The Complexities of Aliyah
BY ROI ABECASSIS
On the first night of Chanukah, we celebrated the wedding of our eldest son, Shahar, to his bride, Naama. The wedding took place the night after Islamic terrorists murdered 15 Jews at a Chanukah celebration on Bondi Beach in Sydney. Just before breaking the glass, we mentioned Jerusalem, as is customary. The rabbi performing the kiddushin mentioned the massacre in Sydney and called on the Jewish community there to buy one-way tickets to Israel immediately.
This sentiment echoed an editorial published that week in Makor Rishon by Hagai Segal, titled “Jews, Home.” In the wake of the massacre, Segal called on Diaspora Jews not to delay any longer but to make Aliyah immediately and en masse. He wrote: “The real lesson from the attack is a one-way plane ticket from Australia to Tel Aviv. There is an illusion that if only the governments of the world would deal more firmly with antisemitic instigators and allocate a few more vehicles for security, the Jewish communities abroad would be protected. But there is only one country in which they can protect themselves… A few hours after the massacre, photographs of candlelight vigils were distributed to all corners of the world, specifically in Australia. Someone posed with tefillin on the attacked beach. Very moving, but a photograph of Sydney Jews with a one-way plane ticket to Ben-Gurion Airport would be even more convincing proof that the real lesson has been learned. The Jewish state is not supposed to cultivate its relations with the Jews of the Diaspora now, but to urge them to make Aliyah.”
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, speaking at a conference in Rishon LeZion, declared: “I call on the Jews in England, France, Australia, Canada, Belgium: make Aliyah to Israel.”
Though I agree with them in principle, these statements caused me a certain discomfort. There is no dispute – the place of the Jews is in the Land of Israel. Mass Aliyah must occur not only when waves of antisemitism break against Jewish communities worldwide, but also in times of peace and quiet. For 2,000 years, we yearned to return to our Land, and now that we have the historical opportunity to reach it, we must rise and ascend to Zion. We must not delay.
At the same time, I would like to make three observations about what was said.
First, it seems that the State of Israel remembers Diaspora Jewry primarily after severe disasters. Browsing the internet, I found calls by Israeli leaders to “return home” after the attack at the Hyper Cacher in Paris and the murder of a Jewish security guard at the entrance to the Copenhagen synagogue. After each attack, Israeli leaders emphasize that there is no longer a future for the Jewish community in this or that place.
Israel’s connection with Diaspora Jews must be continuous and strong. The State of Israel must prepare vigorously to open doors and hearts – allocating resources, building absorption plans, and creating housing and employment solutions for new immigrants. These steps take time and require advance preparation.
Second, calls of “Jews, come home” must be delivered with sensitivity to the real challenges immigrants face – leaving behind relatives, confronting mental and economic hardships, uprooting entire lives. This requires not just the right tone but genuine understanding of immigrants’ needs and concrete solutions.
Third, despite the calls for Aliyah and the terrorist attacks against Diaspora Jews, seven million Jews will not arrive in Israel next year. The Ministry of Absorption is preparing to double Western Aliyah and absorb 30,000 immigrants in 2026. But this is a drop in the ocean – we must recognize reality.
Many of our brothers and sisters will continue to live in Diaspora communities. Therefore, Israel must both encourage Aliyah and maintain strong connections with Diaspora Jews. We must send shlichim to communities that lack them, strengthen Jewish education worldwide, bolster Jewish presence on campuses, facilitate delegations between Israel and the Diaspora, and assist communities fighting assimilation.
Signs of change are emerging. Last week, an American Jewish community purchased two residential towers with 200 apartments in Israel – an unprecedented concentrated purchase. Some will make Aliyah following their children serving in the IDF or studying in Israeli universities. Others will maintain an apartment in Israel for times of need.
Rabbi Drukman, whose third yahrzeit we recently commemorated, interpreted the verse “When the L-rd returned the captivity of Zion, we were like dreamers” as an alarm clock calling us to wake up. G-d calls us to awaken at the time of return to Zion, to join the divine movement and become partners in returning the Jewish people to their land.
Let us wake from the dream and encourage the growing trend of Aliyah – but with understanding of the difficulties involved and preparation for proper absorption. And let us not forget those who have not yet awakened, working to return the hearts of the fathers to the children and bring them home.
Roi Abecassis is Head of the Department of Jewish-Zionist Identity at the World Zionist Organization and Deputy Chairman of KKL-JNF, representing the World Mizrachi movement in the National Institutions.