New olim (immigrants) arrive in Israel
Photo: Nir Kafri for The Jewish Agency for Israel
Aliyah
In 2023, as we have done for years, we continued to promote and prioritize Ethiopian Aliyah, as well as enable Jews impacted by the Russia-Ukraine war to move to Israel. And once immigrants arrived in the Jewish state, whether they were kids, young adults, or seniors, we provided them with help and resources to ease their transition to life in Israeli society. Over the course of the year, 47,012 olim (immigrants) from 93 countries made Aliyah with our assistance.
In early February, 95 Ethiopian Jews landed in Israel through the continuation of Operation Zur Israel, reuniting with family members already living in the Jewish state, some of whom had been separated for decades. We then provided these newcomers with a warm welcome and initial housing at our Absorption Centers to aid their integration into Israeli society.
Throughout 2023, in our 17 absorption centers across Israel, 9,272 olim were housed and cared for.
Jewish Agency Chairmen Mark Wilf and Doron Almog
greet Ethiopian immigrants on the tarmac in Israel
Photo: Maxim Dinshtein for The Jewish Agency for Israel
The final flights of Operation Zur Israel landed in May and July. The May flight brought 111 Ethiopians to Israel, who were accompanied on the plane by renowned dignitaries, journalists – including New York Times columnist Bret Stephens – and social media personalities. The special delegation was led by Mark and Jane Wilf. On the July flight, another 130 Ethiopian olim (immigrants) were welcomed to Israel, marking the end of the second phase of that Aliyah operation.
“Touching down in Israel with new olim from Ethiopia reminds us how lucky we are to have the State of Israel as a homeland and safe haven. Bringing these olim to start a new life in Israel embodies The Jewish Agency’s dedication to our historic role as an unwavering advocate for the Jewish people, wherever they may be,” said Mark Wilf, Chairman of the Board of Governors of The Jewish Agency.
In total, 1,678 immigrants from Ethiopia came to Israel through the continuation of Operation Zur Israel in 2023.
Aliyah in Numbers
47,012 people made Israel their home in 2023. See how many came from where.
*Global Aliyah total includes countries that cannot be listed individually for security reasons.
When violent clashes broke out between the Ethiopian Army and the FANO militia in the Amhara province, trapping some 150 Israelis in August 2023, our longtime presence and existing infrastructure in Ethiopia allowed us to move swiftly to coordinate a dramatic rescue mission. Working with the Prime Minister’s Office, we organized three flights from Gondar to Addis Ababa to evacuate Israeli expats, Ethiopian citizens eligible for Aliyah, and Jewish Agency staff and participants, including volunteers from our Project TEN program, from the war-torn area.
“We initiated this rescue operation as part of our shared commitment and strong dedication to our people. We won’t break our promise; we won’t abandon any Jew who needs our help on the ground,” said Doron Almog, The Jewish Agency’s Chairman of the Executive.
We also continued to assist Jews from regions impacted by the Russia-Ukraine war in making Aliyah. In February 2023, the Russia-Ukraine war reached its one-year mark, with the number of Jews immigrating to Israel due to the conflict remaining high. With our help, some 11,516 olim (immigrants) arrived in Israel from primarily Russia, Ukraine and Belarus in January and February 2023. Once they arrived in Israel, The Jewish Agency offered key resources and support to aid their transition as they settled into their new home.
Jews fleeing the Russia-Ukraine War land in Israel
Photo: Maxim Dinshtein for The Jewish Agency for Israel
For senior olim from Ukraine, to further help them integrate better and battle loneliness in their new country, a new Jewish Agency program paired these elderly immigrants with university students who speak their language. After a successful pilot in Karmiel in Northern Israel, where 12 students accompanied 47 seniors, helping them one-on-one as well as through group events, the initiative planned to expand throughout the country.
“I helped Rima and Alexander, both in their 70s, who had fled Kharkiv, with various documents, including for pensions, and told them about Karmiel and Israel,” said Alisa, a volunteer. “It’s not easy to move to a new country at their age, and they needed help and a sympathetic ear.”
And for young adults who recently made Aliyah, our Ulpan (Hebrew language) programs across Israel continued to help them in their transition to life in Israel, from developing these young immigrants’ Hebrew skills to offering guidance and tools to fostering lifelong friendships.
In 2023, 754 new olim from 41 countries participated in Ulpan Etzion programs.
“When I began at Kibbutz Ulpan Ma’agan Michael, I only knew a few words of Hebrew. And now, I can say with confidence that I can really speak Hebrew and I’m also so happy at how my family has grown. I’m so grateful for The Jewish Agency, the Kibbutz Ulpan program and my amazing Kibbutz Ma’agan Michael. This was one of the best experiences, which I will keep with me forever,” shared Federica, 26, from Rome, Italy, who participated in two back-to-back, five-month Kibbutz Ulpan cohorts from August 2022 to May 2023.