1,000 academics are among this 3,000 Nefesh B’Nefesh summer aliyah, new immigrants who are expected to fill the many vacancies in the educational system for English teachers. The olim are from the United States, Canada and the UK.

A special program has been designed for the olim up to the age of 35, with academic degrees and with English being their mother tongue towards certifying them as English teachers. Those interested will undergo screening and qualify for the 14-month training program. They will receive a stipend and those successfully completing the program will receive a teaching certificate. Teachers will to relocate to the Galil, Negev and other periphery communities will receive a monetary incitement package as well.

The first class of 40 trainees will come from the arrivals due over the summer on NBN flights.

The Jewish Agency reports that over the summer, 5,000 new immigrants are expected from around the world. Aliyah this summer is up 15% as compared to the summer of 2008.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)