Amid Rising Antisemitism in France, Jews Are Encouraged to Make Aliyah

Since the beginning of the 'Sword of Iron' conflict, there has been a significant increase in the number of Jews from France making Aliyah to Israel. According to data from Israel's Ministry of Aliyah and Integration and the Jewish Agency, around 6,440 Jewish individuals from France opened Aliyah cases by mid-last month, compared to approximately 1,057 in the same period last year. More than 800 new immigrants arrived from France during this time.

Last December, Nili Naouri established the 'Lech Lecha' program to encourage Jewish immigration from France, complementing the efforts of official organizations. Naouri, who moved to Israel from Paris about 31 years ago when she was just 18, now lives in Jerusalem with her husband and three children. In a special interview, she shares her personal journey and what drives her dedication to this national mission.

Aliyah seminar of the 'Lech Lecha' program in France, March 2024. In the center: Yossi Dagan, Head of the Samaria Regional Council. To his right: Nili Naouri

Living the Ingathering of the Exiles

"I received my high school diploma directly from the French Ministry of Education officials," Naouri recalls. "Standing in line with my fellow graduates to receive the coveted diploma, I was finally called on stage. Upon receiving it, I turned to the school auditorium crowd and excitedly declared, 'I am making Aliyah to Israel!' In essence, that diploma was my 'ticket' to Israel."

Tell us about your own Aliyah experience.

"I felt wonderful, finally living the unique history of our generation, what I see as 'the beginning of our redemption.' I started studying at the Hebrew University's Preparatory Program for Overseas Students on Mount Scopus. There were immigrants around me from the US, Russia, France, Spain, and Argentina. I thought, 'Here, I am living the Ingathering of the Exiles: I have the tremendous privilege of living in a generation that returns to Zion after 2,000 years of exile.' Later, I moved on to study law at Bar-Ilan University and earned my degree there."

Even before founding the 'Lech Lecha' program, Nili was actively promoting the massive Aliyah of Jews from France, alongside her efforts to advance settlement and apply Jewish sovereignty throughout all parts of Israel. She was a central figure in the 'Israel Forever' organization, established by her father, Jack Kopfer, of blessed memory. "My father's organization, established in the year 5766 in Israel, had goals like encouraging Aliyah, especially from France, since today we clearly see there is no future for the Jews living there; mobilizing French-speaking Zionist forces in support of Israel; applying sovereignty across all of Israel; and fighting for free Jewish access to holy sites in the land."

"Before making Aliyah with my mother (long may she live) and father Z"L, he guided and educated Jewish youth in France in their love for Israel and the state, admiration for Jewish tradition, our people's history, Israel's heroes, and encouraged them to make Aliyah. After our family made Aliyah, my father and I were active in the Sovereignty Movement, founded by Nadia Matar and Yehudit Katsover. 'Israel Forever' and the Sovereignty Movement share similar goals, and we collaborate on Zionist initiatives."

Naouri highlights, among other things, the activity aimed at the immediate application of Jewish sovereignty over the Jordan Valley: "The Jordan Valley is ours by Hashem's promise to the people of Israel in the Torah and the Tanakh. There is also a broad national consensus for applying sovereignty to the valley for security reasons. It is imperative to have full, free political-security oversight in the valley, with free Jewish settlement, to prevent and thwart any attempt to establish a terrorist state along our eastern border. In recent years, I have had the privilege that Nadia and Yehudit handed over to me the torch for organizing the annual march around the walls of Jerusalem on the night of Tisha B'Av, when we all pray and hope to pray in the Temple on the next Tisha B'Av, with God's help."

How and when did it all start for you?

"It all started at home. A warm, idealistic, and very active Zionist Jewish family for the sake of the community. My father was born in a displaced persons camp in Germany in the year 5706. His parents, originally from Poland and Russia, fled to Uzbekistan during the Holocaust and thus escaped the Nazis' clutches. In addition to his role as a Betar movement commissioner in France, my father also served as chairman of the Herut movement in France, later becoming vice chairman of the World Likud Party. He was also active in the leadership of the World Zionist Organization. My father was very connected with individuals who would later be elected as Israeli Prime Ministers: Menachem Begin, Yitzhak Shamir, and Ariel Sharon. My mother, Katy, a native of Tunisia, emigrated to France as a child with her parents. She worked for many years as a French language and literature teacher in Paris and earned her doctorate from the Sorbonne. My parents met at a Betar movement event in Paris, and their first date together was at a protest rally for the release of Jews from the Soviet Union under Brezhnev's rule (President of the Soviet Union at that time)."

