December 11, 2006 / 20 Kislev 5767

Immigration to Israel expected to hit 20-year high

Jewish Agency anticipates over 3,000 olim from North America in 2006 marking highest immigration since 1983

NEW YORK, NY, -- The Aliya Department of the Jewish Agency for Israel is anticipating that by year's end over 3,000 Jews from the US and Canada will have immigrated to Israel in 2006, marking the highest aliyah from North America since 1983. The Jewish Agency`s partner in fostering increased aliyah from America is the Nefesh B`Nefesh organization.

As of November 30, 2,816 residents of the US and Canada formally became Israeli citizens this year, and over 300 more are expected to immigrate during the month of December – bringing the number to its highest level since 1983. (As of November 30, the US accounted for 2,533, or 90%, of olim, and Canada for 283, or 10 %.)

The last 5 years, since 2001, has seen an uninterrupted increase of some 10% each year in the number of North Americans immigrating to Israel.

Most immigrants were under the age of 35. The largest age group of immigrants, some 38%, is young, single or married adults, between the ages of 18 and 34, followed by children and teens under 18, at some 32%. Approximately 17% are middle aged, between 35 and 54, and 13% are 55 or over.

"This shows that there is a growing interest in aliyah and in the real numbers of new immigrants; we're going to redouble our efforts and increase the services we offer to help sustain this trend," said Maxyne Finkelstein, head of the Jewish Agency – North America.

This year also will mark a 20-year record year of aliyah from England, with some 700 olim arriving from the United Kingdom (compared with 400 last year). This will be the largest immigration from the UK since 1984. France will also have a very high immigration, with levels comparable to last year's level of 3,000 olim, putting aliyah from France at its highest levels since 1972.

For more information, please contact Jacob Dallal,
director of public relations at 212-339-6064 or 646-644-1205
or via e-mail at jacobd@jafi.org.

TRENDS IN NORTH AMERICAN IMMIGRATION TO ISRAEL

Caption for photos
Hundreds of young fans at join in as Hadag Nachash, a leading Israeli hip-hop band, perform Sunday, November 10, part of a day-long Israel festival sponsored by the Jewish Agency.

Nearly 3,000 people participated in the "Fall in Love with Israel" Festival in Manhattan. A departure form the traditional aliya information fair, Sunday's event was a mini Israel culture fest, capped off with a concert by Hadag Nachash band.

"We brought Israel to the hearts of hundreds of young people and Jewish families," said Boaz Herman, head of the Aliya department at the Jewish Agency – North America and the organizer of the festival. "This event shows that people are open-minded to aliya and excited about Israel."

The Jewish Agency anticipates that immigration to Israel from North America will reach a 20-year high, with over 3,000 becoming Israeli citizens in 2006, the highest number since 1983.

Photo credit: David Karp