LONDON — If there was ever a metaphor for British Jews’ ambivalence about emigrating to Israel, it was on full display at the Aliyah Day fair in London on Sunday.

Visitors to the event, held at StoneX Stadium, a north London rugby venue, passed through airport-style security under the watchful eye of Metropolitan Police officers, volunteers for the Jewish nonprofit Community Security Trust, and burly Israeli guards.

Inside, the mood shifted.

“Come home,” beckoned a blue-and-white sign at the entrance to the event space. Beyond it was a one-stop shop for those considering a new life in Israel, with representatives offering advice on citizenship, Hebrew lessons, universities, jobs, taxes, schools and choosing a city or community.

More than 1,200 people passed through the doors throughout the day, a high compared with previous years. It was even more notable given the rally against antisemitism taking place outside Downing Street that afternoon, which an estimated 20,000 attended.

Britain’s Jewish community has been on edge amid a wave of antisemitic violence, including the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green, an arson attack on four ambulances belonging to the Hatzola volunteer EMT service in the same heavily Jewish neighborhood, and the murder of two worshipers during Yom Kippur services in a terror attack targeting a Manchester synagogue in October.

The fair was organized by the Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Hayesod, Israel’s Aliyah and Integration Ministry, Ofek Israeli — a World Zionist Organization company that works to encourage immigration to Israel — and the WZO’s Department for the Promotion of Aliyah. Representatives from the groups, along with service providers and Israeli municipal officials, offered practical advice on the process of moving to Israel.

Organizers said the goal was not to encourage people to leave Britain, but to put the options in front of those already considering life in Israel.

Among those in attendance were Hezzie Raymond and Tamara Sireling Raymond, both 35, together with their 9-month-old son. Sireling Raymond had previously moved to Israel from London but got “stuck here” in her hometown during the 2019 coronavirus pandemic while visiting family. It was then she met the man she would go on to marry.

“From the beginning, I asked him what it’s going to take to make him move to Israel,” she said.

He replied that it wouldn’t be much, as his siblings and grandparents already live there. Now the pair are planning to go and introduce their son to his family.

“They haven’t met him yet, which has been tough,” said Raymond, adding that it has been harder to travel since their son was born. “Even though I still love England, I want the family to be together.”

Sireling Raymond agreed, saying she “loves England” and “you can’t beat” the British countryside. But having a child has strengthened her resolve to return to Israel, where she spent 12 years.

“I want to raise my son in Israel,” she........

© The Times of Israel