(LONDON) September 23, 2024:  The inaugural British MedEx took place yesterday (Sunday) in London, drawing over 100 Jewish doctors from across the UK, many of whom are planning to make Aliyah in the near future and were provided assistance with their Aliyah planning and licensing.

In an effort to address Israel’s acute shortage of physicians, the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, Ministry of Health and Nefesh B’Nefesh, launched the International Medical Aliyah Program (IMAP) to streamline the immigration process for medical professionals, ensuring their ability to integrate into Israel’s medical workforce upon arrival in Israel.

IMAP seeks to bring 2,000 Jewish doctors to Israel over a five-year span and is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, the Ministry of Health, and Nefesh B’Nefesh, and is supported by key partners including the Jewish Agency for Israel, the Ministry of the Negev, the Galilee and National Resilience, the Marcus Foundation, the Gottesman Foundation, and the Jewish Federation of North America.

At the London event, doctors had the opportunity to meet with representatives from the Israeli Ministry of Health and Medical Directorate to discuss licensing requirements, explore employment options, and gain insights into official procedures and grants. In addition, representatives from various health insurance funds and hospitals, such as Ichilov, Hadassah, Clalit, and the Northern Medical Center were present to conduct real-time job interviews, further enabling a smoother integration into the workforce upon their arrival. A special emphasis was placed on employment opportunities in Israel’s periphery, supported by new grant programs from the Ministry of the Negev, Galilee and National Resilience, and the T’kuma government administration in the Gaza envelope.

Minister Ofir Sofer, who canceled his trip to the fair at the last minute due to the escalation in the north, said: “Even in times of war and challenging times for the State of Israel, we are witnessing the interest of   dozens of doctors to make Aliyah and join the medical system. The program we established, together with the Ministry of Health, Nefesh B’Nefesh, and in partnership with the Ministry of the Negev and Galilee, will lead to the Aliyah of many doctors, with an emphasis on strengthening healthcare services in the Negev and the Galil.

In addition, we are indeed seeing a growing increase in Aliyah from the UK over the past year – a trend we are actively encouraging and believe will continue to grow. I congratulate the attendees of the fair and call on the many interested individuals to make the Zionist move and make Aliyah – especially now.”

« British Jewry is a vibrant community with a deep love and connection to the State of Israel,” said Tony Gelbart, Co-Founder and Chairman of Nefesh B’Nefesh. “The MedEx was an exciting opportunity for us to come together with our partners, in England, to help the local Jewish medical community realize their dreams of making Israel their home. Their move will not only transform their lives, but also have a profound impact on the State of Israel and its healthcare system for generations to come. »

« Strengthening our medical system, hospitals, and response capabilities, particularly in the Negev and Galilee, is of paramount national importance—especially in these challenging times. Attracting skilled medical professionals to these regions during the war not only enhances the quality of healthcare but also fosters community resilience, said Minister of the Negev, Galilee, and National Resilience, Yitzhak Wasserlauf. “This initiative aligns with our mission to improve quality of life and bolster national resilience, providing Olim with the opportunity to thrive in supportive communities with opportunities for professional growth while ensuring access to high-quality medical care for all.”

Speaking at the event, Israeli Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely said: « For years, Jewish mothers dreamed of their children becoming doctors. At some stage, that shifted to their children launching start-up companies. Now, we need to go back to the old fashioned Jewish dream, Israel needs more doctors. » She added: « We need pediatricians, psychiatrists, gynecologists, and emergency doctors. We need the best people to bring their knowledge to the Israeli medical system. »

« Time after time the deep partnership with world Jewry proves itself integral to the strengthening of the State of Israel in many areas. The doctors who will make Aliyah are a symbol of the strength of this existential bond,” said Chairman of The Jewish Agency for Israel, Maj, Gen. (res.) Doron Almog. “These doctors are a tremendous contribution to Israeli society and their Aliyah is a source of enormous pride. We are so grateful to our partners who helped make this happen. This Aliyah is the essence of hope itself. »

NEW JERSEY, March 10, 2024 — After eight successful years of expediting licensing and placements for thousands of North American healthcare professionals interested in making Aliyah, Nefesh B’Nefesh is expanding its medical initiative to Jewish communities around the world. After the annual US MedEx event on March 10th, Nefesh B’Nefesh will hold its first European MedEx in Paris, France on March 31, 2024, as part of the organization’s newly founded International Medical Aliyah Program (IMAP).

Nefesh B’Nefesh signed a multi-year agreement with Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration and Ministry of Health, to create an international program to streamline the immigration process for medical professionals, ensuring their ability to integrate into Israel’s medical workforce upon arrival in Israel. The objective of the program is to facilitate the Aliyah of 2,000 physicians over the course of the next five years. The International Medical Aliyah Program offers medical professionals an all-encompassing array of resources, services, and personal consultations and will now be offered around the world in various locations.

This first-of-its-kind program has been made possible thanks in part to the generous sponsorship of The Marcus Foundation, an organization committed to making a difference in the lives of countless individuals and communities, the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA-UIA), and The Jewish Agency for Israel.

“Confronting the growing challenges of healthcare personnel shortages, especially in times of crisis, remains a critical mission for us at Nefesh B’Nefesh, » said Tony Gelbart, Co-Founder and Chairman of Nefesh B’Nefesh. « The International Medical Aliyah Program is designed to ensure a seamless transition for these committed medical professionals and passionate Zionists, and we are thrilled to now offer this expedited process to professionals from all over the world. We are honored to have been given this role by the Israeli government and extremely grateful to our philanthropic partners in making this possible.”

