Thursday, January 20, 2005

Flash: No Spring 2005 NBN Flight

Just got the bad news - via e-mail. (Bolding mine):

Dear Applicant,

Due to insufficient interest in a Spring NBN Aliyah flight, there will be no group or charter flight this Spring. The next charter NBN Aliyah flight will be this Summer. However, we will still be providing assistance to those applicants that are accepted, and that choose to make Aliyah in the springtime. You will be receiving notification regarding the status of your NBN application by February 1st.

If you have applied for financial assistance and you are accepted, you must make aliyah between March 1 and May 28, 2005, in order to receive the grant.

If you have applied for services only, then you may make aliyah whenever you like.

All applicants will need to make their own flight arrangements to Israel through their Shaliach. Please make sure to complete your aliyah tik and to obtain your aliyah visa from the Consulate. Upon arrival in Israel, NBN Olim may contact our office for help with Misrad Hapnim (the Ministry of the Interior) with respect to your Teudat Zehut (Israeli ID card). We cannot provide the same level of expedited processing that we would on a charter flight, but will be assisting you however possible. While we understand that some of you have already made arrangements and need to make Aliyah this Spring, for those that are more flexible, we strongly suggest waiting for a Summer Aliyah flight, as you will then benefit from the full range of NBN Aliyah Services.

Should you have any questions at this time or once you receive your letter of notification, please feel free to contact us at 1-866-4ALIYAH. Thank you.

Kind regards,

Nefesh B'Nefesh


Oh, what to do now? What to do now?

3 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Make aliyah in the season that is best for you.

The flight is amazing, of course. But what do you think people did before group flights? They made aliyah when it worked for them.

If you have life circumstances that necessitate making aliyah in the spring, then what would you gain by turning your life upside down to wait until the summer? Hm. You'd save a couple hours in the airport. And a few hours at the Misrad Hapnim. And you'll have a nicer story for the grandchildren. And you'll get your bank account and phone service a few days earlier.

You'll survive. Generations have before you.

Do what works for you, in your life.

Anyhow, the NBN offices will be open in the spring, too, and the staff is very helpful no matter when you arrive.

And also, anyway, those first few days are very stressful whether you come on the group flight or not. The question is just will your stress go from level 10 to level 9 within a week, or within 2 weeks?

From a 2003 NBN oleh, who is a great fan of NBN and all their wonderful, truly helpful services, but is not sucked in by their PR.

5:46 PM  
Blogger Pinchas said...

Anonymous - thanks for that comment. I know very well Aliyah can an is done with or without NBN.

Kalman - Yeah, you told me they might cancel it. Oh well. I agree it is really nice to have flexablity - and I DO have it.

I guess the real question now is figuring out what works best for me. I really want to go to Ulpan Ezion. (First I have to get in.)Also they only start sessions in the Summer so that may be the best time afterall. But I still feel bad about delaying it AGAIN. Well I'll do my homework and think it over. . .

1:01 PM  
Blogger Pinchas said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

1:05 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home