After 8-year downturn, aliyah up for second consecutive year
Number of immigrants to Israel reached 17,880 this past year, an increase of 18 percent over last year's figures collated by the Jewish Agency.
By Nir HassonThe number of immigrants to Israel rose during the Jewish year 5770 for the second successive year, reaching 17,880, an increase of 18 percent over last year's figures collated by the Jewish Agency.
The past two years of increased aliyah broke an eight-year downturn in numbers of immigrants.
As in 2008-2009, immigrants hail mainly from well-off countries, led by the U.K., the United States and Canada. The largest number of immigrants from Australia and New Zealand since the 1980s arrived this year - 220.
 |
Jews arriving in Israel after making aliyah in 2008. |
| Photo by: Nir Keidar |
Immigrants from the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe numbered 7,340, a 16 percent increase over last year. Some 1,360 immigrants arrived from Latin America and other Spanish-speaking countries. Approximately 1,320 new arrivals were from Ethiopia, as opposed to only 130 the year before, due to the change in the government's policy allowing Falashmura to come into the country.
Immigrants also came from Thailand, Hong Kong, New Caledonia, Japan, Tunisia, Mauritius, Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Malawi, Angola and Uganda, the Jewish Agency said.
"The increase is particularly exciting considering the campaign of delegitimization against Israel throughout the world these days. Every immigrant is a bridge between his community in the Diaspora and his old-new homeland, Israel," Jewish Agency chairman Natan Sharansky said.
Why Facebook Connect?
Comment on Haaretz.com articles with your Facebook login, and share your thoughts on your own wall.
- Latest
- Most Viewed
- Most Rated
- Open all
It is the most interesting country to live in . I am on my way .
to venezuelan jews go back to israel this our future land all our soldier need us congratulations to all god bless israel
Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda,Angola and Uganda -OK open the gates bring in more "Jewish " workers? Once they live here DONT deport their children. Who needs this Sharansky Agency! HJ.
I will stay in Portugal and 100% portuguese. Judaism is a faith, not a nation.
Every retournee is one voice less in securing israels view abroad, and that at a time when they are needed the most.
I was born and raised in New York City, no one ever broke my windows, called me any anti-semitic names, even the public schools were closed on Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur. I, like most americans who now live in Israel, in every city from Metulla to Eilat, came here by choice. Some to raise their kids in a authentic Jewish education, others for economic reasons, some, even as zionist idealists, but most importantly, we came here because we are Jews, secular and orthodox, white and black, young and old, singles and couples, to fulfill our destiny to restore Israel to all her people. It's that simple,
Let's leave aside whether your description of Jews making aliyah is accurate. By my calculation, the number of Jews making aliyah this year (all of them, not just the Americans) represents less than one third of one percent of American Jews. You're making generalizations on an entire group based on one-third of one percent?
Would be very interested in seeing that.
Look at the Yemenite Jewry, Venezuela, Russia, Bielarus, Russia, and all the other communities world wide. Come home for the sake of your children.
Get real: They all prefer to stay in their country and live at peace and in prosperity, than have to send their kids for three years in the military, and be forbidden civil marriage.
westbank??? settlements???
the immigrants are for the most part Torah-observant Jews who probably won't be of the haaretz ilk...
How I hate the way self-rightous Jews who think their minhagim are the only way to be Jewish use this phrase. Go back to Munsey if you don't want to allow religious pluralism and democracy to flourish here in Israel.
If only you were correct - how many jews are there from Thailand, Hong Kong, New Caledonia, Japan, Tunisia, Mauritius, Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Malawi, Angola and Uganda
but perhaps you are being a bit judgmental saying that I'm self-righteous, I mean like, how would you know? Do you really believe in religious pluralism? Is democracy divine? Please comment, I'd love to hear from you on this...
Whenever there are economic troubles in a country, aliyah from that country goes up. It would seem that many Jews are citizens of those countries only for convenience, and have no real attachment to that country. Thus they leave when it is no longer convenient to live there. Although this might seem puzzling in a place like America, where according to Gallup over 80% of Jews are classified as "upper class", it's actually pretty straightforward. Go to a Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn and you'll see far more Israeli flags than American flags. It's an interesting phenomenon, because you don't really see it with any other ethnic or religious groups (Irish Americans don't go to Ireland in a recession in large numbers, for example, and Hindus don't flock back to India).
Let me give you some facts as opposed to your rank speculation. I am one of those immigrants who came here a month ago with my family. We were well off in the US, and weren't citizens "for convenience" as you put it. We were full-fledged American Jews, enjoying all the fruits of American liberty as Jews and as Americans. We came to Israel to actualize ourselves as Jews and to live in a Jewish country--livnot ulehibanot. We know many other olim who came at the same time--none of the citizens of "convenience", all of them leaving very good jobs. That Jews are attached to Israel more than the Irish might be to Ireland or Hindus to India is not a reflection of alienation from American, but of the deep religious, historical and cultural attachment to Israel in which we are brought up and educated. As for "Jewish neighborhoods" in Brooklyn, you won't see many Israeli flags at all, and you will see far more American flags, if you actually have been there. That is partially because many of the Jewish neighborhoods are quite chareidi and non-Zionist, and the modern Orthodox feel themselves totally part of the American fabric notwithstanding their Jewish identity. As for your statement about leaving a country "when it is no longer convenient to live there" that is sheer nonsense. I and the people I know who came this summer were quite happily ensconced in all the cities of America but saw in Israel something which economics cannot provide: a life of meaning.