This year’s inaugural event, which took place in Teaneck, NJ, was attended by 230 physicians, from 30 states and provinces across the U.S. and Canada. In addition, it was attended by nearly 500 medical professionals including nurses, dentists, podiatrists, psychologists, optometrists, pharmacists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, physiotherapists, audiologists, dietitians and nutritionists, and dental hygienists.

“At the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, we recognized the vital contribution of bringing physicians to Israel, and as a result established the Directorate of Doctors within the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, led by Dr. Efrat Aflalo. This initiative underscores our commitment to fortifying Israel’s healthcare system, economy, and national resilience, particularly during this challenging war time,” said Minister of Aliyah and Integration Ofir Sofer. “Today, I had the privilege of meeting hundreds of physicians at the Nefesh B’Nefesh’s MedEx conference, some already in the advanced immigration stages and others expressing interest in making Aliyah in the future. Through collaborative efforts involving the Directorate of Doctors, the Ministry of Health, and Nefesh B’Nefesh, we will facilitate their smooth transition through the bureaucratic Aliyah procedures, enabling a swift integration into Israel’s healthcare system. We have welcomed 200 doctors from overseas during the Swords of Iron War who answered the call to aid our hospitals in treating the influx of wounded. Today, on behalf of the State of Israel, we also express our profound gratitude to these doctors for their invaluable service. »

As part of today’s MedEx program participants received expedited processing of their medical licenses as well as networking opportunities with Israeli medical professionals and employers. Experts from various Israeli ministries and institutions, as well Tekuma, the newly formed government branch focused on rebuilding Israel’s South, were on-site to discuss and assist with license conversions, specialty recognitions, and notarization of documentation. Additionally, representatives from Israeli health funds (kupot cholim), hospitals, and organizations conducted interviews to ensure that qualified Olim can experience a swift and efficient transition into the workforce. 

« The Ministry of Health is spearheading major efforts to bolster our healthcare workforce through strategic national programs and congratulates our valuable collaboration with Nefesh B’Nefesh and the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration in this endeavor. Strengthening our health system with skilled professionals and experts in their respective fields is crucial, especially amidst the significant shortage of doctors in Israel,” said Minister of Health Uriel Menachem Buso. “The national program we are advancing is imperative, and we are committed to streamlining bureaucratic procedures and expediting the absorption process into our healthcare system. I am confident that this program will enable us to fulfill our responsibilities and deliver a high-quality and timely medical response to all citizens of Israel. »

Since its inception, Nefesh B’Nefesh has aided over 940 physicians and over 3,000 medical professionals in their Aliyah processes. Most are now employed in hospitals, Israel’s health funds (HMOs), and the private sector.  

LOS ANGELES, December 9, 2024: Dozens of Jewish doctors, many planning to make Aliyah in the near future, gathered in Los Angeles on Sunday, for the inaugural MedEx LA fair. This landmark event, was part of the organization’s newly founded International Medical Aliyah Program (IMAP), created through a collaboration of the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, Ministry of Health and Nefesh B’Nefesh, in partnership with The Jewish Agency for Israel.  The MedEx LA event was held for the first time in the U.S. West Coast, aiming to streamline the immigration process for medical professionals, ensuring their ability to integrate into Israel’s medical workforce upon arrival in Israel.

Key partners include the Ministry of the Negev, Galilee, and National Resilience, the Marcus Foundation, the Gottesman Foundation, and the Jewish Federation of North America.

At MedEx LA, attendees engaged with representatives from the Israeli Ministry of Health and Medical Directorate to discuss licensing, job opportunities, and relocation grants. Representatives from various health insurance funds and hospitals, such as Ichilov, Hadassah, Clalit, and the Northern Medical Center, conducted real-time job interviews, further enabling a smoother integration into the workforce upon their arrival. A special emphasis was placed on employment opportunities in Israel’s periphery, supported by new grant programs from the Ministry of the Negev, Galilee and National Resilience, and the T’kuma government administration in the Gaza envelope.

« Together with our partners in the various government ministries, Nefesh B’Nefesh, and the Jewish Agency, we are working to strengthen our healthcare system, with a focus on the Negev and Galilee, » said Minister of Aliyah and Integration, MK Ofir Sofer. « The MedEx events provide an important platform to encourage doctors to make Aliyah, while offering assistance to navigate the process. It is heartwarming to see the significant interest from doctors in particular, and by Jews in general, to make Aliyah during this time of war. This is a profound expression of Zionism and a demonstration of solidarity with the citizens of Israel. »

“Our MedEx events reflect our shared commitment to addressing Israel’s healthcare needs while empowering Jewish medical professionals in their Aliyah journeys,” said Co-Founder and Chairman of Nefesh B’Nefesh, Tony Gelbart. “These medical professionals are embarking on a transformative path that will enrich their lives and strengthen Israel’s healthcare system. And as such, we are committed to ensuring that their Aliyah and integration processes are as smooth and successful as possible.”

Chairman of The Jewish Agency, Major General (res.) Doron Almog: “The deep partnership with World Jewry, has a tremendous contribution to the State of Israel. I welcome this important initiative and hope it will lead to the Aliya of many Jews. The Aliya is a growth engine, and the integration of more Jews into the actions and endeavors of the State of Israel, in medicine and other fields, is an essential part of its rebuilding and development.”