How Nefesh B’Nefesh is making aliyah easier

Since being founded over 20 years ago, Nefesh B’Nefesh (NBN) has sought to make moving to Israel (aliyah) much easier. It helps new migrants from North America find employment, housing and tackle complicated bureaucracy. NBN recently took its first steps into Australia via MedEX events in Melbourne and Sydney – which sought to attract much needed medical professionals to Israel.

Israel is seeking 2000 international doctors over five years, to help with a severe medical shortage as many doctors who arrived from the Soviet Union are now retiring and Israel’s infrastructure has not created enough places for medical training. Over 100 medical professionals in Australia attended the MedEx events, which provided a one stop shop where they could receive notarised documents for credential recognition, advice on grants, and job interviews with leading healthcare institutions including Hadassah and Rambam.

MedEx is an initiative of NBN, in partnership with Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of the Negev, Galilee, and National Resilience, in cooperation with the Jewish Agency for Israel. Since the beginning of 2024, approximately 650 doctors have immigrated to Israel.

The AJN spoke to NBN Executive Director Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, who co-founded NBN in August 2001 with businessman Tony Gelbart. Discussing the inspiration for starting NBN, Rabbi Fass said that he had long dreamed of making aliyah but that goal came to the fore after his cousin was killed during the Second Intifada.

“It really recalibrated my compass,” he said.