[Opinion. If Russian Jews are made so uncomfortable in Israel that they want to go back to Russia…

Some Russian Jews Rethink Emigration to Israel

American Council for Judaism: 1 Feb 2005

Moscow’s 100-year-old Bronnaya Street Synagogue is being restored and expanded, with a new community center under construction next door. In September, hundreds of people attended events marking the re-inauguration of the shul. The Bronnaya Street Synagogue itself was the target of three attempted bombings in little more than a decade.

The revamped synagogue is just one sign of the renewed strength of Russia’s Jewish community, which after decades of decline is now seeing a boost in numbers as tens of thousands of Russians who had left for Israel are now returning. Russia’s economy is strong and many regard the political environment as more stable than it was 10 or 15 years ago. While Russia has become more hospitable, many of the Jews who left the former Soviet Union for Israel are finding the Jewish State unwelcoming. Not only is Israel’s economy sagging and security situation a disaster, but also many Jews from the former Soviet Union report that they are facing anti-Russian discrimination.

About one million Jews left the Soviet Union for Israel. The exodus gathered steam in the 1990s, with peak years in 1990 and 1991. Jews from the former Soviet Union make up one-fifth of the Israeli population. According to official Israeli figures, about 72,000 of the Soviet Jews who came to Israel have left, including the approximately 50,000 who have left for Russia. In the last two years, more Jews have moved from Russia to Germany than from Russia to Israel, according to German and Israeli figures.

Polls show that many Israelis associate the typical Russian with prostitution or the mafia. This image persists despite the fact that the Russian immigrants, many of whom are doctors and engineers, are better educated and more economically productive than native-born Israelis. In fact, this success is one of the sore points for the Sephardim, many of whom have been in Israel for decades and are less successful.

In an article titled “Return of the Jews,” Frank Brown writes in Newsweek [August 9, 2004], “It’s not easy being Jewish in Russia, original home of the pogrom. But sometimes it’s even harder to be Jewish in Israel.”

The implosion has begun.

Israel will be gone in less than 20 years.

Israeli Jewry may be better fleeing to the JAO Jew enclave set up for them as a Jew homeland in Russian.

The ones that stay behind could be butchered for Israeli Jews massacring 50,000 women and children.

Haven't the Russians suffered enough ?

It is important that people have a choice.

Also, no-one should be forced from their home country.

Unfortunately this happened in a major way in Russia/Soviet-Union.

Can this be reversed?

Or, is this irriversible?

Once one has been pushed out, can one every really return to what once was?

They should move where they want.

There aren't a lot of options for Russians but I assume most are Israelis now.

I don't see the appeal of moving to Israel or Russia now but up to them.

No outward migration does not signal.the end of Israel. I get it that many of you dream of that.

Edited May 12May 12 by Jingthing

Today we learn more about the Jewish Autonomous Oblast, bordering on China in Russia's Far East. It is the only autonomous region in Russia, created in 1928, although Crimea in Ukraine was also considered.

Peaking at 50k residents in the 1948, only a handful are left. It is connected by the Trans-Siberian Railway to both Moscow and Beijing. The USSR wanted to create an alternative to Zionism.

It may be that Russia wanted Jews on the frontlines of China's power, not a buffer but a sacrificial zone.

Seven state-run schools teach Yiddish and another for religious education in Yiddish. The five- to seven-year-olds spend two lessons a week learning to speak Yiddish, as well as being taught Jewish songs, dance, and traditions. Yiddish is compulsory for children aged 6 to 10. A Yiddish radio station is in operation, and the local newspaper includes a section in Yiddish.

-21°F to 8°F in winter to 61°F to 82°F in summer, with rapid, pleasant spring and autumn transitions. Does not sound like kibbutz territory.

L'Chayim, Comrade Stalin! is on YouTube.

Bombs...Siberia. Rockets...Siberia. Rough choice. There are Siberian tigers!

The historical homeland for the Jews in Russia established by Stalin in a very undesirable backwater in far east Russia was never successful and is now only a historical oddity.

There are very few Jews there now if any and Jews don't move there now and never will. The area attracts a little tourism and some youtubers to view tbe historical Jewish relics there.

To suggest the area is relevant today to Russian Jews is trollish of the highest order.

Edited May 12May 12 by Jingthing

51 minutes ago, FlorC said:

Haven't the Russians suffered enough ?

Ask Ukrainians.

Why post an article from 2005 under “What the papers are saying”?

A lot has happened since then for both Israel and Russia so is it still relevant? Are Jews still migrating back to Russia or has Ukraine war stopped that?

28 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Today we learn more about the Jewish Autonomous Oblast, bordering on China in Russia's Far East. It is the only autonomous region in Russia, created in 1928, although Crimea in Ukraine was also considered.

Peaking at 50k residents in the 1948, only a handful are left. It is connected by the Trans-Siberian Railway to both Moscow and Beijing. The USSR wanted to create an alternative to Zionism.

It may be that Russia wanted Jews on the frontlines of China's power, not a buffer but a sacrificial zone.

Seven state-run schools teach Yiddish and another for religious education in Yiddish. The five- to seven-year-olds spend two lessons a week learning to speak Yiddish, as well as being taught Jewish songs, dance, and traditions. Yiddish is compulsory for children aged 6 to 10. A Yiddish radio station is in operation, and the local newspaper includes a section in Yiddish.

