At last month’s aliyah fair in South Africa, Fellowship staff visiting Cape Town and Johannesburg met with members of the Jewish community who were considering or already in the process of immigrating to Israel. Many of the people they met were young and dreamed of living in their biblical homeland after growing up amid increasing anti-Semitism and discrimination. Sisters Sarah, 25, and Devora, 23, shared what aliyah means to them.
Devora said, “For us, Israel is not just another country. It is home, the place where the Jewish people belong, and that place has always felt spiritually connected to who we are. When we think about Israel, we think about the Kotel, the shuls (synagogues), Tzfat (a city in northern Israel), and the feeling of walking among Jews of every kind.”
South Africa has experienced a sharp rise in anti-Semitism since October 7, 2023. As young adults, Sarah and Devora spoke about how this has affected Jewish students and families. Their brother, who attends college, has told them that both students and even some professors express anti-Israel views. Wearing a yarmulke or missing class to observe Jewish holidays can make a student a target. Despite this baseless hatred, South Africa’s Jewish communities remain close-knit and supportive.
Sarah says that her and her sister’s desire to make aliyah is deeper than the challenges they face: “Every Jew has, somewhere inside, a longing for Israel because it is where we are meant to be. We have family there, already – a sister, nieces, and nephews – and we feel that more of our family may follow. The thought of being together in Israel, close to each other and close to the heart of the Jewish people, is very powerful. There is something special in the air of Israel. It makes you feel comfortable, welcome, and connected.”
Making aliyah from South Africa can be challenging because of the country’s economic difficulties and limited resources. The Fellowship is helping connect Sarah, Devora, and many other South African Jews with the guidance and support they need to return to their biblical homeland. While the language barrier is a concern, the sisters look forward to learning Hebrew and deepening their understanding of kosher laws.
Sarah and Devora say, “To the donors of The Fellowship, many of whom are Christians who love Israel and the Jewish people, we want to say thank you.”