jewish Agency: there are 15.3 million Jews in the world 100 thousand more than last year

In regard to the next Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish Agency published its annual data, regarding the number of Jews in the world, according to a demographic study conducted by Professor Sergio Della-Pergola from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. According to the data, as of today, there are 15.3 million Jews in the world, compared to 15.2 million last year. Of these, 7,080,000 Jews live in Israel, an increase of 130 thousand people compared to the previous year.
About 8.25 million Jews live in the Diaspora, of which about 6 million are in the United States. The percentage of Jews living in Israel increased by one percent compared to last year and now stands at 46.2% of all Jews in the world. In addition, there are about half a million citizens living in Israel entitled to the Law of Return, who are not Jewish. In total, there are 25.5 million entitled to the Law of Return in Israel and around the world, Jews and non-Jews.
In terms of immigration data, a record of two decades was recorded with approximately 60 thousand immigrants, who came from 93 different countries. The most immigrants came from Russia (more than 26 thousand) and Ukraine (more than 14 thousand), against the background of the war in the region and the rescue operation carried out by the Jewish Agency.
14,600 students who started the school year are new immigrants who will have to deal not only with entering the new class, but also dealing with the different language, the other culture and finding new friends.
In the last two years, over 80,000 new immigrants immigrated to the State of Israel, a record for two decades. The reasons for the increase in these numbers lie in two operations that took place at this time. Operation "Homecoming" which began with the Russian invasion of Ukraine and approximately 37,000 immigrants immigrated, and Operation "Tzur Israel" in which approximately 3200 immigrants immigrated from Ethiopia.
About 2.5 million students start the school year today, but there are some whose excitement is a little different. 14,600 students who will start the school year today are new immigrants who will have to deal not only with entering the new class, but also dealing with the different language, the other culture and finding new friends.
In the last two years, over 80,000 new immigrants immigrated to the State of Israel, a record for two decades. The reasons for the increase in these numbers lie in two operations that took place at this time. Operation "Homecoming" which began with the Russian invasion of Ukraine and approximately 37,000 immigrants immigrated, and Operation "Tzur Israel" in which approximately 3200 immigrants immigrated from Ethiopia.
Before the data from the Ministry of Immigration and Absorption, the city that received the highest number of immigrant students in the last two years is Netanya with about 1500 students, followed immediately by Haifa with 1300. The Ministry of Immigration and Absorption operates a program to reinforce studies in order to facilitate integration. Programs such as the Ya'al program (immigrant children who study) for elementary school children and the PLA program (other educational activity) for middle school and high school students.
Panina Tamno Sheta, Minister of Aliya and Absorption, led the various Aliya operations in cooperation with organizations such as the Jewish Agency, the Friendship Foundation and Nefesh Be Nefesh. The minister said, "I am so excited with all the sweet children who are taking their first steps in the schools in Israel. I have no doubt that very soon they will feel an integral part of all the children, connect with new friends, acquire a new language and life lessons. I am confident that the children are in excellent and good hands, And welcomes the joint work we did for them with the Ministry of Education."