"The State of Israel will be open for Jewish immigration and for the 'Ingathering of the Exiles'."
This is what the Government proclaimed in its Declaration of Independence on the 5th of the month of Iyar in the year 5708, May 14, 1948.
The integration of immigrants into the social fabric of the community has been one of the central objectives of the State of Israel from the day of its founding, and , as such, it stands at the forefront of the Government's scale of priorities.
Large scale immigration and a positive process of integration are not only overall goals of the nation and the State, but also serve together as a powerful impetus to Israel's development and progress in all areas.
With nearly a million immigrants arriving in Israel during the final decade of the 20th century, the face of Israeli society has been irrevocably altered. This group, as a whole, has flourished, and brought about unprecedented economic growth, cultural innovation and technological blossoming.
Tens of thousands of engineers and academics, along with thousands of scientists, artists and musicians, constitute unique "human capital"-educated, professional and dedicated-with an inestimable capacity for advancing the economy, the store of technological knowledge and creative culture in Israel.
The Ministry of Immigrant Absorption considers the deepening of awareness within the Israeli public about the integration of new immigrants as being an issue of decisive importance, with an emphasis being placed on the term "honor": honor to the immigrant, to his identity and to the heritage that he represents.
This human aspect accelerates, as the summation of a process, the integration of the immigrant into the society, contributes significantly to preventing emigration and even encourages further immigration.
Extracting from the lessons gleaned over a decade teaches the importance of investing directly in the immigrants, due to the fact that each sector of the population is involved with its own unique challenges, which often requires that a specific response to immigrants' needs be provided in separate frameworks.
The State of Israel aspires to fulfill its ongoing mission of the integration of new immigrants in the best possible manner. Therefore, it provides quality attention and particularistic analysis to each of the different immigrant groups. In the process, it offers relevant guidelines to all Ministry personnel to guarantee the successful and efficient integration of all the immigrants who have arrived during the span of the most recent mass immigration.
The Following Materials are Additional Sources of Information
Proclamation of Independence
Explanation of the Concept of ALIYAH
The Great Aliyah in Israel's first years - An Exhibition of photographs
Aliyah & Klitah - overview
Ministry of Tourism
Virtual Tour of Israel
Virtual Tour of Knesset
Cities in Isreal