Dear Friends,

I enclose the findings of a survey of the level of satisfaction among olim from North America who arrived in Israel in 2004 - 2005 with their absorption process and the support they received during their initial period in Israel.

The survey was coordinated by the Information, Planning and Evaluation Section of the Department of Aliyah and Absorption. It was carried out by Dr. Mina Zemach of the Dahaf Institute. Dr. Zemach is one of Israel's leaders in the field of public opinion surveys and has conducted hundreds of surveys and research studies on a wide variety of subjects. Her research is well known for its reliability and professional standards.

The survey is the first in a series that will assess the level of satisfaction from various Jewish Agency programs and activities and that will be conducted in accordance with the policy determined by Zeev Bielski, the Chairman of the Executive, and in keeping with the new Strategic Plan, which calls for evaluation and measurement.

The survey was carried out among representatives of 402 households (numbering 1,464 individuals) who are representative of the population of olim from North America that made aliyah during the 12-month period from the beginning of September 2004 until the end of August 2005.

In general, a large majority (93%) of the interviewees expressed a high level of satisfaction with their absorption in Israel.
Some 74% said that if asked, they would recommend aliyah to others; 80% of the olim received substantial assistance from one organization or another (government ministries, the Jewish Agency and/or Nefesh BeNefesh) and 84% of the olim received assistance of some kind in the aliyah process.

Nonetheless, the survey results confirm that employment is a central component in successful absorption and that a comprehensive effort is required to improve the assistance provided to olim in this area. This support must come from the Jewish Agency, working together with the Ministry of Absorption and other government ministries.

I welcome your comments and suggestions. moshev@jafi.org

Yours sincerely,

Moshe Vigdor

To download North America Olim Survey of Satisfaction, click here (word).

For further information contact:
Michael Jankelowitz
Liaison to Foreign Press
The Jewish Agency for Israel
Cell: 052-6130220
Voicemail: 02-6202780
e-mail: michaelj@jafi.org