Highland Park Man To Serve in Israel Defense Forces

A Highland Park man was one of 221 people (32 families, 95 children and 53 singles) who made Aliyah (a move to Israel) as part of the Nefesh B’NeFesh and Keren Kayemeth L’Israel’s Go North and Go South programs on July 13. The group making the trip are referred to as Olim, meaning new immigrants.

Joshua Gorelik, 27, of Highland Park was among the “Olim.” He is planning to serve in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

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“The hundreds of new Olim on today’s flight, and the thousands who will be joining them over the course of this year, are the modern-day pioneers helping to build and secure the future of the State of Israel,” said Nefesh B’Nefesh Co-Founder and Executive Director Rabbi Yehoshua Fass on the day the group departed the United States from New York. “Over the past 13 years, it has been an incredible privilege assisting over 45,000 Olim who are fulfilling their dreams, and the hopes of our nation, by returning to the Jewish homeland.”

The July 13 planeload was the first of two charters, which will bring more than 2,000 making Aliyah through Nefesh B’Nefesh this summer.

An estimated 4,000 newcomers from North America are expected in 2015.