"It's important to say that, for my father, all Zionist-educational activities for Jewish youth in France were voluntary. To sustain our family, he worked as CEO of Citizen Watches in France and served as a judge in the Paris Commercial Court. But, the highlight of his life was nurturing our family life: providing a Jewish-Zionist education to my two brothers and me, fostering great love for Israel and the Jewish state, our people, our sacred Torah, history, and heroes. Father always taught us to dedicate our lives to our Jewish and Zionist beliefs and values and to never give up on them."

Israel Forever campaign for soldiers, December 2023. 95 tons of supplies were brought to Israel and distributed among IDF bases by the NGO volunteers

Teaching Love for the Nation, Land, and Torah

At age 14, Nili joined the Betar movement in Paris as a camper and later became a leader in the movement, appointed commander of Betar's Paris stronghold. She says she had the "privilege to educate numerous Jewish youth about the love of Israel and the Land of Israel, the Torah and the Tanakh, and to realize this love through Aliyah. From the time I can remember, the longing to make Aliyah and live in Israel is rooted in my soul."

Over the years, Jack Kopfer and his daughter initiated programs in Judea and Samaria to instill the importance of the Jewish people's deep connection to their land. For example, 37 years ago, they organized 'Hebron Day': every summer, they brought about 1,000 Jews to march in the city of the forefathers with Israeli flags and pray at the Cave of the Patriarchs. "My father connected French Jews to Hebron. Until our activity in this area, French Jews hardly visited Hebron because, conceptually, Hebron wasn’t a known destination for them. They always visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem with excitement, but not Hebron. Even this year, despite the war, we continued this powerful march, emphasizing prayer and hope for a decisive victory over all our enemies."

I asked Nili how she, alongside 'Israel Forever' activists, encourages French Jews to embody their love and deep connection to Israel via Aliyah, and why she founded the 'Lech Lecha' program nine months ago.

"Firstly, we conduct a lot of public diplomacy, especially on social media. We also distribute a magazine to Jewish communities in France, discussing the danger of assimilation and the immediate need for Aliyah. Additionally, many issues transpire in the country that French speakers do not understand, like the public debate over the judicial reform, and we explain them. But above all, we encourage immigration to Israel. What changed last winter is that we began engaging with politicians from the national camp to present a massive and immediate Aliyah program to Israel."

Jack Kopfer, of blessed memory, on the first Hebron Day, 1987

Intolerable Antisemitism

Why is it necessary to encourage immediate immigration from France, especially now during this existential war along all our borders?

"After the horrific Simchat Torah massacre, the sense of belonging of French Jews to the Land of Israel and the People of Israel strengthened greatly. Many Jews in France feel they are not living this monumental historical period, our return to Zion and the miracle of statehood, if they continue living in France. In addition, since the horrific massacre and the outbreak of war, blatant, severe, and violent antisemitism has dramatically intensified in France, although manifestations of antisemitism have always existed throughout the country. This worries us greatly, prompting us to take more action to influence French Jews to immigrate to Israel now.

"Violent antisemitism is simply everywhere in France – in the streets, schools, higher education institutions, workplaces, governmental institutions, and the corridors of the highest-level government ranks – and it is completely intolerable. Eleven years ago, Sarah Halimi, may her memory be a blessing, a respected elderly Jewish woman, was murdered in her Paris apartment while police officers in the building heard the attacker and her cries and did not lift a finger to save her. Now, the situation has deteriorated further. It must be understood that between 30 and 40% of police officers in France are Muslim, most of whom are antisemitic."

Naouri details examples from the daily lives of French Jews who suffer from antisemitic attacks: "Removing mezuzahs from their apartment doors out of fear, changing their Jewish names on mailbox plaques. When ordering home deliveries, they change their Jewish names. As children leave Jewish schools, they remove their kippahs. Personally, I know a religious family well; the head-covered mother tells us her life has shrunk. The couple and their children live in a Paris suburb with many Muslims, and out of fear, they no longer leave their house unless necessary. They always drop off and pick up their children from school and quickly run errands because they are stared at menacingly for being recognized as Jews. Another Jew painfully shared that every time he asks his son to remove his kippah when leaving school – it’s very hard for him mentally, but he feels there's no choice because of the heavy fear his son will be verbally and physically attacked. All these things happened before, but since the war began, manifestations of antisemitism in France have terribly increased. In response, French Jews have returned to reflexes that Jews had in the 1930s in Europe. Today, we all have the State of Israel, thank Hashem. Therefore, everyone should make Aliyah and be free in our country."

Yet, not all Jews in France see themselves making Aliyah immediately.

