While immigration from the former Soviet Union and Europe is influenced by geopolitical crises and tends to come in waves, immigration from the US has typically been by choice.
Unlike immigration from Europe and the former Soviet Union, which often stems from economic distress and/or a sense of personal insecurity due to growing antisemitism, immigration from North America, until recently, was ideologically motivated. For the most part, these immigrants come from higher socioeconomic backgrounds and include professionals such as doctors and lawyers.
In 2025, about 4,100 immigrants from the US made aliyah, and a total of 19,000 since 2020. About one-third of them went to Jerusalem, to neighborhoods that have diverse communities that also support English speakers, such as Givat Hamatos, Rehavia, Baka, and Arnona.
About 18% went to Beit Shemesh, which is an attraction for National-Religious and ultra-Orthodox families. Twelve percent went to Gush Dan, which is preferred mainly by singles and young people who work in hi-tech.
Ra’anana attracted about 10% of the immigrants, mainly well-to-do families.
The shift in American aliyah patterns
But Israel is not satisfied with these numbers and wants to attract more. In February, an amendment to the National Insurance Law established a five-year exemption from paying Israeli National Insurance contributions for new immigrants from the US who pay US Social Security on their income. This step joins a series of incentives to encourage immigration, such as a five-year tax exemption from Israeli-sourced income, up to a ceiling of NIS 1 million per year, and a 10-year exemption from paying tax on income from abroad.
So why do most immigrants from the US choose the Jerusalem area? First of all, because of the attractive housing prices. The city center has become terribly expensive, but the prices in neighborhoods outside the center are sometimes up to 50% lower.
These new neighborhoods are full of modern buildings and garden neighborhoods and are planned with all the community services in the neighborhood, such as daycare centers for children. They have elementary and high schools, clubs for the elderly and community centers, parks and developed public spaces.
The immigrant public from the US is characterized as tolerant and diverse, and in this respect Jerusalem is very suitable for the oleh character – a city where both secular and religious people live. The synagogues also help to consolidate the National-Religious community for a softer landing and support.
Zionism also plays a central role in considerations.
Take, for example, the Givat Hamatos neighborhood in Jerusalem, which is built on a hill at an altitude of 813 meters above sea level. It is located between the neighborhoods of Har Homa and Talpiot. Givat Hamatos contains a number of archaeological sites from the Second Temple period, which are part of the conservation plan and add a unique touch.
The location of the neighborhood and the nature of its construction create a high demand.
Givat Hamatos forms a continuum between Gilo and Ramat Rahel and Talpiot, which dominates the Hebron Road route – which in the biblical past was called the Efrata Road. It connected Jerusalem to Bethlehem, and at the top of the hill, near Ramat Rahel, the last kings of Judah built a fortress and a palace that controlled this central route.
Since Oct. 7, quite a few apartment buyers in the neighborhood have come from North America, following an increase in antisemitic incidents there.
These are immigrants with young children and teenagers, and also include couples aged 50-70 whose children married and established families, some of whom live in North America and some in Israel. The parents immigrate to Israel and make their home in Givat Hamatos, aiming to connect with the English-speaking community in the neighborhood.
The writer is CEO of Saleet real estate, which develops and builds projects for new immigrants, such as Aderet Yerushalayim in Jerusalem’s Givat Hamatos neighborhood.
