In celebration of Hanukkah, the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration has shared some fascinating insights about new immigrants who have arrived in Israel over the past five years, highlighting symbolic connections to the holiday and its enduring values.
Over this period, 13 immigrants named Matityahu have made their way to Israel, a name that resonates deeply with the story of Hanukkah. Joining them are 210 immigrants named Ori and 95 named Or, both names meaning "light," along with three individuals bearing the unique name Neri, a diminutive of candle. Perhaps the most surprising addition are the four immigrants named Shraga, an Aramaic word meaning "candle," which perfectly embodies the spirit of the festival.
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Israeli officials, including Aliyah and then-Integration Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata, center, greet refugees from Ukraine as they arrive at Israel’s Ben-Gurion Airport, March 6, 2022
(Photo: Getty Images)
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The connection between Hanukkah and immigration is by no means confined to people's names. Several Israeli towns with names tied to the holiday have welcomed new arrivals from around the world in recent years. Kibbutz Or HaNer, located a spitting distance away from Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza, became home to 28 new immigrants. Beit Hashmonai welcomed three, while 63 settled in the town of Hashmonaim. Modi’in-Maccabim-Re’ut, a city steeped in the history of the Maccabees, saw an impressive 1,627 new arrivals. Even the small village of Matityahu received seven new residents.
According to the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, a total of 33,448 immigrants have arrived in Israel over the past year alone, from last Hanukkah to today. These numbers reflect not only the enduring draw of Israel as a homeland but also the symbolic light that new immigrants bring to the country, much like the candles of Hanukkah that brighten the darkest days of the year.