By Pesach Benson • August 27, 2026
Jerusalem, 27 August, 2026 (TPS-IL) — North American immigration to Israel has surged this summer, with more than 1,100 immigrants arriving in August alone.
The milestone came Thursday, when approximately 150 North American immigrants arrived on six group flights. Nearly 100 landed at Ben Gurion Airport within half an hour.
“It is inspiring to see so many young people and families choosing to build their futures in Israel, the home of the Jewish people,” said Minister of Immigration and Integration Ofir Sofer as he welcomed the arrivals.
According to Nefesh B’Nefesh, which spearheaded the flights, more than 2,200 North Americans are expected to immigrate to Israel between June and September on nearly 100 organized flights from the United States and Canada, with additional immigrants completing the process after their arrival. The nonprofit organization facilitates North American Jewish immigration and supports newcomers through the relocation and integration process.
“This summer’s aliyah [immigration] is a powerful expression of the deep connection between North American Jewry and Israel,” said Nefesh B’Nefesh co-founder and executive director Rabbi Yehoshua Fass. “Thousands of families and young people are choosing to relocate their lives and build their future here.”
Approximately 2,700 North Americans have immigrated to Israel since January, and Nefesh B’Nefesh projects that more than 4,000 will do so by year’s end, potentially making 2026 one of the organization’s strongest years since its establishment in 2002.
The newcomers represent a broad demographic. This summer’s arrivals include approximately 480 families, 1,100 single adults and 250 retirees, with an average age of 29. Their ages range from five months to 98 years.
Approximately 700 children are expected to begin the school year in Israel, while some 300 young adults are expected to enter the Israel Defense Forces or National Service.
Israel recorded a sharp drop in Jewish immigration in 2025, while simultaneously seeing a significant surge in arrivals from Western countries, according to government data released in June. Officials pointed to rising antisemitism abroad and the country’s ongoing war as twin forces reshaping who is choosing to move there.
A study of international Jewish demographics released in May found that Israel could become home to the majority of the world’s Jews within the next decade. At current growth rates, the report — released by the London-based Institute for Jewish Policy Research — projects that Israel could cross the symbolic threshold of hosting the majority of the world’s Jews as early as 2035.
