Russian Immigrants

Former Prisoners of Zion, aliyah activists, discuss plans for new Soviet Jewry heritage center

Heritage Ministry Director-General Itay Grank presented the ministry’s vision for the center, which would introduce younger generations to the history of Soviet Jewry.

Alex Silnitsky addresses a gathering of former Prisoners of Zion and aliyah activists at the Heritage Ministry in Jerusalem on October 5.
MONUMENT TO Woody Allen in Oviedo, Spain, a city he made famous in  ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona,’ starring Scarlett Johansson.

'Children of the American Jewish Ghetto': A Jewish community’s cherished past - review

Author Gary Shteyngart holds a cucumber in the short documentary "The Man Who Got Cut Wrong."

Gary Shteyngart reflects on his botched bris in a new short film

Veterans march through Jerusalem to mark WW2 Victory in Europe Day.

VE Day in Israel: Celebrating the 80th anniversary and Jewish heroes of the war


SSY: Helping Russian-speaking olim integrate into Israel

For the past 12 years, SSY has been creating welcoming educational and empowering communities throughout Israel that remind young Russian-speaking olim of the reasons why they made aliyah.

 Young Russian-speaking volunteers help newer immigrants navigate life in Israel. Hedva Agapova, SSY Jerusalem Volunteer Coordinator, with Linda Pardes Friedburg

He moved from Russia to Israel for opportunity - and found his new home

Looking to the future, Alexander Pitkin sees himself settling in Israel's North and working his way up in an innovative, exciting hi-tech company.

 Alexander Pitkin from Miass, Russia, to Karmiel, 2014

US Jews don't recognize the impact of Russian immigrants on Israel

The stories of these human rights legends, who have profoundly influenced Israeli society, politics, and American Jewry, are underestimated.

 Google co-founder Sergey Brin at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos in 2017.

Israel to enable passports for new immigrants only a year after aliyah 

This action came after the Shin Bet acknowledged the abuse that could come with immediately issuing passports to those who recently moved to Israel, olim chadashim.

An illustration picture shows a new Israeli passport and an Old Israeli passport with American Visa in Jerusalem, on January 18, 2023.

Aliyah: Immigration to Israel from Russia up by 400% in 2022

According to Ofek Israeli’s numbers, 32,494 Russian citizens have made aliyah to Israel in 2022 according to Israel’s Law of Return.

el al plane

Ben-Gurion University launches prep year program in Russian for new Olim

The program will allow Russian speakers to continue their studies immediately and prepare for potential matriculation to the University.

A man kisses the ground as new olim arrive at Ben-Gurion Airport.

Medical crisis: Israel can't replace doctors, is it too late to fix?

Desperation is one of the four elements of creativity, and desperation finds a way. Perhaps creativity will help mitigate Israel's doctor shortage.

 Surgeons perform surgery on a patient at Assuta Medical Center in Tel Aviv.

Russian Jews are trying to make their way over to Israel - editorial

The fear of a rise in antisemitism inside of Russia has many Russian Jews immigrating to Israel, trying to find a way out.

 A view shows a sign at the entrance to a Russian branch of the Jewish Agency for Israel, in Moscow, Russia July 21, 2022.

Where have Russians been fleeing to since mobilization began? - explainer

As numbers of those fleeing Russia increase, the numbers seem nearly impossible to track. Thanks to new flight data, the world can better understand where Russians are seeking refuge.

 People flee from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia

Kremlin rejects reports that 700,000 have fled Russia

Russia was informed via diplomatic channels that there were no plans to invite Moscow to join an investigation into Nord Stream gas leaks.

 Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen on screens during a concert marking the declared annexation of the Russian-controlled territories of four Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, after holding what Russian authorities called referendums in the occupied areas of Ukraine