Immigrant Says Terrorists Won't Keep Jews from Israeli Homeland
by Chad Groening
August 18, 2004
(AgapePress) - A Jerusalem-based organization that helps North American Jews immigrate to Israel says thousands are returning to the Holy Land, despite constant concern about Islamic terrorism and anti-Semitic violence.In 2001, the private organization known as Nefesh B'Nefesh was founded to facilitate the emigration and relocation process of American and Canadian Jews desiring to start new lives in Israel. The name Nefesh B'Nefesh is, roughly translated, "Jewish Souls United."
Organization spokesman Charley Levine says despite the regional strife in Israel, so often reported in the media, these Jewish immigrants are not intimidated by Palestinian terrorists. "We're not going to let terrorists dictate to us, the Jewish people, where we're going to live," he says.
That determination to return and reclaim their homeland "starts off with that thought," Levine explains. Despite the intimidation efforts of those who want Jewish immigrants to stay away from Israel, he says, "we're just not going to do it. We are sometimes characterized as a stubborn or stiff-necked people -- I don't think that's necessarily true, but we certainly understand it when we're told, go to this one little place in the world called Israel. That's what we're going to do. That's what we have been doing for thousands of years as a people."
Besides, the Jewish Souls United spokesman says he has noticed in the past six months that the situation in the Holy Land has calmed down quite a bit. He does not mention whether he believes this has anything to do with Israel's controversial security fence on the West Bank, but he says he has observed evidence that " things are winding down somewhat in terms of the terrorism. And even if not, it's still not going to stop us from coming back."
To those who might think this sounds rash or reckless, Levine says, "Clearly we're very rational, cautious people. We do not believe in subjecting ourselves or any of our family members to anything that could be construed as a threat or risk. We don't do that. But I'd like to think that the last six months here in Israel have been much calmer than the six or twelve months that came earlier."
Nefesh B'Nefesh plans to help more than 1,500 Jews emigrate from North America to Israel this summer alone.
