Israel Matzav

Wow! 312% rise in aliya from France in first part of 2014

French Jewry has finally decided enough is enough. They are looking to leave France as soon as possible. The first three months of 2014 show a 312% rise in aliya (immigration) from France over 2013. And those levels were already higher than was the case just a few years ago.

Since January, the Jewish Agency said, 854 immigrants from France arrived in Israel, compared with just 274 in the same period in 2013. The Jewish Agency attributed the dramatic 312% rise in immigrants to the work it has been doing in the country, educating French Jews on the options available. Officials said that their efforts were aided by a deterioration of the French economy, and especially by a dramatic increase in anti-Semitism in the country, in which many Jews have been harassed and attacked by local thugs and gangs in recent months.

In addition to families and individuals coming to live in Israel, there has also been a large increase in the number of students coming to attend educational programs in Israel. Some 1,000 Jewish high school students recently participated in The Jewish Agency's Bac Bleu Blanc ("High School Seniors in Blue and White") program, which enables students at Jewish schools to explore opportunities for life in Israel following their graduation from high school.

Additionally, 1,000 French Jewish young people are currently participating in Masa Israel Journey, a partnership between the Government of Israel and The Jewish Agency that enables young Jews to experience life in Israel, compared to 500 just two years ago. Some 70% of French Masa participants make Aliyah upon completing the program.

I don't remember a lot of French from my high school years 40 years ago, but it sounds like I should be brushing up on it. 

Labels: aliya, French anti-Semitism

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:36 AM