New immigrants have not been deterred by the war; they’ve looked past the security challenges and have decided to uproot their lives, heading to the Holy Land.
The Aliyah and Integration Ministry published a summary of immigration data on Wednesday, tracking the progression of the 27,281 who have moved to Israel since April 2024.
New beginnings are afoot for new immigrants, or olim, hailing from countries in all corners of the world.
The country with the most new immigrants is Russia, with 15,188. Following that are the United States, France, and Ukraine.
Beyond the “typical” countries of origin, immigrants arrived from South Korea, Kenya, Zambia, and even Afghanistan, adding a unique twist to the olim community.
Olim come at various ages: 212 immigrants in the last year were at or above 85, and 5,700 were under 18, moving as part of one of the 15,020 families who immigrated. The largest group, making up 16% of immigrants, was the 25-34 year age range at 4,519 people.
New immigrants settled in 286 communities
Among those who moved here in the last year was Salomé Bokobza, 30, who moved from France.
“I never really considered aliyah until my trip here two [Passovers] ago in 2023. I am pretty traditional; I keep Shabbat and kosher, and I found it harder and harder to do so in France, especially as a young professional,” she told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday.
“I would always feel a bit different and on the side. I couldn’t spontaneously ‘grab a bite’ if going out or traveling. I always felt like I had to check if I could easily find kosher food, which was a massive struggle. But when I’m in Israel, it’s not even a thought.”
She said that wherever she goes, she can find something kosher, and no one will ask her what that means.
“The same goes for Shabbat. I just couldn’t bear anymore the ‘You Jewish people never work?’ or ‘Can’t you just do Shabbat another day?’... kind of comments,” she noted.
“I started to really think about [making aliyah], and then I met my boyfriend, who is Israeli. After October 7, when I was still a tourist, more than ever, I felt disconnected from my friends and circle in France. No one could really understand or care. I felt like I did not belong anymore, so I sped up my aliyah process to leave ASAP, and here I am,” she said.
“So far, so good. It has not been an easy ride, but to me, it is worth every minute. Even hours at [the Population and Immigration Authority] won’t make me want to leave.”
Bokobza, like many other olim in her age bracket, provides a significant boost to the labor market. Immigrants came with a variety of professions: 1,345 healthcare workers, 3,236 engineers, 297 artists and athletes, and 13 farmers. These are all in addition to countless immigrants working in other industries, including education and hi-tech.
New immigrants settled into 286 different communities nationwide, with Tel Aviv-Jaffa leading the way, absorbing 15.5% of immigrants, or 4,215 people. This was followed by Netanya with 4,066 and Haifa with 3,032.
Immigrants did not only settle in big cities. Some found their way to communities like Carmei Gat, Mitzpe Ramon, Ma’aleh Gilboa, and Revava.