Despite — and in many cases because of — the turbulent security events of the past two and a half years, North American Jews are making aliyah to Israel at rates that immigration organizations describe as among the highest in recent memory. According to figures from Nefesh B'Nefesh, the organization that facilitates aliyah from English-speaking countries, approximately 2,300 new immigrants from the United States and Canada are expected to arrive between June and September this year, travelling on 47 designated aliyah flights departing from cities across North America.
The summer wave follows a 2025 in which 4,150 North American Jews made aliyah — the highest annual total in four years and a twelve percent increase on 2024. More than 830 aliyah applications have been opened since the start of the Iran war in February, and over 500 North Americans have completed their immigration since January 1. The demographic profile of those arriving skews young: more than half of 2026's applicants are between the ages of 19 and 35.
Why Now
Interviews conducted by Ynet with prospective immigrants frame the decision in terms that go beyond straightforward push or pull factors. Many cite a combination of the October 7 attacks in 2023 as an emotional turning point, the experience of antisemitism on university campuses and in public life in the United States and Canada, and a deepened sense of connection to Israel that the war years — however difficult — have produced.
"People keep asking us, aren't you worried about the security situation? And our answer is: we've been worried about our security situation here for years. At least in Israel, it's honest about what it is."
The framing of immigration as an active choice rather than a flight response is echoed consistently across conversations with those who have completed the process or are preparing to do so. Jerusalem remains the leading destination for North American immigrants, according to Jewish Agency data, followed by Tel Aviv and the central coastal communities. A smaller but notable share is choosing peripheral cities, drawn by lower housing costs and government absorption incentives targeted at immigration to areas outside the main urban centers.
Absorption Challenges
The surge in arrivals puts pressure on Israel's absorption infrastructure. The Jewish Agency and the relevant government ministries manage a structured intake process that includes language instruction, housing assistance, and employment support, but the scale of the current wave is straining capacity in certain areas. Hebrew language courses — ulpan — are reportedly oversubscribed in several cities, and some new immigrants have described longer-than-expected waits for administrative processes to be completed.
Despite these challenges, follow-up data from Nefesh B'Nefesh suggests that retention rates among North American immigrants remain relatively high compared to historical averages, with a significant majority of those who arrived in the past three years still resident in Israel. The organization attributes this in part to a shift in the motivational profile of recent arrivals — those who come for ideological and identity reasons, rather than purely economic ones, tend to persevere through the initial difficulties of adjustment.