December 27, 2006 / 6 Tevet 5767
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Despite the War-a Continued Rise
in Immigration from the West And the Arrival of
Young People for Visits
According to Jewish Agency Statistics about 21,000 Jews Immigrate to Israel During the Year 2006. Record Aliyah from the West: the Highest Total from England in 22 Years and from
North America in 23 Years
A Substantial Growth in the Number of Young People Who Come to Israel for a Short-term and Long-term Stay-a Total of
49,000 Young People. |
In 2006 about 21,000 new immigrants are expected to arrive in Israel. Continuing the trend of the previous year, the rise in immigration from Western countries continues. For North America the the increase is 7% - 3,200 for this year as opposed to 2,987 for the previous year. From France about 2,900 immigrants will make aliyah till the end of the year in comparison to 3,005 for the previous year, which sets a 34 year record. From England this year 720 olim will arrive which marks a 22 year record. From the FSU 7,300 new immigrants will come to Israel and we are dealing with a decline of 23% in comparison with the previous year. Immigrants from the former Soviet Union still constitute the largest contingent, and represent about 35% of all immigrants for this year.
Simcha (Sam) Gluck, left, and his wife Rachel are greeted by Boaz Herman, Executive Director of the Jewish Agency for Israel Aliyah Dept. in North America as they arrive at JFK International Airport today to become the 10,000 Olim (immigrants to Israel) who are moving to live in Israel with the help of Nefesh B'Nefesh. For more photos and captions, click here.
1,450 olim will arrive from Latin America this year. 3,600 immigrants will arrive from Ethiopia, and for the first time in a special project 220 immigrants, members of the “Bnei Menashe Tribe”, immigrated from India.
On Wednesday, December 27 the last immigrant flight for this year arrived in Israel with 230 new immigrants from North America and England on board. A total of seven special immigrant flights including this one arrived from North America during the year 2006 in conjunction with “Nefesh b’Nefesh” and two special immigrant flights arrived from France in conjunction with the AMI organization. It is important to note that three such flights landed in Israel during the time of the Lebanon war.
Likewise an increase was recorded in the participation of young people worldwide in short-term and long-term educational programs in Israel. A total of about 49,000 young people will have arrived this year on such programs.
The number of young people and youths who participated this year in short-term programs: is about 42,000 (including “birthright” and the “Israel Experience” etc.) as opposed to 29,712 in the previous year. A substantial increase of about 17% was also recorded in the number of young people who participated in long-term educational programs: in the “Masa” program about 6,700 people participated as opposed to 5,583 the previous year (with reference to the academic year 2005-2006).
The Chairman of the Jewish Agency Executive, Zeev Bielski says that: “I’m pleased that the war in the North has not damaged aliyah or visits to Israel. After the difficult years which we experienced we believe that the improvement in the security and economic situation will intensify the feeling of security and together with the implementation of the new strategies of the “Aliyah by Choice” program which the Jewish Agency operates we will prove successful in increasing aliyah and visits to Israel.”
For further details: The Spokesperson and Information Unit, the Jewish Agency, 02-6202215