Israel: Amid changes in Jewish migration welcomed its first immigrants from Australia in 2026

Israel: As patterns indicate an increase in Jewish immigration from Western nations, the Sachs family from Sydney, Australia—father Trevor, mother Dalit, and daughter Ashira—became Israel’s first immigrants in 2026 after landing at Ben Gurion Airport on Thursday.

Ofir Sofer, Minister of Immigration and Absorption, welcomed the three upon their arrival, gave them Israeli ID cards, and formally started their new lives in Israel. Levi Sachs, the family’s son, had already joined the Israel Defense Forces and emigrated before them.It is satisfying and inspiring that the Sachs family decided to relocate to Israel, particularly because their son is serving in the IDF. Sofer said, “We are working for the aliyah [immigration] of Australian Jews to Israel and have already taken and will continue to take significant steps to that end.”

The Sachs family’s entrance raises the overall number of immigrants to Israel in 2025 to about 22,000.

The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) in Israel reports that only 21,900 persons relocated to Israel last year, which is just about one-third of the figure from the year before.

While immigration from the United States, the United Kingdom, and France rose, Russian and Ukrainian immigration declined by half, indicating a change in the worldwide pattern of Jewish migration. According to CBS, French immigration increased by 45% while North American aliyah increased by 13%.

The shift is often ascribed to an increase in antisemitism in the West.Israel continues to draw Jews from all over the globe, as seen by the shifting makeup of recent immigrants, a ministry official said.

10,178,000 people called Israel home as of December 31, 2025.