100 olim from South Africa celebrate arrival at Kotel

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100 new immigrants including many young families, students and a few retirees arrived Monday night in the first-ever organized aliya group from South Africa, and on their first day in the country they celebrated at the Western Wall. To see and online gallery of pictures - click here   Also read further reports on Telfed Online's Blog

The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) and its Israel Centre in South Africa initiated the historic flight of the group with the aim of helping the immigrants in the aliya process as well as their first period in the country - to create a soft landing.

At the Kotel ceremony - JAFI Chairman Zeev Bielski warmly welcomed the group and recalled his first job as a shaliach for JAFI in South Africa some 30 years ago.

The new Minister for Absorption Eli Aflalo also addressed the group and mentioned that he too was an immigrant from North Africa (Morocco). He committed his ministry to providing every support to the immigrants.

Telfed Chairman Maish Isaacson gave a resoundingly warm welcome to the olim and affirmed Telfed's commitment to giving every support possible in helping them to integrate into their new home.

The ceremony was also addressed by SAZF President Jonathan Silke who highlight the South African Jewish Community's Zionistic history and the ongoing desire to fulfill aliya to Israel.

"We are excited because we think there is an resurgence of interest in aliya from South Africa," David Bloom, vice chairman of the South African Zionist Federation, told The Jerusalem Post. "We believe people are not just leaving because the situation [in South Africa] is not good, but we believe that these people really see Israel as a country with a future," he said.

[click to view this clip online] - the Ramatayim Choir at the welcome ceremony.

Each person was passionate about their choice to move to Israel, whether it was for familial or Zionist reasons.

The important thing was that they chose Israel as their home, said Eli Cohen, the Jewish Agency's director-general of aliya and immigrant absorption.

"Israel can offer [every generation] an opportunity for a new life with more security and Jewish continuity," he said.

Hannah Jacobson, 77, followed the love of her life to South Africa, but now, 58 years later, made the decision to move to Israel. She was born in Tiberias, but has now returned to be united with the rest of her family.

"I don't think you make a decision about making aliya based on one factor," said Noga Maliniak, head of Jewish Agency's aliya department. "It's a combination of Zionism, feeling that this is the right time, or it's the reality of what is happening in South Africa right now."

Anthony and Simone Perl decided to make aliya after years of visiting Israel and feeling sorry to leave the country each time. They will live in Zichron Ya'acov, where they have relatives.

The whole family is looking forward to their future in Israel and believe it will be a great place for their seven-year-old twins, Terrence and Gabriel, to grow up.

The South African Jewish community established one of the first Zionist organizations in 1896, a year before the First Zionist Conference in Basel.

In 1948, 800 people came from South Africa to fight in the War of Independence. In the same year, the South African Zionist Federation branch in Israel was created and functioned as the first olim association in the country.

To see a video report from Israel's Channel Two TV Station - click here

To see and online gallery of pictures - click here

Also read further reports on Telfed Online's Blog

[With acknowledgement to the Jerusalem Post for some of this reporting]