Doctors and nurses are always needed, but a year into the COVID pandemic, the Jewish Agency is developing a comprehensive program designed to help medical professionals from all over the world make aliyah and join the Israeli healthcare system.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
In 2020, about 950 medical and paramedical professionals immigrated to Israel from around the world, including more than 300 physicians who made aliyah with the assistance of The Jewish Agency.
Accordingly, The Jewish Agency decided to develop a unique program for immigrant doctors in order to ease their rapid integration into hospitals and clinics throughout the country. The program will enable medical professionals to start studying Hebrew while still living abroad. Upon arrival in Israel, they will be integrated into joint programs with the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration and Ministry of Health, as well as the Masa Israel Journey.
Among other benefits, the medical professionals will receive housing in absorption centers and kibbutzim, afterschool programming for children, assistance in preparation for Israeli licensing exams, and internship placements.
During the Board of Governors conference scheduled for this week, global Jewish community representatives will meet with doctors who have already immigrated to Israel to hear about their experiences making aliyah at the height of the pandemic.
"Olim [immigrant] doctors who will join medical teams working day and night on the COVID-19 health crisis," said Jewish Agency Chairman Isaac Herzog.
"In addition to benefiting the health care industry, Aliyah also holds huge potential to boost the Israeli economy as the country continues to navigate a challenging economic period," Herzog said.
As part of its work to rehabilitate Jewish communities that have been hit hard by COVID-19, The Jewish Agency will utilize its international emergency preparedness network, JReady, to provide community leaders and organizations with training in dealing with traumatic events. Representatives of the Board of Governors will meet during the conference with heads of Jewish communities from Turkey, South Africa, Brazil, and Italy to hear about the state of emergency preparedness in their communities.
The Jewish Agency will also operate a special fund to boost the security of Jewish communities worldwide and send emissaries to 65 countries to support the education and social support systems in local Jewish communities.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
