More than 1,100 immigrants from North America arrived in Israel this month through the organization Nefesh B’Nefesh, setting a new monthly record for the group. The arrivals, which took place primarily at Ben-Gurion Airport, mark a significant increase in aliyah, or immigration to Israel, with the summer totaling over 2,300 new olim (immigrants) since June.
Founded in 2002, Nefesh B’Nefesh facilitates aliyah in partnership with Israel’s Aliyah and Integration Ministry, the Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael, and Jewish National Fund-USA. This year has seen unusually high numbers, with approximately 2,700 North Americans immigrating since January. The group projects that over 4,000 will make aliyah by the end of 2026, potentially making it one of its strongest years on record. The organization also recently marked the milestone of its 100,000th oleh.
Among the arrivals this month were seven families from the Persian Jewish community in Great Neck, New York, and several members of Brooklyn’s Syrian Jewish community, including a group of eight families who made aliyah together. Nefesh B’Nefesh Vice President of Diaspora Partnerships Marc Rosenberg attributed the rise in aliyah to a combination of factors, including a desire among parents to raise their children in Israel and admiration for the country’s youthful energy and opportunities.
“We see a significant increase in interest in aliyah, with numbers increasing between three and five percent annually over recent years,” Rosenberg said. He also noted a demographic shift toward younger families and singles under 30, many of whom intend to serve in the Israeli military or pursue higher education. This summer’s olim included about 1,100 singles, 480 families, and 250 retirees, ranging in age from five months to 98 years old. Around 700 school-age children arrived this season, with 80 set to begin first grade in the coming school year.
Nefesh B’Nefesh co-founder and executive director Rabbi Yehoshua Fass highlighted the influx of young people as a positive sign for Israel’s future, emphasizing their commitment to building careers and families in the country. Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer described the arrivals as “inspiring,” noting government efforts to facilitate new immigrants' integration into Israeli society and the workforce. Jewish Agency chairman Maj.-Gen. (res.) Doron Almog echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the newcomers’ role in shaping Israel’s future.
Among those who recently arrived was Marlene, part of the Syrian Jewish community from Brooklyn, who made aliyah with her husband and infant child. She described the move as a long-held personal goal, motivated by a desire to raise her family in Israel. Similarly, new immigrants Chava from Richmond, Virginia, and Gedalia from Silver Spring, Maryland, cited personal, cultural, and religious reasons for their relocation. Many newcomers have chosen to settle in major urban centers such as Jerusalem, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Modi’in, Ra’anana, and Beit Shemesh, while roughly 650 are moving to communities in Israel’s northern and southern regions, supporting growth outside the central metropolitan areas.
The sustained rise in aliyah from North America reflects a broader trend of increased interest among young families, singles, and retirees in making Israel their home, driven by diverse motivations including cultural identity, quality of life, and connection to the country's future.