More Than 2,200 North American Jews Make Aliyah in Major Summer Wave

More than 2,200 Jews from North America are expected to make aliyah to Israel this summer, as immigration from the United States and Canada continues at one of its strongest rates in years.

Nearly 150 new immigrants were scheduled to arrive in Israel on Thursday aboard six flights, according to Nefesh B’Nefesh. Close to 100 landed at Ben-Gurion Airport within a half-hour period Thursday morning.

The summer wave, covering June through September, includes approximately 480 families arriving on nearly 100 group flights from across the United States and Canada. More than 1,100 olim arrived in August alone, making it one of the busiest months for Nefesh B’Nefesh since the organization was founded in 2002.

The newcomers have an average age of 29. They include around 1,100 single men and women and approximately 250 retirees. About 700 children and teenagers are preparing to begin the new school year in Israel, including some 80 children entering first grade.

Nefesh B’Nefesh expects another 300 young immigrants to join the IDF or National Service after settling in the country.

The new olim also include doctors, nurses, teachers, lawyers, accountants and professionals from a range of other fields. They are arriving from communities across North America, with New York, New Jersey, Florida and California among the leading U.S. states of origin. Others are coming from Maryland, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Texas, Georgia and Ontario, Canada.

The new immigrants are expected to settle in communities across Israel, including Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Beit Shemesh, Ra’anana, Modi’in and Haifa. However, Nefesh B’Nefesh expects around 650 to move to communities in the Negev and Galilee through a joint program with KKL-JNF.

Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, co-founder and executive director of Nefesh B’Nefesh, described the summer arrivals as a sign of the continuing connection between North American Jewry and Israel. “The historic wave of aliyah we are experiencing this summer is the most moving testimony to the resilience of the Jewish people.” 

The summer influx follows a strong start to 2026. Approximately 2,700 North American Jews have made aliyah since the beginning of the year. Nefesh B’Nefesh now expects the figure to surpass 4,000 by the end of December, which would make 2026 one of its strongest years for North American aliyah since the organization’s founding.