By Howard Flower, ICEJ Aliyah director

“No logic can explain why a country at war attracts so many people.”

That intriguing assessment came from Emmanuel Sion, the official in charge of immigration from France for The Jewish Agency For Israel. While conflicts typically drive people away, he recently explained, Israel is drawing French Jews in increasing numbers despite more than a year of war on multiple fronts. This phenomenon also reveals much about the perils Jews face today in France.

The statistics are striking. More than 2,000 French Jews immigrated to Israel in the first ten months of 2024 – a 95% increase from 2023. The International Christian Embassy sponsored Aliyah flights for 300 of these French Jewish newcomers over this time span, plus another 200 who will arrive here by year’s end.

The current surge in Aliyah from France, which remains Europe’s largest Jewish community with some 450,000 members, comes amid rising antisemitism in the country, especially in its major cities.

At a recent Aliyah fair in Paris, over 2,000 potential emigrees queued up to discuss their prospects for moving to Israel. Their questions focused on practical matters: jobs, schools for the children, and Hebrew classes.

“I never thought I would leave France,” says Shana, a 23-year-old Jewish law student in Paris. She had scheduled her departure to Israel for November, and was taking precautions until then – using an alias on ride-sharing apps and sending hourly safety messages to her parents. Yet she described her decision as a positive choice rather than escaping.

The current exodus differs markedly from previous waves, such as the hasty departure of 7,835 French Jews following the Hyper Cacher supermarket attack in Paris in 2015. Today’s Jewish immigrants speak more about building a future in Israel than fleeing France. This distinction matters. Even as French authorities report a 300% rise in antisemitic incidents in early 2024 compared to the same period last year, the movement to Israel appears driven more by attraction than fear.

This presents a stark contrast with global trends. While worldwide immigration to Israel has fallen since January, French numbers continue to climb. Emanuel Sion from JAFI attributes this to a shift in thinking among French Jews, who increasingly see Israeli citizenship as their birthright rather than their last resort.

The implications for France extend well into the future. Each wave of Jewish exodus includes business owners, professionals and community leaders, creating gaps in French society.

For Israel, these new arrivals present both opportunities and difficulties. French immigrants often have means and professional skills. But they also require specific support, particularly with bureaucratic processes and language classes. The Israeli government has modified its integration programs accordingly, though bottlenecks persist.

Conservative estimates suggest 4,000-to-5,000 Jews will leave France in 2025. While considerable, these numbers would still fall below the 2015 peak. The steadier flow allows for better planning by both the immigrant Jewish families and welcoming Israeli authorities.

At the Aliyah fair in Paris, prospective movers spoke of participating in Israeli society rather than escaping French antisemitism.

“We’re not running from something,” one participant observed. “We’re answering a call that has always been there.”

This sentiment marks a critical change in outlook by members of the French Jewish community. While security concerns persist, and French authorities have strengthened protection of Jewish sites, the primary motivation appears to be a positive pull towards Israel.

This trend raises questions about Jewish identity and belonging in modern nation-states. France’s secular republic has long prided itself on equality and integration, even while Israel’s law of return offers Jews anywhere in the world an automatic right to citizenship. French Jews increasingly see these as complementary rather than contradictory options.

For Israel, the steady arrival of French Jews brings fresh challenges. Success depends not just on absorbing new arrivals but on meeting their expectations. As French Jews increasingly view Israeli citizenship as a right rather than a refuge, helping them find contentment with life in the Jewish state will prove crucial.

The shift in attitudes suggests a deeper change in French Jewish identity. What began as a security-driven exodus has become a considered choice for many to take up their rightful place in Israel while maintaining connections to France.

Profile of a French Jewish immigrant
Rafael was 30 years old when he decided to leave Paris, the city of his birth, and make Aliyah to Israel last July. Paris had offered him much – a rewarding career as a professor in business and entrepreneurship, his own thriving digital marketing company, and a cosmopolitan lifestyle. But for years, a quiet yearning for Israel had simmered within him.

His connection to Israel was not new. Rafael had served as a madrich (guide) for Taglit-Birthright tours bringing Jewish youth from around the world to explore the country’s history and culture. In 2017, he spent a year in Tel Aviv through the Masa program, immersing himself in the rhythm of Israeli life. Yet, despite all these experiences, he had never fully embraced the idea of making Israel his home – until now.

Everything changed on October 7. The events of that day struck a chord deep within Rafael, awakening his heart of Zionism. He realised, perhaps for the first time, how strongly he identified with the Land and people, as though a voice inside declared: ‘Your place is in Israel!’

At the same time, the worsening tide of antisemitism in Paris made his decision all the clearer. Living on the ground floor of his apartment building, he began receiving threatening messages scrawled on his windows: “Free Gaza” and other hateful slogans. The streets he once walked without a second thought became hostile. On social media, Rafael stood firm in his support for Israel, becoming an activist of the “Bring Them Home” protests advocating for the Israeli hostages in Gaza.

When he arrived in Israel, Rafael felt an unexpected sense of safety despite the ongoing war here. He learned to navigate life in Kibbutz Ma’agan Michael, in northern Israel, where shelters have been an absolute necessity as rocket sirens have sounded almost daily in recent months.

Rafael’s stay there is temporary, while he takes Hebrew lessons arranged by the Jewish Agency. In several months he plans to reconnect with old friends from his Masa days by joining them in Haifa. Rafael has no family in Israel, but he is determined to make it his permanent home.

His journey had not been without challenges, but Rafael views them as part of a greater purpose. He often reflects on the paradoxes of his new life: how leaving a stable life in Paris for one of unpredictability in Israel brought him peace. Through it all, Rafael felt that he was finally where he was meant to be – a place he can proudly call home.

The ICEJ has been assisting hundreds of French Jews like Rafael to make Aliyah to Israel this year, and we hope to bring even more in 2025. Please support our Aliyah efforts by giving to:  help.icej.org/aliyah

Main photo: JAFI