Last week, the press here in Israel joyously reported that Neesh b’Nefesh, the organization fully committed to increasing and facilitating Aliyah to Israel, recorded its 100,000th immigrant who has been assisted by the organization.  Founded in 2002, they have worked tirelessly and efficiently to ease the financial, professional, and logistical hurdles of Aliyah.  Equally important, the organization reports a high success rate, with approximately 90% of its total assisted immigrants remaining in Israel.  Well done for sure!!!

However, there is a back story to this achievement that is not getting anywhere near enough publicity and is being handled badly by the authorities here.  According to data from Tel Aviv University researchers and Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics, roughly 268,000 Israelis have left the country for extended periods over the three-year period, 2023-2026, creating an unprecedented negative migration balance where departures significantly outpace returnees.

Statistics show that approximately 86,500 left in 2023 amid the onset of the war with Hamas. In 2024, roughly 91,500 citizens departed, setting historic modern highs.  Worse yet, in 2025, close to 91,000 citizens departed, while return numbers dwindled to roughly 19,000.

Data is just data, but this morning I saw it firsthand. I was sitting in my car on the arrivals level of Ben Gurion Airport at about 0700 waiting to meet my sister-in-law who lives in Florida and had arrived on ELAL’s daily non-stop from Miami. At one point, two vehicles pulled up next to me........

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