Last Updated on December 3, 2021

Making Aliyah to Israel from the U.K.

“I am gobsmacked Benjamin, I hear you’re making Aliyah and off to Israel in a fortnight.”

“Yes, Alan, after years of deliberating, I’m finally making Aliyah.”

“What, no bangers and mash for you anymore, no Chelsea buns and no Sunday roast either. No more fish from the local ‘chippy’, next time I see you, you’re gonna be a hummus expert”

No Marks and Sparks and the Mashbir isn’t the same as Harrods, but you’ll get used to it.

Know who’s near. Locate Anglo professionals in your Area

First steps in applying for Aliyah from the United Kingdom

Olim, the first step is to contact the Global Centre of the Jewish Agency (Heb: Sochnut), make an appointment with an emissary (shaliach) and open your Aliyah file.

If you are making Aliyah via Nefesh b’Nefesh you need to open your Aliyah file first and then get in touch with NBN at 0800-075-7200

There is a fairly large British community in Israel and in 2015 Aliyah from the UK rose by about 25% from the previous year – according to an article in the Jewish Chronicle

A great resource for Brits in Israel is H.O.B., the British Immigrants’ Association,  a voluntary organization that aims to help British immigrants from the UK and Ireland and further their integration by various means throughout the country.  They have branches in Jerusalem, Rehovot, Netanya, Tel Aviv, and ‘FiveTowns’ (Binyamina, Caesaria, Hadera, Pardes Hanna-Karkur, Zichron Ya’akov).

There is also ESRA – The English Speaking Residents Association.

• Downloadable list of Facebook groups for English speakers in Israel
• Why did they come to Israel? Personal Aliyah stories and life-changing experiences
• Aliyah forcing you into a career change? Don’t despair, find your place with our A-Z employment guide for Israel

Olim from the United Kingdom who have made an impact on Israeli society

Major-General Chaim Herzog was an Israeli politician, general, lawyer and author who served as the sixth President of Israel between 1983 and 1993. Born in Belfast and raised predominantly in Dublin, he was the son of Ireland’s Chief Rabbi Yitzhak HaLevi Herzog, who emigrated to Mandatory Palestine in 1935.

His son Isaac (Bougie) Herzog led the Israeli Labour Party and the parliamentary Opposition in the Knesset from 2013 – 2017 and in 2021 was sworn in as Israel’s 11th president.

Naomi Tsur is an Israeli environmentalist, politician and former deputy mayor of Jerusalem. She was responsible for strategic planning, environmental protection, sustainability and historic conservation.

Before her term as deputy mayor she was the head of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel in Jerusalem and coordinator of the Sustainable Jerusalem organization. She fought many public environmental and social battles. The most significant was her fight to prevent urban sprawl into the Jerusalem Hills.

Brits on Facebook

• Brits in Israel
• Brits in Haifa
• Anglo-List