By Marney Blom
Record numbers of western Jews are moving to Israel at a time of unresolved tensions in the Middle East.
Five-hundred-and-twenty new citizens of Israel traveled in a trio of flights from Toronto, New York and London, trading their relatively peaceful and secure lives in the west for the challenges of a region embroiled in conflict.
Moshe Berger, who was on board the Toronto flight, said Israel was his home. “I’ve always wanted to live there. My wife and I have always wanted to live there. Since we got married, it’s been the plan and here we are.”
Some passengers expressed concern for their safety in Israel, but there was a general sense of optimism among those who left Toronto’s Pearson International Airport to immigrate to Israel. The Hebrew word “aliyah” is commonly used to describe such a move.
One member of the Toronto flight, Avri Greenberg, said “In fact, with the current crisis it gives me even more conviction to make Aliyah now than ever before. I think Israel needs my support. It needs all the Jews’ support.”
The government of Israel’s Jewish Agency and the privately funded Nefesh B’Nefesh organization combined their efforts to make the event possible.
Nefesh B’Nefesh director of social services Tzvi Richter said: “All of these people have outstanding lives here in Canada, and they’re not running away from anything. Life in Canada is wonderful. They’re running towards something. They want to grow. They want to raise their families in Israel.”
Making Aliyah does come with a package of benefits. Along with the free flight to Israel, the Jewish Agency provides extras such as free Hebrew lessons, subsidized housing, health coverage and three years of college or university tuition. However, for many the motivation runs deeper than the incentives.
Vivienne Tankus, who was making Aliyah from Toronto with her husband, said Israel is home for the Jewish people. “It’s a spiritual home. It’s a physical home. Plus we’re going to meet our brand new granddaughter who is just a month old and our little grandson who is 15 months old. My daughter lives in Israel with her husband and her two children.”
Jonathan Moshevich, who was on board the plane from Toronto, expressed his conviction to make the move. “The war going on in the north of Israel, in Lebanon right now, has actually reinforced my desire to go to Israel. And I stand by my decision. I think it makes it the right decision when you don’t just go because it’s nice and the beach is warm. You’re going because you want to be there, and I do want to be in Israel.”
The strongest pull, however, seems to be rooted in religious conviction. About 70 per cent of the passengers on the flight from Toronto were orthodox Jews. For Avri and Lorien Balofsky, packing up their belongings and moving from Hamilton, Ontario to Israel has been a life-long dream.
“Aliyah definitely is a major part of my religious journey,” said Avri Balofsky. “I believe it is the Jewish homeland, and we pray three times a day to go to Israel. And anything we pray for we should also try and make happen in real life. All these things we pray for, we should have action associated with it.”
Whatever their reason for making Aliyah, the Israeli Government welcomes them with open arms. Immigration of Jews from the west is good for Israel.
“And today when we get from Canada a present, a beautiful present of … newcomers, mainly from Toronto but also from other parts of Canada,” said Ya’acov (Kobi) Brosh, Israeli Consul General of Toronto. “It’s certainly … a strong group of people who come. And they will help us so much in everything that we do need in Israel, which is the human resource … with all the misery that we’ve had in the last month, this is a great day today.”
It was, in fact, a milestone for Israel.
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