Nefesh B’Nefesh cuts staff, salaries

The aliyah organization Nefesh B’Nefesh says it has slashed18 percent of its staff and is cutting the salaries of its remaining employees.

The organization last week made across-the-board cuts of 15 employees. Salary cuts were instituted at all levels as well, according to Yael Katsman, NBN marketing and communications director. The cuts were first reported Thursday in Haaretz.

Services to olim will not be affected, Katsman stressed.

Katsman told JTA that the global financial climate so far in 2011 required NBN to make the cuts.

NBN receives funding from the Israeli government for each immigrant it brings to Israel. It does some fundraising, in the form of targeting major donors to sponsor planeloads of olim and other programs. Though it has not done any grassroots funding, “as we grow and grow the fundraising has to grow also,” Katsman said.

The staff and salary restructuring is a way to make sure that “the most money possible goes to the olim,” she added.

NBN works in partnership with the Jewish Agency to bring olim from North America and Britain to Israel. It also provides assistance to the olim, including job counseling, once they arrive in Israel.

Haaretz reported last week that the Jewish Agency is looking at restructuring its departments, which would include closing the Aliyah Department and transferring its field of operation to operational and program units.