North American aliyah hits record month with over 1,100 immigrants

A record-breaking month saw over 1,100 North Americans immigrate to Israel in August, according to Nefesh B’Nefesh. This surge marks a new monthly high for the organization, which facilitates aliyah from North America. The group anticipates a total of 4,000 immigrants by the end of 2026, positioning this year as one of its most significant.

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It’s record-breaking for us.

Marc Rosenberg, Nefesh B’Nefesh's Vice President of Diaspora Partnerships, described the summer as "quite a summer," with over 2,300 people arriving. He noted a "significant increase in interest in aliyah" in recent years, with numbers rising three to five percent annually. This trend includes a growing number of younger singles and families.

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It's quite a summer. Over 2,300 people are arriving. It's really been a very busy summer.

Rosenberg cited parents' desire to raise their children in Israel and their admiration for the country's development as key motivators. "They want to be a part of the project that built Israel," he said, observing a perceived high quality of life and opportunities for young people. The average age of families making aliyah has also decreased, from around 32 to 29 in recent years.

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They want to be a part of the project that built Israel. They see a big quality of life here, and they admire what young people in Israel are doing. And they're saying they want to be a part of it.

This summer's immigrants include approximately 1,100 singles, 480 families, and 250 retirees, with ages ranging from five months to 98 years old. Around 700 school-aged children also made aliyah, with 80 set to begin first grade. Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, co-founder and executive director of Nefesh B’Nefesh, expressed inspiration at seeing so many young people choosing to build their lives and futures in Israel.

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a significant increase in interest in aliyah