"It’s true that not everyone feels they can immigrate now, although many Jews in France have a warm and deep connection to Israel. Many have family in Israel, and they are very proud to be Jewish. However, there is also a high percentage of Jews in France who are assimilating, unfortunately. This is another reason we founded the 'Lech Lecha' program: we explain that due to severe antisemitism, there is no future for Jews in France. We are in touch with all the Jewish communities in France, through community leaders who understand well that we need to end the Diaspora. We also emphasize our wish to save the Jewish communities that are all connected to faith, Torah, the Land of Israel, and the Jewish people.

"To the hesitant, who indeed want to immigrate but fear the absorption challenges in Israel, we explain that they must understand our time is a magnificent historical period for the Jewish people, and therefore it is very important to be part of the Jewish people's chain since the days of Avraham Avinu until today. We tell them: please, do not get lost; we need you! I express my fear that due to assimilation and rampant antisemitism in France, a major and very difficult event is likely to occur there (God forbid). When reminding them of what happened to Jews during the Holocaust, it sharpens their understanding that there is a very big, urgent problem in France.

How do they respond to your words?

"There are various responses: many Jews have grown accustomed to being second-class citizens in France because of the persecution they face. However, many of them, thankfully, are aware that they need to make Aliyah now. Nevertheless, as mentioned, some fear taking the step, leaving their home, job, and everything familiar to them. However, on a broader level, when we, the 'Lech Lecha' program activists, speak about the Tanakh, our right to the Land of Israel based on divine promise to the Jewish people – potential Olim visibly well up with tears. They truly feel the time has come to leave the Diaspora. In our conferences and fairs, we tell French Jews: go for yourself, for your own sake, and for future generations after you. Most French Jews know the truth – that one must be part of the magnificent historical Jewish chain, end the Diaspora, and make Aliyah to the Land of Israel."

Practically, how do 'Lech Lecha' activists help French Jews making Aliyah handle the challenges?

"As a member of the World Zionist Organization's executive committee, I have always demanded and continue to demand improvements in absorption conditions for immigrants facing many politicians in the Knesset. But of course, this is not sufficient, and our Olim deserve practical and effective help.

"Firstly, those of us already living in Israel must realize that French Jews comprise a community that can contribute significantly to Israel in all areas of life, making their Aliyah a blessed one for the country. Consequently, we must ease their transition and assist in resolving language issues, employment and livelihood, children's education, absorption and integration into the community, and rebuilding a home. The 'Lech Lecha' program directs registered Jews for Aliyah to Hebrew language classes in France. We review their resumes, direct them to potential employers in Israel, and refer them to appropriate retraining programs as needed. We also organize lectures covering relevant areas for Aliyah and acclimatization in Israel – such as children's education and how it operates, the health system, and national insurance, and how to navigate them.

"Upon arrival in Israel, one issue requiring a suitable solution is the state's treatment regarding the validity of medical profession certifications. Family doctors immigrating from France have no problem finding work as doctors in Israel, but specialists in any field from France, as well as highly experienced nurses, are required to complete educational training sessions in their field and undergo various bureaucratic procedures to begin working here. Senior doctors coming from France find this hard to understand, especially recently when there is a shortage of doctors in Israel. In the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, there is indeed a campaign offering benefits to immigrant doctors, aiming to encourage them to work in their profession in areas surrounding southern Israel. This is commendable, but it still poses challenges for immigrants, and we are here to provide assistance in this vital matter. Furthermore, without fluent Hebrew, daily life and work are difficult. We refer and place them in Hebrew language classes countrywide and help them find suitable employment as much as possible.

"Before the Aliyah, we bring the Jewish people for a visit to localities where the community understands the importance of absorbing new immigrants with open arms, displaying goodwill and providing 'shelter' with the host families in the place. Additionally, with localities and councils, we help immigrants with anything related to children's education, according to the style of each family. Thank God, we find extended hands in localities to help both parents and children.

Is it rising from the ground, do they indeed integrate well in the country?

"Thank Hashem, success is most significant. It starts with internalizing the belief that despite the challenges our immigrants face, making Aliyah to the homeland, the only Jewish state in the world, is incomparable, allowing one to live freely as a Jew in Israel, rather than under the constant and degrading threat of antisemitism and assimilation in France."

We need to understand how much our dear immigrants, our brothers and sisters in heart and soul, contribute to us immensely. At the start of the war, for example, we did a campaign for our fighting soldiers. The response from French Jews was astounding: we brought 95 tons of equipment for our soldiers stationed at bases."

"We, the Jewish Nation in the Land of Israel, learn from the Torah, as well as from the dedication of all generations throughout our history that we must behave as 'landlords' in our land. It is unthinkable, heaven forbid, to feel still that we require the approval of the nations to do what is necessary for our sake and our future. The time has come to advance our people's magnificent history in giant steps towards the ingathering of all exiles and promoting our sovereignty over the entire Land of Israel – in prayer and anticipation of Israel's redemption soon, with Hashem's help."