Posted on 12/28/20
2020 also saw increased demand for Aliyah and internship programs, emergency aid for Jewish communities in crisis due to COVID-19, assistance to vulnerable populations in Israel, a first-of-its-kind Jewish emergency network, and more
Jerusalem, December 28, 2020 — Despite a year ravaged by the global COVID-19 pandemic, more than 20,000 individuals made Aliyah (immigrated to Israel) from nearly 70 countries in 2020 with the assistance of The Jewish Agency for Israel.
According to The Jewish Agency, by the end of December, approximately 20,000 olim (immigrants) will have arrived in Israel from all corners of the globe despite the limitations on mobility and international travel, with assistance from the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration and the Ministry of Interior. Data tabulated by The Jewish Agency showed that from January – November of this year, around 10,200 arrived from countries of the former Soviet Union; approximately 3,120 from Western Europe (about 2,220 from France - nearly the same number as in 2019); around 2,850 from North America (roughly 2,550 from the United States, according to Jewish Agency data in coordination with Nefesh B’Nefesh); about 1,500 from Latin America; around 280 from South Africa; and nearly 90 from Australia and New Zealand. The total number of olim from Ethiopia in 2020 is expected to be 1,200, of which 650 arrived in December as part of Operation Zur Israel and another 300 olim who will land on the last day of the year.
Join BJL on WhatsApp Status: Click here to Join BJL status for engagements, births, deals, levayos, events & more
Join BJL on WhatsApp Groups: Click here to Join an official BJL WhatsApp group for breaking news as it happens
"A wonderful thing happened to us - 20,000 Jews immigrated to the State of Israel during this pandemic year. 20,000 people who were ready to leave everything behind, in a challenging period of global turmoil, to come build a new life in Israel,” said Chairman of the Executive of The Jewish Agency, Isaac Herzog, in a meeting with children who immigrated to Israel during the pandemic from all over the world.
The Aliyah numbers for the year coincided with a sharp increase in people interested in moving to Israel. Since the start of the year, The Jewish Agency has received around 160,000 inquiries about immigration to Israel, and has opened roughly 41,000 new Aliyah application files, including 28,000 files from Western countries – twice the number opened in 2019. There was also a 41 percent increase in files opened for young adults aged 18-35 from Western countries. The Jewish Agency estimates that tens of thousands of people participated in Aliyah-related programming organized together with Ofek Israeli and the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, which were held virtually due to pandemic-related restrictions.
According to Jewish Agency estimates, Israel can expect an influx of about 250,000 olim to Israel over the next three to five years, assuming the Government of Israel implements a national plan for such a large wave of immigration and absorption.
“These olim landed straight into two weeks of isolation in a new country, unknown to everyone. There is nothing more exciting than seeing these wonderful children who made Aliyah during this difficult year. I hope COVID-19 will soon be over for them and their friends, that we will see the great wave of immigration that we are anticipating from all over the world, and that all the new olim will have a smooth integration and be received with much love,” added Chairman Herzog.
To better serve the complexities of immigration during a global pandemic, the Jewish Agency Global Service Center was established, with support from the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, to facilitate the Aliyah journey, especially given the limited mobility around the globe. In accordance with Israel’s pandemic regulations, the new immigrants went into quarantine immediately upon arrival in Israel, and thousands were housed in quarantine hotels set up for this purpose.
Additionally, over 7,500 young Jewish adults from more than 60 countries arrived in Israel with Masa Israel Journey. These Masa Fellows are teaching English in schools across the country, interning in a variety of sectors, volunteering and studying. There are thousands more who are expected to arrive in the spring. Masa is a joint project of The Jewish Agency and the Government of Israel.
Dozens of doctors became Masa Fellows in order to support Israel’s medical teams during the pandemic. Another 100 doctors are expected to arrive in Israel on the next cohort. In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, Masa gap year programs saw a 40 percent increase in applications, including those by students from leading universities who opted to defer and enjoy a meaningful experience in Israel rather than take virtual classes. There was a similar spike of 36 percent in applications for internships and other Masa Career programs.