Fleeing antisemitism in France, 50 Jews begin new lives in Israel with Christian support

A plane carrying almost 50 members of the Jewish community, who could no longer tolerate the toxic environment in France, landed in Israel, according to a CBN report from two weeks ago.

The sharp rise in antisemitism in France has led to such hostility towards its Jewish population that many are deciding to flee. Israel’s Law of Return, established in 1950, guarantees the right of any Jewish person to 'make aliyah,' (immigrate to the ancestral homeland). Those who arrived on the flight were warmly welcomed and assisted as they began their aliyah journey as olim, or new immigrants.

Debbie Szasur shared her feelings as she arrived at the reception center in Ben Gurion International Airport.

"So happy, you cannot imagine – a lot of emotions. I've been waiting for this moment for 45 years. So, finally, I've made it," she said tearfully. 

Uprooting one's whole life to move to another country is not easy, but for these new olim, staying in France now seems even more challenging than starting a new life in Israel. 

"To live in France is very, very, very hard for us,” said Noa, one of the new arrivals. “Everyone's antisemitic. Basically, you have phrases on the walls saying, 'Free Palestine, boycott Israel,' and I couldn't do this anymore. So, I came. Left everything in (France). I'm here, and it's great to be here," she said.

"Honestly, I'm anxious because I'm leaving everything behind," Noa added. "My family, my four siblings, everyone. I came alone, and I'm just 22, so I'm basically just a baby. But I am also very excited for what's to come."

Israel’s Basic Law states, “The State shall be open to Jewish immigration, and the ingathering of the exiles.” It also goes on to say, “The State shall strive to secure the welfare of members of the Jewish People and of its citizens, who are in straits and in captivity, due to their Jewishness or due to their citizenship.” 

Sam Grundwerg, world chairman of the Keren Hayesod organization, told CBN, "(It's a) difficult situation in terms of antisemitism right now, just in recent events, in the last days , there have been alarming incidents. A rabbi was walking with his nine-year-old son, coming from synagogue, (and) was beaten up. And, you know, I spoke to some of the officials there this morning, and they said to me, you know, what was especially upsetting about this incident is that the perpetrator who beat up this Jew, he didn't even run away."

However, it was a Christian ministry that helped fund the journey for this group from France, which has the second-largest Jewish population in the diaspora after the United States. Larry Huch Ministries made the trip possible, motivated by prophecies from the Book of Isaiah.

Huch explained, “The Bible says that we as Gentiles will not only welcome them back, but will bring them in our arms and on our shoulders to fulfill Bible prophecy. So, it's a double Bible prophecy. It's Jews returning to the Promised Land that God gave to Abraham 3,700 years ago, and Gentiles, Christians, instead of pushing them out of the land, we're bringing them back."

"It feels like it's my family. It feels like I have a relationship," he told CBN. "I saw them in France, at the synagogue, saw them get on the plane, hugged them when they're coming out of the plane, hugged them when they came in, and it moved me more than I thought it would."

Another new immigrant, Aurelia, shared her reasons for wanting to relocate to Israel.

"It is the land of my parents, of my ancestors. And there it is – it's like the shofar's call. It's a calling within us. So there you go; I want to bring up my children in Israel. To live surrounded by my brothers and sisters, to live as a free Jew.” 

Another described the pull he felt in a similar way: “It’s a calling that is inside us. It resonates as a desire to return to our land. To return to our country.”

Huch shared his perspective, saying, "They're coming, yes, for a better life. They're coming for a safer life and education for children, but they're coming home. Every one of them said, 'We're going home.'" 

Grundwerg conveyed his gratitude for the Christian generosity that helped bring so many home to Israel.

"We don't take for granted our evangelical Christian brothers and sisters who stand with us, with the people of Israel, shoulder to shoulder. We have shared Judeo-Christian values. I send blessings from Jerusalem for the support, for the friendship, for the moral courage to stand with Israel. You know, true friends are tested when standing with their friends during the difficult times. And these have been difficult times. And so we're, we're thrilled to partner with our evangelical Christian brothers and sisters, and we thank them." 

“Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and raise my signal to the peoples; and they shall bring your sons in their arms, and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders” (Isaiah 49:22).