Moving stories, worrying numbers: Behind the wave of immigration from North America

A wave of North American Jews is making aliyah to Israel, driven by rising antisemitism and a strengthened sense of belonging after October 7. Despite leaving comfortable lives, careers, and security, hundreds are arriving weekly. Nefesh B'Nefesh reports over 2,200 immigrants this summer, with a forecast of 4,000 for 2026. The average age is 29, and many are professionals. The article profiles several families, including the Snyders, who left New York for Jerusalem, and Eleanor Kotler, who left a dream job at Target.

A wave of North American Jews is making aliyah to Israel, driven by rising antisemitism and a strengthened sense of belonging after the October 7 massacre. Despite leaving comfortable lives, careers, and personal security, hundreds are arriving weekly. Nefesh B'Nefesh reports over 2,200 immigrants this summer, with a forecast of 4,000 for 2026. The average age is 29, and many are professionals. The article profiles several families, including the Snyders, a couple aged 67 from New York who moved to Jerusalem, and Eleanor Kotler, 43, from Minneapolis, who left a dream job at Target. The immigrants are settling in Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, Ra'anana, and other cities. The article frames the decision as a conscious move toward a more demanding place, not an escape.