Two weeks ago, a special Fellowship Freedom Flight carrying more than 50 olim (immigrants) touched down at Ben Gurion Airport as sirens sounded intermittently, warning of Iranian missiles being fired toward the Holy Land. The plane arrived with more than 20 families and 11 individuals from France and Britain. Israel Hayom reports the passengers ranged in age from five months to 92 years old.
Although the sirens they heard upon their arrival are now part of daily life, the olim shared their eagerness to celebrate Passover in Israel, pursue new work opportunities as communities seek to rebuild, and escape the rising rates of anti-Semitism in Europe.
“The arrival of these immigrants at this time is a powerful reminder of the resilience and hope of the Jewish people. (Precisely during the period of) war with Iran, their choice to immigrate to Israel fills the heart with pride and emotion,” said our President and Global CEO Yael Eckstein.
Sydney arrived with her mother from France. She had always enjoyed her fast-paced career in hospitality as a server and bartender. While France is home to some of the world’s best restaurants and abundant opportunities, Sydney felt a deeper sense of belonging in Israel when visiting family.
Like thousands of Jews in France, she experienced a significant rise in anti-Semitism after October 7.
Sydney recalled, “Even friends around me have experienced anti-Semitism. While walking on the streets, they have been spat on. On Yom Kippur, they were walking to the synagogue and got spit on. There have been many similar stories since. These experiences have created a sense of unease. It gets a bit scary. You want to hide a little bit more.”
After moving to Tel Aviv, Sydney plans to continue her career in hospitality. She told The Fellowship that she hopes to open her own place one day. She also shared that making aliyah just before Passover makes the experience even more meaningful.
“Passover is a thousand times better in Israel than in France. You can go have dinner anywhere, and the place will be kosher,” said Sydney.
“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession” (Deuteronomy 7:6).
