Thousands of Jews from Diaspora communities are expected to arrive in Israel for the High Holiday season, filling Jerusalem hotels and giving Israeli organizations a chance to reach families who may be considering a more permanent move.
Visitors are expected primarily from major Jewish communities in the United States, Canada, Britain and France, with hotels in Jerusalem reporting near-full occupancy over the holiday period.
Organizers of a new housing and absorption fair say this year’s wave of visitors presents an opportunity to turn a temporary stay into a practical examination of aliyah, housing and long-term settlement in Israel.
The Israel Home Expo, organized by the Israel Building Center, is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 30, during the intermediate days of Sukkot at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem.
The event will bring together residential and investment projects from across Israel, alongside advisers specializing in mortgages, taxation, legal services and the aliyah and absorption process.
The premise is simple: Rather than traveling abroad to pitch Israeli housing to Jewish communities, developers and service providers can meet prospective immigrants while they are already in Israel and experiencing the country firsthand.
(Photo: Ohad Kab)
Organizers say the rise in antisemitic incidents abroad, combined with a stronger desire among many Jews to deepen their connection to Israel, has prompted some families to move beyond the idea of a holiday visit and begin exploring the possibility of relocation.
The fair is intended to give those families a chance to compare communities, understand financial and legal considerations and speak directly with Israeli professionals involved in buying property and moving to the country.
Eran Rolls, chairman of the Israel Building Center, described the holiday influx as a major opportunity.
(Photo: Ohad Kab)
“The arrival of thousands of Jews in Israel during the Tishrei holidays is a national opportunity of the highest order,” he said. “The close ties we have developed in recent years with community leaders, rabbis and heads of organizations in the United States and around the world show clearly that the desire to build a home in Israel is not just a dream, but a real need.”
Rolls said the expo is designed to connect visitors directly with Israeli communities and housing providers while they are already in the country.
“While the airlift is bringing thousands of people to hotels across Israel, the fair at the International Convention Center is intended to connect them directly with communities, towns and construction companies,” he said. “We are not only offering real estate. We are offering them the opportunity to build the next chapter of their lives here.”