“Over the years my wife and I investigated making aliyah with our children but our parents who lived near us were getting older and it never seemed to be the right moment. When they passed away a few years ago we said ‘Im lo achshav emasai?’ [If not now when?] and began making plans.”

The Twerskys who will arrive in Israelwith the help of Nefesh B’Nefesh are not alone in that feeling. Recent years have seen an influx of olim at the retiree stage of life who are looking to live out their golden years in theHoly Land.

According to Yael Katsman director of marketing and communications at Nefesh B’Nefesh the past five years have witnessed a 9 to 12 percent rise in aliyah among the retired population even as the number of younger families moving toIsraelhas remained stable.

From learning a new language to understanding the health system older olim face obstacles daily. But with the help of family members and the support of other retirees they can experience a smooth transition.

What’s Bringing Them?

Most of us think of the retirement years as a time to finally settle down to a well-earned rest: to take up hobbies travel or indulge other dreams that were put aside during the years spent raising a family and earning a living.

What induces people then to pack up and pick up at this stage and start all over in a new country with an unfamiliar culture and language? For some it’s the chance to fulfill a lifelong dream while for others it stems from more practical realities.