Let me give you some facts as opposed to your rank speculation. I am one of those immigrants who came here a month ago with my family. We were well off in the US, and weren't citizens "for convenience" as you put it. We were full-fledged American Jews, enjoying all the fruits of American liberty as Jews and as Americans. We came to Israel to actualize ourselves as Jews and to live in a Jewish country--livnot ulehibanot. We know many other olim who came at the same time--none of the citizens of "convenience", all of them leaving very good jobs. That Jews are attached to Israel more than the Irish might be to Ireland or Hindus to India is not a reflection of alienation from American, but of the deep religious, historical and cultural attachment to Israel in which we are brought up and educated. As for "Jewish neighborhoods" in Brooklyn, you won't see many Israeli flags at all, and you will see far more American flags, if you actually have been there. That is partially because many of the Jewish neighborhoods are quite chareidi and non-Zionist, and the modern Orthodox feel themselves totally part of the American fabric notwithstanding their Jewish identity. As for your statement about leaving a country "when it is no longer convenient to live there" that is sheer nonsense. I and the people I know who came this summer were quite happily ensconced in all the cities of America but saw in Israel something which economics cannot provide: a life of meaning.
As an American Hindu who immigrated from India, and who lives in the Boston area, I see MANY cars with Irish and Italian and Brazilian flag stickers. Indians in the area recently celebrated India.s independence day. On the other hand have not seen Israeli flags here.
It is a small minority of Jews living in the religious areas of Brooklyn. Jews have always been among the most patriotic Americans like the Italians and the Irish. The reason many decide to move to Israel is because unlike Italians or Irish, Jewish is a religion that believes in Israel as being our homeland and this allows us to live more completely as Jews. These numbers are very small (look at the million who came from the Former Soviet Union) but many of us are still proud of our American heritage - especially those who believe in Israel as a democracy.
this Kal is likely a conspiracy theory fan
Most Jews in the US say they will never go to Israel because they do not want their kids to serve in the military, especially in the occupied Palestinian territory. They also cite economic reasons, but that's different. I was wondering whether the army was something you kept in mind while taking your decision?
It is the moral , mental and general emotional reasons for a Jew , although not all , to want live in Israel . My immigrant friends gave up a lot in America to live a much more modest , but much more fulfilled life in Israel .
WooHoo! More settlers for Judea and Samaria.
You encourage these people to move on other people's land, creating more anger, hatre, frustration and violence and that makes you happy ? You're a danger.
Yes, I am a danger! I speak the truth about the nature of Israel and to souless liars like yourself, the truth is always a danger. You want some more? Get some!
According to you all of Israel is "other peoples land" . Your kind need no excuse for hatred and violence. Whats the encouragement for the killings in Iraq, Pakistan, Darfur, Yemen, New York, Madrid London, Beirut. Must be the Jewish immigration. No Sam you and your fellow Muslims are the danger.
...if you're British you'll know what I mean!
increased numbers of people fleeing for a better economic situation and pretending that it's god's will! brilliant.
I and everyone I know who came this summer left great jobs and high incomes. The only one "pretending" is you: pretending that Israel has nothing to offer a diaspora Jew except for an escape and that Judaism is empty of any attractive religious or spiritual content. The joke's on you, my friend.
I and everyone I know who came this summer left great jobs and high incomes. The only one "pretending" is you: pretending that Israel has nothing to offer a diaspora Jew except for an escape and that Judaism is empty of any attractive religious or spiritual content. The joke's on you, my friend.
Numerous studies support that the majority of Jews who make aliyah leave low paying jobs and lower middle class backgrounds. It's fact. Live with it.
If you bothered to read the full report you'd see that aliyah from English-speaking countries and Western Europe hasn't changed. What's up is aliyah from the FSU, which has been hit harder than any other Western area during the recession. So indeed economics has a lot to do with it.
Let's have citations to those "numerous studies" I have to live with. For now, I'm living with my currently LOWER Israeli income, very happily.
Please name me just ONE reliable study! Of course you'd say something like that. America worships not Jesus, not Mohammad, but the Almighty Greenback! You will most likely deny it but you know deep down it's true! That's why you have distorted notion of loyalty to a way of life, ie. Judaism, and can only understand the worth of cold cash. Just for future reference, the definition of fact is a piece of knowledge rooted in reality, so please don't use big words like that if you aren't ready to back them up.
Post a link. Lets see how much of a fact it is or is it purely in the anti Israel imagination.
You forget that the great waves of immigration into the States (including most likely your family) was made by people leaving low paying jobs and lower middle class backgrounds. Just as those people and their children made America the great country it is today so shall the immigrants to Israel and their children make Israel a great country in the future. You are a racist and a snob. Its a fact live with it.
Boy I'd love to see it. Wait.... I highly doubt any such study exists.