Photo: Keren HaYesod

In the last third of a century, the concept of “aliya” has been clearly associated with members of the “great aliya” of Jews of the USSR and post-Soviet countries, which today constitutes about 17% of the Jewish population and about 13% of the total population of Israel. The stereotypes associated with this group have been both positive and negative. Still, there was a consensus that the “Russian-speaking” aliyah played a critical role in local society’s economic, social, and cultural development. The new wave of repatriation from the former Soviet Union that arrived after the outbreak of war in Ukraine was welcomed positively. But at the same time, this group became the object of adverse assessments and comments, including accusations that most of these people do not intend to live permanently in Israel and contribute to the development of the Jewish State. And fears that due to the high proportion of individuals who do not conform to Israel’s accepted religious (halakhic) definition of Jewishness, it could challenge the Jewish character of the State. As research shows, the facts do not support any of those these alarmist clichés.

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