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Despite the ongoing war in Gaza, economic uncertainty and persistent security threats, aliyah to Israel from North America is rising—especially to Jerusalem, which has become the top destination for new arrivals.
Zvi Ephraim Carmines, a 30-year-old high-tech entrepreneur, recently made aliyah and said timing wasn’t a deterrent. “The question isn’t why now—but why not?” he said. “There’s no perfect time. You just have to do it. The way to beat terror is to put down roots.”
Since moving to Israel, Carmines has gotten married, launched a weekly newsletter called JLM Scoop—which now has 6,000 subscribers covering cultural life in the capital—and joined a special IDF program for new arrivals. “If Israel is the home of the Jewish people, then Jerusalem is the heart of that home,” he said.
According to Nefesh B’Nefesh—an organization that helps North American Jews make aliyah to Israel in cooperation with the Aliyah and Integration Ministry, the Jewish Agency and KKL-JNF—a total of 1,725 North Americans have immigrated to Jerusalem since October 7—more than to any other city in the country.
In 2024 alone, aliyah to the capital has surged by roughly 20% compared to the previous year. As of early May 2025, another 275 olim have already arrived.
For Liat Rosemarin, 20, from Washington, DC, choosing Jerusalem was both a personal and national decision. She first came to Israel through a seminary program and stayed even during the October 7 Hamas massacre. “When I saw how everyone—civilians and soldiers—came together, I realized I couldn’t just go back to the U.S. and watch from afar. I wanted to be part of Am Yisrael (the people of Israel),” she said.
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Unable to join the IDF due to a medical condition, Rosemarin volunteered for civilian national service at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in the capital and began a paramedic training course. She’s now preparing to volunteer as an EMT with the national emergency service Magen David Adom. “Jerusalem felt like home from day one,” she said. “Even more than DC, where I grew up.”
Lori Rush, 50, from Silicon Valley, also described October 7 as a turning point. “To me, it was the modern-day Kristallnacht. Outside the Jewish community, almost no one cared,” she said. “After 25 years in the Valley, it no longer felt like home.”
Three months later, she packed up and made aliyah—landing in Jerusalem. “Jerusalem wasn’t a choice—it was the obvious place,” she said. “I found community, depth and support here. I joined a jiu-jitsu group, I volunteer, I’m learning Hebrew and I even held a ceremony for my new Hebrew name—Li-Ori. I have no doubt I made the right decision.”
Nefesh B’Nefesh co-founder and Executive-Director Rabbi Yehoshua Fass said the trend reflects a growing commitment among North American Jews.
“We’re seeing a steady and significant increase in the number of olim choosing to settle in Jerusalem—even during a time of social, economic and security challenges. It shows a deep dedication to life in Israel and a desire to be active participants in Israeli society—not on the sidelines, but from within.”