While it may be counterintuitive to immigrate to a country amid prolonged warfare, Israel has already begun to see an increase in interest for aliyah from Jewish communities around the world. Jerusalem Post Interim Editor-in-Chief Zvika Klein spoke with Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer on this interesting phenomenon as a result of rising antisemitism and worldwide Zionist spirit.
In 2023, Israel has seen an astounding increase in aliyah interest, with 400% more inquiries in France and 100% more from North America. Sharing his personal experience from an aliyah fair in Paris just two weeks prior, Sofer explained that for many Jews, October 7 has been a significant catalyst in their decision to move to the Jewish homeland.
“I think this situation has strengthened the solidarity and unity, and people are talking about this; it is a good reason to make aliyah,” Sofer explained to Klein, elaborating on the response to growing concerns of antisemitism, during the Jerusalem Post's Israel Summit. “We are experiencing [increased] antisemitism throughout the diaspora, but I think that people are making a point about Israeli solidarity.”
For Sofer, like many Israelis and Jews around the world, the concept of Jewish solidarity with Israel at its core, is not only very moving, but an opportunity for the way that Sofer and his ministry will approach aliyah preparations in the upcoming years.
Some of the major considerations are the ways that the ministry will offer accessibility for Hebrew lessons for interested immigrants and the robust support system they can provide ahead of aliyah. Sofer also posed the challenge of overcoming the high cost of housing in Israel, for which the ministry is working on finding a sustainable solution to attract new immigrants.
New immigrants as a national asset
Sofer added some of the ways that the influx of new immigrants serves as an asset for national challenges, highlighting a new initiative to bring more medical professionals to Israel, which began just before the war and gained significant momentum in the ensuing months.
In cooperation with the Health Ministry, the Aliyah and Integration Ministry is working to offer immigrants in the medical field support for navigating Israeli licensing and bureaucracy, as well as providing comprehensive professional Hebrew language courses for successful integration and contribution to the Israeli medical field.
Segueing to the contentious political climate before the war, Sofer, who is a leading member of the far-right Religious Zionist Party, addressed the importance of solidarity in light of the events since October 7th.
“I think that the war needs to change this issue in Israel,” Sofer explained, alluding to interactions between polarized political factions. “We must remember that our unity and solidarity, and how we work in parliament and through the media must change, and I hope that will be the case.”
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