Israeli Minister Seeks Funds for New Immigrants

JERUSALEM, Israel -- With increasing numbers of Ukrainian, French and other European Jews immigrating to Israel, the government is considering a variety of programs to help them with the process.
 
Israeli Immigration and Absorption Minister Sofa Landver is asking for an additional 600 million shekels over the next two years to prepare Jewish families for successful absorption into Israeli life, The Jerusalem Post reported Wednesday.
 
Aliyah (immigration to Israel under the Law of Return) is a complex process, which includes, among other things, learning to read, write and speak Hebrew, not just in the synagogue, but as an integral part of daily life.
 
Landver wants to work with the Education Ministry to help potential immigrants hone their Hebrew skills abroad as they plan their aliyah. While many Jews have a basic knowledge of Hebrew, learning to communicate on all levels is a whole different challenge.
 
In addition to studying Hebrew, the government wants to facilitate reestablishing businesses and help people use the education, skills and work experience they bring with them to build new lives in the Jewish state. 
 
New immigrants have always needed lots of support for successful absorption into Israeli life, and Landver and others are exploring new ways to help them in the process.
 
The French aliyah led in 2014, with nearly 7,000 French Jews making a new start in Israel. Close to 6,000 Ukrainian Jews immigrated last year, a 190 percent increase from 2013.