New immigrants arrive in Israel
New immigrants arrive in Israelfile

A special ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon in Jerusalem's Old City to welcome 100 Jews who arrived on the first-ever charter flight for new immigrants from South Africa.

The pioneer "Aliyah plane" from South Africa, chartered and organized by the Jewish Agency and the South

The number of South African Jews interested in Aliyah (immigration to Israel) doubled in 2008.

African Zionist Federation, landed on Monday night at Ben-Gurion International Airport. A formal, festive welcoming ceremony will take place at the Western Wall Plaza in Jerusalem, with the participation of Jewish Agency Chairman Zeev Bielski and Minister of Absorption Eli Aflalo.

According to Jewish Agency data, the number of South African Jews interested in Aliyah (immigration to Israel) doubled in 2008, partially due to the current political situation in South Africa and the rise in crime and violence there. In the first half of 2008, 119 people made Aliyah from South Africa, as opposed to 74 during the same period last year. It is expected that more than 300 people will have made Aliyah from South Africa by the end of this year, as opposed to a total of 178 last year. 

The Jewish community of South Africa numbers approximately 65,000 people, 45,000 of them in Johannesburg and 15,000 in Cape Town. Since 1948, according to Jewish Agency figures, 21,000 South African Jews have moved to Israel. Israel is now the second most popular destination for Jews leaving South Africa, after Australia. 

The Chairman of the Jewish Agency, Zeev Bielski, who has just returned from a visit to the South African Jewish community, noted that the Jewish Agency has prepared itself for the rise in Aliyah from South Africa. The Agency has organized Aliyah fairs and opened new absorption tracks, in cooperation with the Absorption Ministry, the South African Zionist Federation and Telfed (the Israeli association of South African immigrants).

A Big Week for Immigration

In addition to the arriving South Africans, 210 North American immigrants arrived in Israel early Tuesday morning with Nefesh B'Nefesh. Watch the welcome they received here.

On Wednesday, three chartered planes carrying a total of 450 new immigrants from France will touch down in Israel. The French Aliyah planes are being organized by the Jewish Agency and the French-Zionist Aliyah et Meilleure Integration (AMI) organization. A welcoming ceremony for the new Israelis from France will be held at the absorption hall of Ben-Gurion Airport.



All told, this week will see 760 immigrants arrive in Israel by way of chartered flights from Jewish communities in three continents. That figure does not include immigrants coming individually or by other means.

Upcoming Nefesh B'Nefesh-sponsored Aliyah flights include planes landing on August 13 and 19, and September 8, 2008.