By: Ryan Tsuen

A special Aliyah flight touched down at Ben-Gurion Airport on Monday (6 July), carrying 128 new Jewish immigrants from France who arrived with full suitcases and their hearts even fuller. The flight, sponsored by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, represents the latest milestone in a remarkable, long-standing partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel that over the past 16 years has helped thousands of French Jews turn their lifelong dreams of living in Israel into reality.

As anticipation built up in the arrival hall, the atmosphere filled with excitement. A jubilant welcome reception awaited the immigrant families, as fathers, mothers, and children from toddlers to teens, were ushered through an archway of blue and white balloons, exchanging emotional hugs and greetings. It was a moment of sheer joy as the olim (newcomers) were warmly embraced and welcomed to their ancestral homeland.

The ICEJ’s commitment to French Aliyah began in the wake of Operation Cast Lead, the 2009 Gaza war, which triggered a sharp and sustained rise in antisemitic violence across France. Recognising the urgent need, and the deep longing of French Jewry for a secure Jewish homeland, the Christian Embassy joined in. Since 2010, the ICEJ has regularly sponsored Aliyah flights from France and assisted thousands of new immigrants with their immediate integration needs—from special programs for medical doctors to housing support and Hebrew-language courses.

The connection deepened after the 2014 Gaza war (Operation Protective Edge) and the resulting antisemitic surge into 2015, which triggered such horrific attacks as the Hypercacher supermarket siege. During that difficult period, the ICEJ again assisted a fresh wave of French Jews determined to build their future in Israel.

Now, in the aftermath of the October 7 massacre in 2023 and the ensuing rise in antisemitism, France is witnessing an incredible new wave of Aliyah. Once more, the ICEJ is at the forefront, facilitating flights for those answering the call to come home. The latest plane load from Paris, filled with 128 Jewish immigrants ranging from young families to retirees, represents both a physical journey and a spiritual homecoming.

ICEJ Vice President of Aid and Aliyah Nicole Yoder accompanied the flight from Paris and offered an encouraging word to several families gathered around her in the arrivals hall.

“You’ve made a big decision to start a new life back in the land of your forefathers. It will come with its challenges and joys. Know that you are not alone. Your people are with you as well as many Christian friends. This moment reminds me of when Joshua and the people of Israel first came into the land. Joshua told them: ‘Be strong and courageous.’ And it is also written that ‘Hashem will be with you wherever you go.’ So, may you have a soft landing and be blessed abundantly.”

What makes this current Aliyah wave so powerful is its motivation. Most of the French immigrants arriving these days are driven first and foremost by a deep love for Israel. It is the fulfilment of a lifelong dream to live as free Jews in a Jewish state, to raise children with a Jewish education, and to participate in the miraculous rebuilding of their ancient homeland.

“We decided to make Aliyah three years ago when I realised with my wife that the best land for my kids would be Israel,” one father said during the welcome ceremony. “We had a very good situation in France. But we also see the dynamics from now to twenty years from now, and we are sure that the best place for them – and it’s a conviction for us – is to be in Israel. That’s why we made Aliyah.”

Also on board was the Ohayon family, with parents David and Sarah and their three young children, who left behind a comfortable life in Marseille.

“We were never in physical danger every single day, but our souls were in exile,” Sarah shared, tears in her eyes as she cradled her youngest. “Here in Israel, my children will breathe Jewish air. They will learn Torah in the land of our ancestors. We have dreamed of this since we were married. The ICEJ made it possible.”

The Christian Embassy’s support does not end at the arrival gate. In coordination with our partners on the ground, we provide new immigrants with integration assistance and professional retraining programs, among other services. Over the years, the ICEJ has quietly helped thousands of French Jews settle in Israel, ensuring their first months in a new country are filled with hope rather than hardship.

Many of the arrivals are entering the country with clear, optimistic goals for their future. A young woman named Lola took a moment to share her immediate plans.

“We will be staying in Jerusalem, and I will do the ulpan (Hebrew class) first, and then I will find a job.”

This practical, determined outlook reflects the thinking of many other newcomers, whether they are single young adults or married couples arriving with young children.

Another young woman, who wished to remain anonymous, had just graduated from high school before embarking on the flight. Having finally landed safely in Israel, she shared her upcoming path.

“I am going to do Sherut Leumi (national service), so I’m volunteering with Magen David Adom, and I will try afterwards to pursue my studies,” she said.

Her excitement was evident in her gleeful smile as she looked forward to her next chapter in life. When asked what the most surprising part of the journey was for her, she replied with a smile and a laugh: “I think it was the welcome, I never felt like such a star.”

For the 128 Jews who stepped off the plane this week, the journey represents both a personal victory and a national one. Against a backdrop of global turmoil, France’s Jewish community continues to vote with its feet, declaring that the future of the Jewish people lies in the Jewish state. Thanks to Christian friends around the world, with special acknowledgment of a generous gift from an American donor and from Francois and Agnes Leclercq in France, this declaration has become reality. As the newcomers held up their brand new Israeli ID cards, smiles spread across the their faces. This also was a reminder that every Aliyah flight is Bible prophecy fulfilled.

During the official welcome ceremony, Nicole Yoder addressed the new arrivals in Hebrew.

“I represent the ICEJ and many Christians around the world who are sending their love and support,” Nicole assured them. “Especially in these difficult days when antisemitism has increased, we want you to know that you have many friends around the world who stand with you. At the Christian Embassy, it is our honour to support Israel, and we will continue to stand by your side in this, your new land.”

As the ceremony came to a close with the singing of Hatikvah, Israel’s national anthem, the new Israeli families tightly embraced one another, taking deep breaths and wiping away tears of joy, as they fully realised they were starting a whole new life together in their biblical homeland.

Over the past 18 months, Aliyah from France and the West has now become the biggest source of Jewish immigration to Israel, a truly historic development. The ICEJ will sponsor another Aliyah flight from Paris in August, and we also have the opportunity to support yet another plane load of French Jewish immigrants this fall. But we need your help. Please give towards the ICEJ’s urgent Aliyah efforts today!

Please enjoy this special video of the French Jewish immigrants’ journey to Israel.

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