Canadians moving to Israel find Jewish future, worry about those left behind
Yoel and Yael Eis did not uproot their four children from Thornhill, Ontario, because they felt they had to flee Canada. Their relatives were already in Israel, and the timing felt right, they told JNS at a Nefesh B’Nefesh party attended by hundreds of new olim, immigrants to Israel, on a patio outside the nonprofit’s Jerusalem offices.“I think day-to-day, we felt safe,” Yael Eis, 40, told JNS. “We were in a bubble, part of a really nice, comfortable, easy Jewish community.”That bubble required security around Jewish schools and an increased police presence, she told JNS. Their synagogue was among three in the Toronto area struck by gunfire in March.In June, Toronto police said a terrorist criminal-for-hire network was recruiting young people via encrypted apps and paying them to film shootings at synagogues, schools and the U.S. consulate. A Hezbollah commander has been indicted in the United States on charges linked…
Many Canadians are choosing to move to Israel, driven by a desire to live as "proud Jews" and connect with their heritage, rather than solely fleeing antisemitism in Canada. While some, like the Eis family from Toronto, felt safe in their "bubble" despite increased security and synagogue attacks, they noted a growing sense of unease, stating, "It felt more like Europe than it’s ever felt before." Official statistics show Jews were targets of a disproportionate number of hate crimes in Canada. Other olim, such as Francesca Weigensberg, were motivated by a desire to contribute to Israel after October 7th, feeling helpless in Canada and a lack of space for liberal Jews who support Israel. Mindy Klein, who fulfilled a lifelong dream of aliyah, expressed heartbreak for friends and family remaining in Canada, citing personal experiences with antisemitism and the constant presence of Palestinian flags in her Toronto neighborhood. Despite ongoing conflicts in Israel, these new immigrants express no regrets, finding community and purpose.
© All rights to the original article belong to the source. Din Online shows a headline, an excerpt and a link only. The objectivity rating is computed automatically and is an estimate only.
Discussion
No comments yet — be the first to comment.