Sitting in their apartment on a sweltering summer afternoon, bowed by old age but not broken, Sandy and Rosalie tell the story of their lives, their aliyah, and their future.
MATI Jerusalem gives new immigrants the guidance, tools, and confidence they need to launch successful businesses and keep them growing.
There has been a sharp rise in immigration since October 7, as 300 young Jews are expected to make aliyah this summer and join the IDF as lone soldiers.
From birth certificates to apostilles, the documents that can turn generations of family history into verifiable proof for an Aliyah application.
All three of the family's children are named after fallen IDF soldiers and victims of terrorism, reflecting the family's strong emotional connection to the Jewish people and the Land of Israel.
Since October 7, the number of olim from France has risen sharply: In 2023, Israel welcomed 1,097 new French immigrants. In 2024, the number doubled to 2,234, and grew to 3,357 in 2025.
The friends had arrived in the IDF via different routes. One told me about the influence of Bnei Akiva, another of family history, friends who had already served. Oct. 7, was central for all seven.
Volunteers greet arriving olim with songs, dancing and signs before local Bnei Akiva branches help welcome them into their new communities.
Lisa Cain Hammerman, 72, Brookline, Massachusetts, to Jerusalem, to Mitzpe Yericho, 1980.
Born in Pennsylvania in 1949 to Holocaust survivors, Sally grew up with her mother in California and studied psychology at California State University.
After arriving in Jerusalem on a Hebrew scholarship, Liza Katz built a career dedicated to strengthening young Jews' connection to Israel through immersive education.
