Aliyah
Challenge: Ensuring the Future of Israel through Aliyah
Facilitating Aliyah Despite War
Even amid war, Aliyah did not stop in 2024, with 32,281** olim (immigrants) from 100+ countries choosing to make Israel their home with our assistance, including 22,474** from the FSU. About a third of all immigrants were young adults ages 18-35, who came to build their future in Israel. And more Jews around the world are interested in making Aliyah in the future, with a large increase in Aliyah files being opened throughout 2024, especially by Jews in North America and France.
In fact, overall, there was a 400% increase in Aliyah applications from France and a ~70% increase from the US and Canada in 2024 and thousands participated in Aliyah fairs globally organized in partnership with the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, World Zionist Organization, Ofek Israeli, Nefesh B’Nefesh, Keren Hayesod, and the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, as well as other Aliyah organizations.
*Final number of olim pending updates from the Ministry of Aliyah and Absorption.
Aliyah in Numbers
32,281* people made Israel their home in 2024. See how many came from where.
*Final tally pending updates from the Ministry of Aliyah and Absorption.
Global Aliyah total includes countries that cannot be listed individually for security reasons.
With a shortage of trained helping hands in the medical field in Israel due to increased demands due to the war, The Jewish Agency hosted numerous MedEx events around the world to promote the immigration of medical professionals. A collaborative effort by The Jewish Agency, the Aliyah and Integration Ministry, the Health Ministry, and Nefesh B’Nefesh, MedEx is part of a larger initiative aimed at recruiting 2,000 Jewish physicians to Israel over the next five years, accelerating their Aliyah process and expediting their medical license processing.
“I wouldn’t even have known where to start without MedEx, and without the support they provide as kind of a one-stop shop. We're hoping this will make the transition and job search easier as we make the big leap to Israel,” said Kathryn, a Californian doctor who attended the MedEx fair in Los Angeles in 2024 and is hoping to make Aliyah imminently.
32,000+
Olim (immigrants) from 100+ countries made Aliyah
400%
Increase in Aliyah applications from France
10,895
Olim supported by our absorption centers and other absorption programs
"I always dreamed about making Aliyah and this year that dream came true with the help of The Jewish Agency. I like it here in Israel; I feel safer despite the ongoing war. I really feel I’ve come home and am eager for the rest of my family to move as well."
–Daria from Ukraine, who made Aliyah in 2024
And The Jewish Agency doesn’t stop being there for immigrants once they make Aliyah, including ~2,200 lone immigrant soldiers who have made Aliyah through our Wings program. A joint program of The Jewish Agency, the Israeli government and the Merage Foundation, Wings has assisted participants with urgent needs since October 7 by providing food, financial grants, social services, emotional support and more. Further, ahead of the Passover holiday in April 2024, Wings reunited lone soldiers with family members from the U.S. France, Brazil, Ukraine and Belgium, flying relatives to Israel through our “Together for Seder” initiative.
“These lone soldiers who made Aliyah are a symbol of unconditional love for the State of Israel. They choose to tie their fate with the fate of the country, go out and fight and be an integral part of the war for our existence. The reunion with their families with the help of the Wings program is our way of thanking them, giving them strength and embracing them with great love,” affirmed Maj. Gen (res.) Doron Almog, The Jewish Agency’s Chairman of the Executive.
The critical support and resources we provide in Israel to ease their integration into Israeli society — whether it’s temporary housing in our Absorption Centers, Hebrew language classes at our Ulpans, assistance with finding jobs, navigating bureaucracy, etc. — ensure olim are set on the right path so they can start feeling at home in Israel as quickly as possible.
“Life in Ethiopia was very difficult and there were many periods where we had to face a shortage of basic things. After waiting years to immigrate, our dream finally came true. Now we live in a Jewish Agency Absorption Center and are learning Hebrew and since making Aliyah, my wife was able to reunite with her father and eight brothers and sisters already living in Israel,” shared Solomon, a resident of The Jewish Agency’s Beit Canada Absorption Center in Ashkelon who made Aliyah in March 2024 from Gondar with his wife, Talinish, and their four children.
Throughout 2024, 10,895 olim were supported by our absorption centers and other absorption programs. And The Jewish Agency aims to further strengthen Israel through Aliyah, with an ambitious goal of attracting 300,000 new immigrants over the next five years and expanding the range of support services we provide to olim.
