Aliyah from North America at the beginning of 2024 is slightly lower than it was at the start of 2023 – 602 Olim arrived between January and April this year, compared to 725 last year. However, Avichai Kahana, the Director General of the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, is convinced that those who make Aliyah this year will come at much larger numbers than in previous years. "Despite the war, 1,500 to 1,600 people are expected to arrive in just July and August alone," he says. "Based on our knowledge of Aliyah intentions, in 2024, we will break the records of the last ten years, with around 4,000 Jews making Aliyah to Israel from North America."
It turns out that the Swords of Iron War is not deterring Jews from the USA, Canada, and Mexico who are interested in making Aliyah to Israel; in fact, interest has only increased. "After years of a consistent decline in Aliyah files from these countries, since October 7, we have seen a surge in the opening of files in North America. These are numbers we haven't seen in decades," Kahana says. May was a peak month: 580 Aliyah files were opened in North America. This step indicates a practical interest in coming to Israel, living here, and becoming Israelis. "It's not just making a phone call and asking, but filling out forms to start the bureaucracy," he explains.
Not all files ultimately lead to Aliyah, he says, but only "Between 50 to 70 percent." Nevertheless, "We see that the wave is already coming. In France, there is a 500 percent increase in file openings. In South Africa, there is also a significant awakening. In North America, we see month after month that the number of Aliyah files being opened is twice as much as before. It's consistent, and not a peak. And it's crazy because even under war, under rockets, under a semi-existential threat from the north and Iran – amid all this, Olim are coming in numbers that haven't been seen in any other year, and twice as many are seriously interested in making Aliyah to Israel."
Are they coming out of Zionism and love for the country, or because of the difficulty of living in the United States at such a time, with blatant antisemitism in the streets?
"They are coming first and foremost because of love for Israel and solidarity. Most of the Olim are young or young families. On our tours abroad, especially in North America, they tell us: we want to participate in building Israel in the day after. After the Yom Kippur War and the 1982 Lebanon War, there were similar waves of Aliyah from people who felt more connected to Israel than ever. Among the many fallen in the war, there were quite a few lone soldiers, and we have sad but moving stories of parents who decided to make Aliyah to Israel after their son was killed in battle. The family of Andrei Kozlov, the hostage who was freed in a military operation a few weeks ago, is also now makeing Aliyah to Israel."
A Picture of Victory
Even before October 7, Kahana says, Minister of Aliyah and Integration Ofir Sofer instructed the ministry staff to focus on encouraging young Olim from western countries. Some Olim come for undergraduate or graduate studies, others are young doctors and psychologists who come with their families, and more. "Today, we provide increased assistance to Olim who choose to live in the north, the south, Judea and Samaria, or national priority areas. They receive two years of support of two thousand shekels per month for rent," Kahana says. Most Olim prefer cities with established Anglo-Saxon communities; but according to Kahana, new such communities are slowly being created, partly with the ministry's encouragement: "For example, in Kiryat Gat, an amazing Anglo-Saxon community is developing and growing."
The Director General of the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration reports that in the past year, a revolution has been taking place in the services the ministry provides to immigrants. "Hundreds of employees accompany them, checking where they are learning Hebrew and how, where the children are being educated, and whether they are finding suitable employment. Those coming from western countries can usually integrate quickly into the Israeli job market. I have a friend who works at Amazon, and when he opened two positions at Amazon in Tel Aviv – within two days, he received five inquiries from Jews in North America who told him they wanted to make Aliyah to Israel and get one of those jobs.
"We are developing many programs around the question of how to integrate them, not just how to get them to make Aliyah. Many of them have opportunities all over the world. A young person from New York who was sure they wanted to study at Columbia, but changed their mind because of the situation – could go to Miami, where it's easier, or to Los Angeles. In other words, in the end, we also need to be attractive. Other countries do this too, looking for doctors: England, Germany, Hungary, and even Canada."
Regarding the antisemitic propaganda in the USA – might it not intensify if Jews are perceived as "potential Israelis"? Presenting them as citizens who are not truly loyal to the USA.
"American Jews tell us that antisemitism doesn't ask that question. An antisemite is an antisemite not because Jews come to Israel. But we act responsibly and professionally, and greatly respect the places Jews come from. Minister Sofer is in close contact with community and federation leaders. I don't think Aliyah increases antisemitism; unfortunately, it grows on its own."
Maybe it weakens the fight against it. If the solution we offer is "leave, come to Israel" – it's kind of giving up.
"In the government and even in the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, efforts are made to strengthen the Jews there. There are sabbaticals, tours, and visits. Yes, October 7 was a great blow to the state and the nation, but Aliyah is a picture of victory, and it is a great opportunity for the State of Israel. These people come and strengthen us, they are a tremendous human resource, and the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration sees itself as the human resources department of the state as well."
What message would you like to convey to the Israeli public?
"The public must be partners in the great challenge of absorbing Olim. We are all immigrants or children of immigrants. In the Aliyah wave of the 1990's, the public in Israel was committed to the integration efforts. Soon, we will launch a campaign that will once again call on Israelis to welcome Olim. This is always true, and certainly during wartime. The Olim are building Israel, and we must do everything to integrate them – in the neighborhood, in employment, in communities, and in schools. This is an important statement to the Israeli public internally, but it also calls on our brothers abroad – come."
