JFK airport, July 13, 2004. I’m rushing, wedding dress in tow, to get in line to check in for my Nefesh B’Nefesh Aliyah flight, and my father suddenly stops to say hello to someone. He introduces me to the Sussmans, fellow Potomac residents, who are also making Aliyah. We were at very different stages of our lives: I was six weeks out of college and preparing for my upcoming wedding. Josh and Romi were making Aliyah with their two young children.

Despite the hometown connection and the shared vision of raising families in Israel, our lives were totally different. I moved to Jerusalem, married Yoni, and began my graduate studies at Hebrew University. Josh and Romi moved to Neve Daniel in Gush Etzion and settled down to start their lives in Israel (and expand their young family).

A year later our paths would cross again, and from then our Aliyah experiences, despite starting out so remarkably different, have mirrored one another in several ways. We both worked at the same small marketing start-up in Jerusalem, albeit at different times. In 2005, I started my job at Nefesh B’Nefesh, and in 2008 Josh joined our team. That our lives have converged like this is undoubtedly one of those things that you can explain as “only in Israel.”

Aliyah is, in and of itself, remarkable. The excitement of living in a Jewish country and never having to use your vacation days for chagim is a novelty that never wears off. You delight when your children flawlessly switch from American-accented English to Israeli-accented Hebrew. All Olim remember the feeling they had when they landed their first job in Israel. This experience highlights the reality of Aliyah, knowing that you are not just living in Israel or raising your kids as Israelis, but that you are a contributing member of society. Nefesh B’Nefesh may not have been that first job for either of us, but the knowledge that we are able to help like-minded people with this incredible life choice is unparalleled.

We (and our colleagues at Nefesh B’Nefesh) are frequently asked, “How did you end up working at Nefesh B’Nefesh?” As with any job opportunity, landing that job is a combination of many factors; and one that can’t be undervalued is being in the right place at the right time. From our experience at NBN, there are two things which set you apart professionally, aside from your qualifications. The first is the strength of your network. Building a solid network ultimately relates to the second thing that sets people apart, which is your willingness to put yourself out there. One of our favorite NBN stories is of an Oleh who, upon disembarking from his Aliyah flight, was approached by a journalist. The journalist asked, “What do you have to say to the people of Israel as you step off this plane?” The Oleh took the microphone, looked straight into the camera and said, “My name is Eric and I just graduated from Cooper Union College with a degree in mechanical engineering, and I will work anywhere.” Eric gave his cell phone number and within two weeks had landed his first job in Israel as a mechanical engineer.

Thousands of North Americans make Aliyah each year, but the accomplishments and idealism they bring with them never cease to impress and inspire. Drawing on all the gifts the Diaspora has to offer, the new Olim bring their talents and channel them into strengthening Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael. Many of the stories are truly inspiring, but there is always a swell of pride when we see another Oleh arriving from Potomac.

Sixty two years ago Israeli pioneers labored to turn a desolate wasteland into the Jewish homeland. "Israeli" is a misnomer used for second and third generation Jews born in Israel. What ties an Oleh from Maryland to another from Kiev and a Sabra from Beersheva whose grandparents fled Egypt is the simple truth that we are all Jews living in our homeland. Today, the new pioneers of Israel, whether out of ideology or necessity, are choosing to build their futures in Israel. Israel’s new pioneers are at the forefront of the hi-tech world just as much as they are leaders in the realm of social action. They contribute to Clal Yisrael by trading plowshares and shovels for microscopes and PhDs. Our professional lives as Olim are infused with the Zionist dream; when an Israeli hears your accent and asks how long you’ve been in Israel, you tell them, plain and simple. Often your personal story elicits the telling of their story, different from your own in so many ways, but with the same underlying value that you find only in Israel. As Olim ourselves, and as employees of Nefesh B’Nefesh, we are privileged to help other Olim fulfill their dreams.

Erica Hirsch Edvi lives in Modiin with her husband Yonatan and their two children.
Josh and Romi Sussman live in Neve Daniel with their six sons.