Aliyah Fairs

Jewish Agency and Ministry of Absorption Launch Worldwide Campaign Targeting New Olim and Returning Israelis

Thousands of potential olim and Israelis living abroad attended aliyah fairs in Paris, London, Manchester, Montreal, and Toronto as well as Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Miami, and Washington DC, during the first half of December.  The fairs, which focused on employment opportunities in Israel and innovative new tax incentives for immigrants and returning Israelis, were part of an intensive campaign launched by the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, in conjunction with the Jewish Agency.  

The initiative comes against the backdrop of the global economic crisis, which has spurred increased interest in aliyah. Recent months have witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of Jews registering at Jewish Agency offices around the world. 

The Israeli delegation to the fairs, headed by Director General of the Ministry of Absorption, Erez Halfon, and Director General of the Jewish Agency‘s Department of Immigration and Absorption, Eli Cohen, included representatives from the Tax Authority, dozens of employers in the areas of industry, hi-tech, commerce, services, management, research, science, and medicine, as well as employment counselors, tax advisors and representatives of  the national health funds and institutions of higher learning. 

The fairs highlighted the new tax reforms and the assistance program designed to encourage entrepreneurs, business owners, scientists and other professionals to come to Israel and contribute to the Israeli economy.  New immigrants and returning residents will be entitled, for a period of ten years, to an exemption from taxes and reporting.  This includes all income generated outside of Israel including wages, business earnings, professional income, interest, dividends, rentals, royalties, and capital gains.  Olim will also be entitled to assistance in creating or transferring a business from abroad and finding or retraining for a new job.  

"The record number of Israelis that returned this year and the dramatic rise in the number of people who wish to return as a result of the economic crisis and the tax reform proves that a window of opportunity has been opened that we can’t afford to miss,” says Minister of Absorption, Eli Aflalo.  “I call upon all the Jews and Israeli citizens the world over to come to Israel and to enjoy the assistance we provide to help them get settled. There is no doubt that immigration at this specific time will help create jobs, establish new businesses, increase demand, enhance investment, and increase tax payments, all of which that will contribute directly to strengthening the economy.” 

 
Increased Immigration

 According to Director General of the Jewish Agency’s Aliyah Department, Eli Cohen, the global economic crisis is expected to increase immigration to Israel from Europe, North America, South America, and the FSU already in 2009.  Even more significant increases are expected from Ukraine, Argentina and South Africa, where severe economic crises have developed. The Ministry of Absorption has reported a 50% rise in the number of returning Israelis in recent months and an additional 9,000 Israelis have already announced their intention to return in the coming year.    

Minister Aflalo sees in the reforms a genuine revolution, one that for the first time combines Zionist ideals with financial viability. The tax burden, he says, has always been a primary obstacle for immigrants and Israelis wishing to return to Israel. The lifting of this hurdle will produce significant growth in the number of olim and will double the number of Israelis returning home. He is convinced that his ministry will continue to lift other economic obstacles, developing even more attractive programs and encouraging aliyah so that the nation’s best can return home – to Israel.