport as citizens and not tourists. The concept of moving to Israel by choice wasn’t something many Western Jews considered…

“Of those who did give it a try, nearly half returned to the United States within a few years…

“All of which…Nefesh B’Nefesh and its founders Rabbi Yehoshua Fass and businessman Tony Gelbart, wanted to change....The organization hoped to make aliyah become a bit easier with the establishment of a new, private, American-based organization…A little more than 500 people made aliyah on the very first Nefesh charter flight…

“Fast-forward to August 2022, Nefesh B’Nefesh has become a game-changer in enabling Jews from North America and other areas to resettle in Israel…Nefesh B’Nefesh…employs 100-plus people... Officials are quick to point out the partnerships they have formed with Israeli organizations and agencies, among them the Israeli Ministry of Aliyah & Integration, the Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL), Jewish National Fund-USA and Tzofim-Garin Tzabar .

“Joint initiatives have included Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael, the `Go Beyond' initiative, which encouraged residents to the periphery of the country—both north in the Galilee and south in the Negev—and provided them with services, grants and resources to do so…”

And “2,500 active lone soldiers from 70 countries, as well as representatives from various ministries and senior IDF commanders” attended an event in Tel Aviv in late 2022 which NBN co-hosted with the Friends of the IDF lobbying group, according to an article, titled “Yom Siddurim 2022 – Annual `Personal Errands Day’ for Lone Soldiers,’ that was posted on the NBN website on Dec. 1, 2022.
According to the same Dec. 1, 2022 article:

“Nefesh B’Nefesh and Friends of the IDF (FIDF), in full cooperation with the IDF, hosted its 8th annual `Yom Siddurim' (personal errands day) for all active lone soldiers on December 1st at Beit HaChayal in Tel Aviv. The event culminated the IDF’s dedicated `Lone Soldier Appreciation Week', which featured a variety of initiatives, programming, and festivities throughout the week with the aim of showing appreciation for the soldiers and their contributions to the security of the country.

“Yom Siddurim is an annual event that is coordinated by the FIDF – Nefesh B’Nefesh Lone Soldiers Program, together with the IDF Human Resources Department and in cooperation with Yahad – United for Israel’s Soldiers. Beit HaChayal in Tel Aviv, the location of the event, transformed into a one-stop-shop to bring together over 40 different government ministries and organizations under one roof to provide lone soldiers with all the services that they may need during their time in the IDF…

“`We applaud the brave young men and women who made Aliyah on their own and subsequently are serving in the IDF, and we will continue to support them in every way possible,' said Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Nefesh B’Nefesh. `The Nefesh B’Nefesh – FIDF Personal Errands Day, or Yom Siddurim, is our way of showing our sincerest appreciation to the soldiers…’

"`Military service is difficult and complicated for every soldier, and even more so for lone soldiers. Their decision to enlist in the IDF – many from overseas – is a courageous and noble act…’ said Steve Weil, CEO of FIDF. `FIDF supports all lone soldiers with a range of services during and after their military service…’

“`The Association for Israel’s Soldiers is happy to participate in this special week to show our appreciation…for the lone soldiers,” said Yaron Beeri, CEO of The Association for Israel’s Soldiers. “It is our privilege to be there for them in our many activities throughout their military service…’

“The agencies who participated in Yom Siddurim included: Israel’s Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Aliyah and Integration,…The Jewish Agency for Israel, Yahad – United for Israel’s Soldiers, Bituach Leumi, Discharged Soldiers Guidance Department, Electric Company of Israel, foreign embassies, Bank of Israel, and more.”

Yet most U.S. antiwar Movement organizers (like the majority of Upper West Side residents—including the majority of Upper West Side residents of Jewish religious background who are under 50-years-of-age) don’t think U.S. citizens should be enlisting in the IDF in 2025, especially given how many Palestinian civilians were killed as a result of IDF military actions in Gaza between October 7, 2023 and late January 2025? (end of article)