Jewish Agency reports 43,000 new immigrants moved to Israel since Oct 7 Hamas terror attack
Statistics from The Jewish Agency indicate that an astonishing 43,000 Jewish people have made aliyah (immigrated) to Israel since Oct. 7, 2023. With the rise of antisemitism across the globe, many are considering it preferable to take refuge in the Jewish state, despite it being under attack on multiple fronts.
“Over 43,000 olim from around the world since the war began are learning, working, serving – and most importantly – helping rebuild Israeli society. Every story is a beacon of hope. Every family strengthens our national resilience. The Jewish Agency will continue to guide, support and connect – so we can rebuild the face of a renewed Israel together,” said Jewish Agency Dir.-Gen. Yehuda Stone in a statement.
Arriving from various countries and representing all ages, approximately one-third of the new olim (new immigrants) starting a new life in Israel are between 18 and 35 years old, according to Ynet News.
Government-supported absorption centers and programs assist newcomers in adjusting to life in Israel, with some choosing to begin their integration at a kibbutz. The following accounts offer a look into their experiences.
Two months after the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, Matan Shamir (39) flew to Israel from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to volunteer for six weeks of agricultural work near the Gaza border.
What began as a six-week stay turned into six months, ultimately leading to his decision to make Israel his home. “I felt a strong need to help, especially now,” he explained. “This has always been the place for Jews. The work here is meaningful, especially near the border.” Shamir now lives in Kibbutz Or HaNer, working as an operations manager in agricultural marketing, and participated in the Jewish Agency’s First Home in the Homeland program. Some of his family members will fly to Israel from the United States and Switzerland to celebrate his upcoming 40th birthday.
A young couple from Argentina, Isabelia and Bert Bustamante (both 33) came to Israel last May.
“We knew all about the war, but we insisted on coming. Living in Israel had been our dream for a long time,” Isabelia said. The couple initially began their lives in Israel at a Jewish Agency absorption center in Nahariya, in northern Israel. Learning Hebrew was one of the first challenges to overcome. Because their lessons were located near the border of Lebanon, they also had to contend with rocket fire and sirens. They eventually joined a hospitality program supported by the Jewish Agency, receiving training in hotel service and the hospitality sector.
The Bustamantes recently moved to Netanya in central Israel. Both found jobs in Tel Aviv, with Isabelia working in a tech company cafeteria and Bert at Ben Gurion International Airport. They are the first in their families to make the move to Israel.
Coming from their Ukrainian home via Moldova and Romania, Victoria Masilnikov and her daughter Melania fled their war-torn country in 2022 to start a new life in Israel, another embattled nation. They initially settled in Kibbutz Kfar Masaryk in the Mateh Asher Regional Council, where she enrolled in the Jewish Agency program. “We were given a small but pleasant apartment,” she said. “I never once regretted my decision. The kibbutz is amazing, I’m happy to live here and my daughter feels safe and free at school.”
Six months ago, Victoria's husband, Yevgeny, was finally able to join them. Victoria has a job in a nursing home and Melania is now being raised in a more stable situation, despite the war.
Jewish Agency Chairman, IDF Maj.-Gen. (res.) Doron Almog said that moving to Israel is of “strategic and existential importance,” and that when Jewish people make aliyah, it helps to reinforce Israeli society in multiple areas.
“Behind every new oleh is a story of mutual responsibility and shared destiny between the Jewish people and our country. These stories reflect courage, Zionism and unconditional love for Israel,” Stone said.
“In every encounter with new olim – especially those who chose to tie their fate to ours after October 7 – I feel their deep sense of belonging and belief in our future. That’s the essence of Zionism: the understanding that we’re one people with one story and one mission,” he added.
Jo Elizabeth has a great interest in politics and cultural developments, studying Social Policy for her first degree and gaining a Masters in Jewish Philosophy from Haifa University, but she loves to write about the Bible and its primary subject, the God of Israel. As a writer, Jo spends her time between the UK and Jerusalem, Israel.
