Olim

Making Aliyah on Aliyah Day: Sisters from New Jersey begin their next chapter in Israel

Barri and Susan Rifkin made their dream a reality and discovered their arrival in Israel coincided with the national day honoring Aliyah.

Sisters depart on their journey home on Aliyah Day. Susan (L) Barri (R)
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Feeling at home with Habayta: the Israeli organization helping Olim build their new lives

NEW IMMIGRANTS from France arrive at Ben-Gurion Airport in June. The number of aliyah files opened by individuals and families expressing interest in future immigration has surged dramatically, says the writer.

The spirit of Zionism: In the days after war - opinion

Avi Moskowitz and his wife.

From aliyah to the IDF: olim share their experiences doing Shlav Bet


Ceremony to honor 96 fallen immigrant soldiers to be held on National Aliyah Day

The main event will include the presentation of a book commemorating the stories of the 96 fallen olim, with several keynote speakers.

 IDF SOLDIERS operate in Beit Lahiya, in the northern Gaza Strip, in November.

Your Taxes: What new immigrants and returning residents need to know before aliyah to Israel

“New residents” and “senior returning residents” who lived abroad 10 years are entitled to a package of income-tax benefits.

Calculating taxes

From aliyah to the IDF: Shlav Bet gives olim a chance to serve  

Since the start of the Israel-Hamas War, Shlav Bet has expanded and gained new momentum, with many Israelis and olim stepping forward to fill manpower gaps and support the IDF.

IDF soldiers conducting counterterrorism operations in the Gaza Strip, September 14, 2025.

Choosing Israel: why olim stay during wartime

Reflections from olim as to why they chose to make aliyah - and stay.

Olim from France who arrived in Israel during the war. Illustrative

Nina Verzhbolovich: Russian olah builds cleaning empire in Israel

This olah wiped her slate clean after aliyah pushed her into new professional opportunities.

OH MY CLEANING team.

I’ll always feel like an outsider but my kids won’t - comment

In the vast sweep of Jewish history, the shift from Diaspora Jew to Sabra is a profound transformation.

Being an immigrant is a feeling and a designation that lasts forever.

Olim share stories of acts of unexpected kindness (Part II)

These acts of kindness may seem small in the grand scheme of things, but for new olim navigating the challenges of starting over, they can have a lasting impact.

An illustrative image of a man blowing a shofar outside an El Al plane in Israel.

The Potential of the Israeli Real Estate Market

Even conservative forecasts predict continued strength in the Israeli housing market

Young couple visiting a potential new home property with professional real estate agent

Living financially smarter in Israel: Tools for success in the AI age and beyond

The “Living Financially Smarter in Israel” forum offered expert tips on digital assets, AI, estate planning, and smart money habits for olim.

RIFKA LEBOWITZ: Thinking fiscally.

Olim recall moments of unexpected kindness

When life here feels overwhelming, even the smallest act of kindness or compassion can make all the difference.

NEW IMMIGRANTS from France arrive at Ben-Gurion Airport in June.

Russian Jews seek a home in Israel as Ukraine war drives aliyah wave

ALIYAH AFFAIRS: Between “sausage” and “pumpkin,” the waves of Russian aliyah have carried different circumstances and subtexts, but are continuously united by a search for a place to belong.

SINCE THE outbreak of the Ukraine-Russia War in 2022, some 80,000 Russians and 20,000 Ukrainians and Belarusians with Jewish ancestry have made aliyah. Here, people attend a ceremony marking the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in Tel Aviv in February 2024.