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The Future

of Aliyah

An Interview With

Minister Ofir Sofer

Since the State of Israel was established just 75 years ago, the country has absorbed over
3 million olim. Ofir Sofer, Israel’s Minister of Aliyah and Absorption, works every day to
welcome and assist olim from Moscow to Miami.
Rabbi Aron White met with Minister Sofer to hear about his plans, his trips to the USA and
France, and to discuss the future of communal Aliyah to Israel.

Minister Sofer, thank you for meeting with us. You became Soviet Union because of the war between Russia and
the Minister of Aliyah in December of last year. What are Ukraine. Is this the new normal? Are we in the middle of
your goals for the ministry? another wave of mass Aliyah?
As a religious Jew, I am deeply inspired by the mission of shivat
Tzion, of helping the Jewish people to return home to their Land. In the first few months of the war there was a spike of olim from
Historically, most of the waves of mass Aliyah have been driven by Ukraine, followed by an increase from Russia, and recently we
crises like antisemitism, war or economic challenges. That exists are specifically seeing large numbers coming from Moscow. We
today too, but we also want to do everything for those who are have to be realistic – most people do not expect that the war
making Aliyah for more ideological and inspired reasons. There will end tomorrow, so we have to continue to be ready for this.
are countless practical things that we do, from running ulpanim, When I became the Minister, the Ministry was actually operating
to receiving olim from all over the world to providing financial under crisis mode, as it had been overwhelmed by this sudden
assistance to olim already in the country, so we can do everything increase in olim. Much of my initial months were spent restoring
possible to help Jews move and integrate in their homeland. regularity in how we operated.

As much as each country has its own needs, the increase in
Let’s start with today’s biggest Aliyah story. Last year, Aliyah from one place does affect olim from everywhere. Our ulpan
75,000 people made Aliyah, the highest number in a programs were overflowing, and we had to open new programs
year since 1999. Most of these olim came from the former to be able to cater for the demand.

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