RUSSIA - Borders According to the Children of Israel
Some 11,516 olim (immigrants) arrived in Israel from Former Soviet Union (FSU) countries, representing 92% of olim who arrived during January and February and a 434% increase compared to the number of immigrants from this area during these months last year—according to an official document of the Jewish Agency obtained by The Jerusalem Post.
The vast majority came from Russia (10,203), almost seven times more than in the same period in 2022. Only 583 immigrants arrived from Ukraine, a 32% increase compared to the two first months of 2022. In addition, 388 immigrants came from Belarus, an increase of 229%.
[…] There has been a 37% decrease in aliyah from South Africa, a 19% decrease from Australia and New Zealand and a 40% decrease from Western Europe. France, the largest European Jewish community, saw a dramatic 60% decrease in aliyah, as did the UK which saw a 48% decrease.
Latin America also saw a decrease in aliyah of 36%. Argentina saw a 45% decrease and Brazil saw a 33% decrease.
The number of Russian-speaking olim is by far the most substantial group of immigrants to Israel, mainly because of the Russian-Ukrainian war. It is unclear why the amount of Jewish olim from Western countries has dropped so substantially.
-www.jpost.com, 14 March 2023
Arno's Commentary
We have categorized this article under “Russia,” although it concerns itself more with the children of Israel. Here is why: “When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel” (Deuteronomy 32:8). How this all relates to the Ukrainian-Russian war is not known to us, but what become clear is that more Jews from the former Soviet Union are arriving as immigrants to their ancestral homeland—Israel. It is for that and other reasons why we do not actively involve ourselves with any war anywhere in the world.
Our goal always remains the Church of Jesus Christ; the one that is truly global, present on all continents and in every country on planet earth. We are still here, but we are in preparation for departure to our heavenly home, to fulfill the words, “and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17b).
The last sentence of the article by Zvika Klein is significant: “It is unclear why the amount of Jewish olim from Western countries has dropped so substantially.” The answer is rather simple: not enough reason to move at the present time. That is one side of the story; the other is because of civil unrest in Israel. Yet we re-emphasize, whether in Europe, Israel, or the rest of the world, these developments are only temporary. God will implement His plan according to His will in His time.
Here we add a short explanation of the Jewish Agency:
From founding and building the State of Israel to planting and nurturing the seeds of friendship between Jewish communities separated by distance, since 1929, we have been working to secure a vibrant Jewish future for generations to come.
The Jewish Agency, headquartered in Jerusalem, is responsible for more than 3 million Jews migrating to the land of Israel since 1948. Any Jew, anywhere, at any time can come to Israel through the Jewish Agency.
Arno Froese is the executive director of Midnight Call Ministries and editor-in-chief of the acclaimed prophetic magazines Midnight Call and News From Israel. He has authored a number of well-received books, and has sponsored many prophecy conferences in the U.S., Canada, and Israel. His extensive travels have contributed to his keen insight into Bible prophecy, as he sees it from an international perspective.
