Jewish Immigration to Israel
For as long as there have been a Jewish people, they have longed to return to their ancestral homeland, the Land of Israel. Even before the State of Israel was established, Jews from around the world began their long journey home, bringing with them diverse languages, culture, and traditions. KKL-JNF is committed to the successful absorption of Israel’s immigrant groups, including programs that strengthen Jewish identity, encourage immigration, promote educational and employment opportunities, develop infrastructure, and create unity.Â
E-Learning
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Rabbi Sharon Shalom: The First Ethiopian Rabbi in the State of Israel
In this dramatic video (04:17), Rabbi Sharon Shalom tells the story of his harrowing journey to Israel through Sudan in 1982, as part of the exodus of the Beta Israel
The Challenges & Influence of Israel’s Russian Immigrants
This CNN news segment (02:33) explores Israel’s large community of immigrants from Russian, including the economic and social challenges they face and the major influence they have had on Israeli
The Life & Contributions of Natan Sharansky
In this inspiring video (04:54) from the Jewish Agency for Israel, Natan Sharansky summarizes his fascinating life story and his career of commitment to the Jewish people all over the world.
Ethiopian Israelis: Statistics, Goals & Challenges
From the website of the Ethiopian National Project, this article presents background information and facts about the Ethiopian community in Israel, including the challenges they face, and statistics about demographics,
Why So Many “Generation 1.5” Immigrants from the Soviet Union Are Leaving Israel
According to a recent study, 20% of the children who moved to Israel in the early nineties from the Former Soviet Union – known in academia as “Generation 1.5” – have
Tusovkas: The Social & Cultural Seclusion of Generation 1.5 Russians in Israel
Known as “Generation 1.5,” those who immigrated to Israel from the Former Soviet Union as adolescents in the 1990s had a unique experience, with its own set of cultural and
In Search of Israeli Cuisine
This trailer (05:17) provides a taste of the 2016 award-winning documentary “In Search of Israeli Cuisine,” which presents a portrait of the complexity of the Israeli people through their diverse
A Taste of Ethiopia in Jerusalem
As part of a tour of Jerusalem’s famous Machane Yehudah outdoor market, this video (07:33) brings viewers to an Ethiopian store in the center of Jerusalem that brings traditional Ethiopian
Traditional Eastern European Jewish Food in Israel
Featuring Jewish food expert, Joan Nathan, this video (01:59) gives viewers a taste of traditional Jewish delicacies from Eastern Europe at an eatery in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak.
Moroccan Cuisine in Israel
Produced by the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this video (02:26) highlights Moroccan cuisine in Israel, visiting restaurants that specialize in the ethnic food that has become so deeply integrated
Models of Cultural Absorption in Israeli Society
Israel’s population is culturally and ethnically diverse, thanks to large immigrant waves from every corner of the world, each with its own challenges and successes. This thorough article from the Israel
The Challenges Facing Ethiopian Immigrants in Israel
Produced to mark the 20th anniversary of Operation Solomon, the covert mission in which almost 15,000 Ethiopian Jews were airlifted to Israel in 36 hours in 1991, this video (03:19)
The Ethiopian Jews of Israel: Background & Contributions
This video (03:52) provides a basic introduction to the origins and history of Ethiopia’s Jewish community, their mass aliyah to Israel beginning in the 1980s, and their integration into Israeli
The Profile and Experiences of Israel’s French Community
From the website of Bar Ilan University’s Alumni, this article examines the profile and experiences of Israel’s recent wave of French immigrants. Largely fleeing France due to a rise in anti-Semitism.
MK Ksenia Svetlova’s Aliyah Story
In this video (05:40), in Hebrew with English subtitles, Member of Knesset Ksenia Svetlova tells the story of her aliyah to Israel from the USSR following a rise in antisemitism,
The Challenges Facing French Immigrants to Israel
In wake of the massive aliyah of Jews from France in recent years, this i24NEWS segment (04:53) explores the challenges facing French immigrants in their new home, including economic hardships,
With These Hands: Stories of Israel’s Heroic Immigrants
This short video produced for Israel’s 68th birthday tells the stories of the everyday heroes that build Israel’s unique society, from war hero and farmer to teacher and midwife. Celebrating
Meski Shibru: The First Ethiopian Actress in Israel
In this video (03:19) produced by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Israeli actress and singer, Meski Shibur, tells the story of her Aliyah to Israel, including the challenges of
Israel’s Diverse Population: Challenges & Successes
This informative video (06:12) explores the experiences of Israel’s diverse immigrant population, with a focus on the Jewish immigrants from Ethiopia and the USSR and non-Jewish economic migrants and refugees
Music
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Ehud Banai: Black Work
This 1980s protest song by Ehud Banai expresses the challenges and discrimination facing the Ethiopian community in Israel. To see the full Hebrew and English lyrics, click here.Â
Shlomo Gronich: Israeli Song
This upbeat song by iconic Israeli artist Shlomo Gronich celebrates how Jews from all over the world contributed their unique cultures and traditions in the creation of a new Israeli
Marina Maximilian: 1990
This moving song by Marina Maximilian describes the experience of immigrants to Israel from the Soviet Union in the nineties. Entitled “1990,” in reference to the year in which she
What Else?
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An Art Exhibit Revealing Tales of Soviet Immigration to Israel
This i24NEWS segment (05:11) showcases an art exhibit at the Israel Museum that explores the challenges experienced by Soviet immigrants to Israel. The artist, Zoya Cherkassy, uses pop art and
A Green Chariot: A Film About Russian-Israeli Identity
 This dramatic clip (03:56) is from “A Green Chariot” (2005), a film about a young Russian immigrant to Israel who abandons his secular Russian identity, friends and family in
Success Stories from Generation 1.5
“The great wave of aliyah from the former Soviet Union of the late 1980s and 1990s has given rise to a new generation of Russian-speaking Israelis, confident and comfortable in
With These Hands: Stories of Israel’s Heroic Immigrants
This short video produced for Israel’s 68th birthday tells the stories of the everyday heroes that build Israel’s unique society, from war hero and farmer to teacher and midwife. Celebrating