After 2,000 years of yearning to return to Zion, new olim (immigrants) are not only fulfilling a millennia-old dream, but will now be brought through the process in style.

Jews from across the world who wish to make Aliyah (immigrate to Israel) are no longer required to spend 40 years in the desert like their biblical ancestors - they don't even have to wander through the bureaucratic wilderness alone anymore. Starting today, new olim will be assigned a personal advisor to guide them through each stage of the Aliya process.

The Ministry of Immigrant Absorption (Misrad Haklitah) has announced the new approach under the motto, "One on One - Changing Over to Personal Absorption," and has begun assigning "Personal Absorption Counselors" to new olim.

"New immigrants and their families will be assigned a personal absorption counselor who speaks their language and will accompany them throughout their absorption process," read an announcement from the Absorption Ministry. "A personal absorption track will be formulated for each immigrant and tailored to meet each individual's needs."

Whereas a new immigrant traditionally had to meet with up to four different advisors on separate occasions, he will now have the number of one personal counselor who is responsible for all aspects of his interaction with the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption.

"As part of the new process, we will no longer wait for the oleh to come to us. We will go to him and make sure that he and his family are taken care of," Mirla Gal, Director General of the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption told AngloFile magazine. Gal added that immigrants who arrived under the old system are also eligible for receiving personal counselors.

Aliyah organizations have praised Misrad HaKlitah's move toward more personal contact with olim , which emulates the approach of organizations such as Nefesh b'Nefesh. Nefesh b'Nefesh maintains personal contact with olim to make sure they are able to handle all the hurdles of absorption and Israeli bureaucracy. "It is a welcome development," said Nefesh B'Nefesh Director of Absorption Danny Oberman, "the fact that they have decided to increase involvement with individual olim in their native languages definitely leads to a more successful absorption."

For further details, contact your local Ministry of Immigrant Absorption office, call the national telephone help line (24 hours a day except Shabbat and holidays) at 03-973-3333 or visit the Absorption Ministry's website, which is available in Hebrew, English, Russian, Spanish or French.