Ebenezer Operation Exodus - Report on UK Aliyah on a Red Carpet

UK Aliyah Group Flight No.11 left Luton Airport on 24th October albeit an hour late. There were 36 olim on board plus Rafi Nassi (Head of Jewish Agency Delegation UK) and myself.

The previous evening I had met several of the 14 olim from Manchester joining the flight. I met others on the coach to Luton the following morning and renewed acquaintances with those I had previously joined for Ulpan in London. On arrival at Luton I assisted Rafi and Tali Aharony with checking everyone in, and wheeled the less agile around the airport.

We arrived at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv and having checked in at Passport Control, were taken to the Ministry of Absorption Reception Centre at Terminal 3.

At this point the olim received the first payment of the Sal Klita (Absorption Basket), were asked if they had decided on which fund they preferred for their Health Services and were given their Teudat Oleh (Olim Certificate). The latter document proves their entitlement as olim to various services during their initial period of residence. Then, surprisingly, we left for our hotel in Jerusalem – the Judean Guest House (Beit Yehudah) – at the early hour of 10.32 pm (local time)

Early the next morning saw us down to breakfast and then for a 9.00 am briefing by the Jewish Agency and UJIA.

At 9.30 am we started getting everyone through the Absorption Fair Express. The format for this will be familiar by now. The Fair, in one room of the hotel, enables all the olim to complete in 3 hours what used to take 5 months and endless ‘Red Tape’. Every agency that one is required to deal with to start life in the Land, can be visited and sorted in this short time. It was really gratifying to find that I was useful during this session, directing folk to various sources of help and answering many of their queries.

After lunch we proceeded by coach to the Kotel where British & South African olim were presented with their Identity Cards in a very moving ceremony. This took place in the archaeological excavations opposite the Wall itself and can be viewed on:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/149080

Now the return journey to Beit Yehudah - locating of luggage and fond farewells, as the new Israelis departed for their various destinations.

In a short space of time, some as brief as 48 hours, I had made many friends. Several of these have given me their contact details and wish to remain in touch. What a joy ! What an amazing God we serve!

The LORD is doing amazing things and the “walls of separation” are being broken down.
Hallelujah! Baruch HaShem !

Rod Langston
28th Oct. 2011