Rina Dray doesn’t miss the Champs-Élysées. What excites her far more these days is walking through the plaza near Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem. Dray, a mother of two who immigrated to Israel from France last June at age 65, is one of about 3,000 new immigrants who made Jerusalem their home over the past year — and she says she has no regrets.
“The only thing I miss is my children,” she said. “The unity among people here is greater than what we had in France — even among Jews themselves.”
As of 2025, about 24,000 immigrants who arrived in the past decade now live in Jerusalem, coming from many different countries. According to data from the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, Jerusalem ranks first in immigrant absorption, with more than 75% of new arrivals choosing to remain and live in the capital.
Israel is marking Aliyah Day on Wednesday, the seventh of Heshvan, as it does every year. In Jerusalem, events will be held in community centers in multiple languages. Dray, an artist by profession, plans to take part.
“Every time I rode the Metro in Paris, I imagined myself on the Jerusalem light rail,” she recalled.
Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion said the municipality is making a significant effort to help new immigrants feel at home. “The city invests greatly in providing new arrivals with a warm and supportive environment that helps them integrate and feel at home,” he said. “Aliyah Day is an opportunity to recognize their contribution.”