The fourth major influx of immigrants began in 1924.  More than 67,000 immigrants arrived, mainly from Poland, Russia, Rumania, and Lithuania.  Other groups arrived from Yemen and Iraq.

Primary Motivations

Many Jews from Poland, who made up a large proportion of the Fourth Aliyah, wanted to leave Poland because of an economic crisis in that country, coupled with heavy taxation imposed upon the Jews. Also during these years, anti-semitism increased throughout Europe, motivating Jews from European countries to immigrate. Many chose to come to the Land of Israel because of the United State’s restrictive immigration laws and quotas from 1924.

The Immigrants

The population makeup of the Fourth Aliyah differed from the Third Aliyah, which is why a distinction is made between these waves of immigration.  Most of the immigrants were not associated with the pioneering movements, and were largely middle-class individuals who had engaged in business, industry, and trade in their native countries. 

Main Enterprises 

Due to their economic and social backgrounds, most immigrants of the Fourth Aliyah chose to settle in the cities, especially Tel Aviv.  As a result, the cities experience rapid development during this period.  The immigrants established light industry, workshops, small businesses, and construction.  At the same time, their contribution could be felt in the agricultural settlements, including the establishment of new moshavim as well as new agricultural undertakings, such as citrus cultivation.   The Fourth Aliyah contributed greatly to reinforcing the Jewish Yishuv during the period of financial crisis beginning in 1926, at which point many people left the country.