by Staff Writers

After two years of war and an alarming rise in antisemitism worldwide, our friends at The Jewish Agency for Israel expect a sharp increase in the number of Jewish families seeking to immigrate to Israel in the coming year. The door is open wide to receive them, and the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem is uniquely positioned to assist with this mass influx of Jews eager to reach their ancestral homeland.

“I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west; I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’ Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 43:5–6)

Since 1980, the ICEJ has assisted more than 193,000 Jewish people in making Aliyah to Israel. In 2026, our Aliyah efforts will once again span the globe as we help bring Jews home from the four corners of the earth.

Aliyah from the North

Over recent decades, the Christian Embassy has been very active in assisting Aliyah from the former Soviet republics, including Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and the Baltic states. This region remains a major source of immigration to Israel, especially since the war in Ukraine escalated in 2022.

In addition to funding Aliyah flights from Russian-speaking countries this year, we will sponsor Aliyah camps and pre-Aliyah seminars to help potential immigrants—especially young Jews—reconnect with their heritage and understand the opportunities available to them in Israel. We will also support programs that help new immigrants learn Hebrew, find housing, enroll children in schools, secure employment, and obtain professional licensing in fields such as law and medicine.

Aliyah from the South

Since Israeli leaders decided in 2015 to resume the historic return of the Ethiopian Jewish community, the Christian Embassy has sponsored flights for nearly half of the almost 8,000 Ethiopian Jews brought to Israel during this period.

The Israeli government plans another wave of Ethiopian Aliyah in 2026, and the ICEJ has committed to sponsoring flights for an initial group of 100 Ethiopian Jews, with many more expected to follow. Many Ethiopian Jewish families remain stranded in remote regions affected by drought and tribal conflict, and they urgently need rescue and assistance.

Meanwhile, Aliyah from South Africa is also increasing due to growing hostility toward the Jewish community, including from government officials. The ICEJ will continue to assist South African Jews in making their way safely to Israel.

Aliyah from the East

In November, the Israeli government approved a landmark decision to bring all remaining 5,800 members of the Bnei Menashe community in northeast India to Israel by 2030, with approximately 1,200 expected to arrive this year.

The ICEJ promptly committed to funding the travel costs for an initial group of at least 100 Bnei Menashe, with additional flights planned for later in 2026. They will be settled in Nof HaGalil and other communities in northern Israel, strengthening the Jewish presence in the Galilee.

The Bnei Menashe in the remote provinces of Mizoram and Manipur are currently facing ethnic violence, making this an urgent Aliyah mission. Jewish Agency officials and rabbinic authorities have recently been in India assessing the situation and prioritising families at greatest risk. Rescue flights are expected to begin soon, with the ICEJ once again playing a leading role in this historic and prophetic return from the east.

Aliyah from the West

Since October 7, there has been a significant rise in Aliyah from Western nations—including the United States, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Canada—largely driven by a dangerous surge in antisemitism.

Aliyah from Western Europe has increased by 138% since 2023, with France emerging as the single largest source, more than tripling its numbers over the past two years. Britain has seen a 136% rise, while immigration from Germany has increased by 34%.

Aliyah from North America has also surged and South America is likewise gaining momentum, with Argentina remaining the region’s largest source country due to its sizeable Jewish population. The ICEJ is already assisting families from Argentina and other Spanish-speaking countries through mentoring and integration programs, but significantly more support is needed.

Combined Aliyah from Western Europe and the Americas now rivals immigration from the former Soviet republics—a dramatic shift fuelled by growing anti-Israel sentiment, antisemitic protests, and violent attacks in Western societies. These trends are expected to continue and intensify.

In 2025, the ICEJ assisted hundreds of Western Jews, particularly from France and Britain, in making Aliyah. With your help, we can bring many more Jews home from the west in the year ahead.

Support Our Urgent Aliyah Efforts! Donate now at: help.icej.org/aliyah