11% of all olim (immigrants) made Tel Aviv-Yafo their home in 2020 * Most olim arrived from the former Soviet Union (FSU) *
Tel Aviv-Yafo, January 12 – The city of Tel Aviv-Yafo retained its status as Israel's leading city for olim (immigrants) for a third consecutive year in 2020, absorbing some 2,305 new arrivals. This is despite the challenges, restrictions and lockdowns experienced by the city during the COVID-19 outbreak.
According to data compiled by the Jewish Agency for Israel and the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, an estimated 21,109 olim arrived in Israel this year. Correspondingly, Tel Aviv-Yafo represented the first destination for approximately 11% of olim.
The data also reveals that the majority of olim calling Tel Aviv-Yafo home in 2020 immigrated to Israel from Russia (1,140), the United States and Canada (359) and France (339). Other major countries of origin for olim were the United Kingdom (90) and Latin American nations (146).
Approximately 2,000 olim pursued intensive Hebrew studies in the city's institutions during 2020, primarily via Zoom. In addition, about 14,000 olim participated in a wide range of dedicated activities offered by the municipality to new arrivals, including lectures, workshops, tours, hikes, concerts and personal assistance.
During the past decade, a total of 30,038 olim arrived in Tel Aviv-Yafo from across the world.
Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality, through the Tel Aviv-Yafo Department for Immigration and Absorption (a department of the municipality's Community, Culture and Sports Administration) and in partnership with the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, offers support in six languages in fields including employment, welfare, culture and education.
Guidance offered to olim features assistance tailored to individual requirements, including assistance where necessary with the National Insurance Institute or school registration; lectures and workshops on a wide range of topics, including entrepreneurship; introductory tours to Tel Aviv-Yafo; and additional education and activities for parents and children. During the past two years, the municipality has also operated an employment center for French olim, in partnership with "Qualita". Several employment fairs have been held for all olim, in partnership with the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption and featuring 47 employers offering hundreds of job opportunities.
Shlomo Maslawi, Chairman of the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality Immigrant Absorption Committee: "I am proud to head Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality's immigrant absorption project. We work day and night on the absorption processes for olim choosing to settle in the city, and to assist their integration in our fabric of life. The personal and high-quality guidance that we provide is proving its merit. It is not by mistake that we have been the country's leading city for olim absorption for three consecutive years."