-21°F to 8°F in winter to 61°F to 82°F in summer, with rapid, pleasant spring and autumn transitions. Does not sound like kibbutz territory.

L'Chayim, Comrade Stalin! is on YouTube.

Bombs...Siberia. Rockets...Siberia. Rough choice. There are Siberian tigers!

Maybe I will move there.

Looks beautiful.

I wonder if they understand Chinese there, the land being so close to China.

I am looking for the best Plan B area, just in case.

I prefer to live in a place with lower air pollution.

So, I might really enjoy life there.

Very nice place, IMHO...

Edited May 12May 12 by GammaGlobulin

36 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

No outward migration does not signal.the end of Israel.

It is one of the markers.

A lot more Jewry have been leaving Israel than moving there.

Along with financial support being greatly reduced in the future, as the Jewry become the minority, it willl be the beginning of the end.

The Knesset Immigration Committee have termed it a tsunami.

1. Net Negative Migration: In 2024, approximately 82,700 left, while far fewer arrived, resulting in a net loss. In 2025, 69,000+ left compared to only 19,000 returning, creating a substantial negative migration balance.

2. Rising Emigration: The number of Israelis moving abroad has more than doubled since 2023.

3. Factors Driving Departure: The surge is attributed to the ongoing war (post-Oct 7, 2023), fear of escalation, and deep dissatisfaction with the government, including judicial overhaul plans.

4. "Tsunami" Warning: The Knesset's Immigration Committee chair termed the emigration rate a "tsunami" and a strategic threat to Israeli society.

5. Long-term Residents: Many leaving are young, educated individuals, with some reports noting that even with incoming Aliyah, the net balance is heavily tipped toward departure

1 minute ago, Packer said:

It is one of the markers.

A lot more Jewry have been leaving Israel than moving there.

Along with financial support being greatly reduced in the future, as the Jewry become the minority, it willl be the beginning of the end.

The Knesset Immigration Committee have termed it a tsunami.

1. Net Negative Migration: In 2024, approximately 82,700 left, while far fewer arrived, resulting in a net loss. In 2025, 69,000+ left compared to only 19,000 returning, creating a substantial negative migration balance.

2. Rising Emigration: The number of Israelis moving abroad has more than doubled since 2023.

3. Factors Driving Departure: The surge is attributed to the ongoing war (post-Oct 7, 2023), fear of escalation, and deep dissatisfaction with the government, including judicial overhaul plans.

4. "Tsunami" Warning: The Knesset's Immigration Committee chair termed the emigration rate a "tsunami" and a strategic threat to Israeli society.

5. Long-term Residents: Many leaving are young, educated individuals, with some reports noting that even with incoming Aliyah, the net balance is heavily tipped toward departure

I agree that it is the young of Israel who will most want to get out of dodge.

I mean, young people no longer are willing to fight for the dream which was never a good dream to begin with.

If they have a choice, then they will emigrate out of Israel for some other far better place.

In fact, if it were not for the oil, and an easy idle existence, most of the Arabs would leave if they could.

Who wants to live on a sand dune, except maybe for camels.

And, it is getting SUPER HOT there, year by year.

Soon, due to global warming, the area will not be habitable by humans.

If you say the people there can live for 20 more years, I think you are crazy, or they are crazy.

The surface temperature is rising at a rate far higher than most of the rest of the world.

Anyone who wants to liven in an oven with bombs falling from the sky....They are welcome to it...

And good riddance to a lot of them.

I do not think very highly of the culture in Arabia.

And, Iran is not Arabia.

So, they must have a near-term or mid-term plan to leave Israel.

They just do not share this info with their friends.

Polls show that many Israelis associate the typical Russian with prostitution or the mafia. This image persists despite the fact that the Russian immigrants, many of whom are doctors and engineers, are better educated and more economically productive than native-born Israelis. In fact, this success is one of the sore points for the Sephardim, many of whom have been in Israel for decades and are less successful.

Fascinating. One could make a similar argument in regard to the Third Reich, who seemed to be jealous and fearful of the success of Jews back in the early 1930s.

Leaving Israel for Russia has to be a somewhat desperate move, but I can certainly understand the desire to leave Israel at this point in time.

24 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Maybe I will move there.

Looks beautiful.

I wonder if they understand Chinese there, the land being so close to China.

I am looking for the best Plan B area, just in case.

I prefer to live in a place with lower air pollution.

So, I might really enjoy life there.

Very nice place, IMHO...

And I hear they make very good Hong Kong style pan fried noodles, in addition to some Mongolian specialties.

17 minutes ago, Packer said:

It is one of the markers.

A lot more Jewry have been leaving Israel than moving there.

Along with financial support being greatly reduced in the future, as the Jewry become the minority, it willl be the beginning of the end.

The Knesset Immigration Committee have termed it a tsunami.

1. Net Negative Migration: In 2024, approximately 82,700 left, while far fewer arrived, resulting in a net loss. In 2025, 69,000+ left compared to only 19,000 returning, creating a substantial negative migration balance.

2. Rising Emigration: The number of Israelis moving abroad has more than doubled since 2023.

3. Factors Driving Departure: The surge is attributed to the ongoing war (post-Oct 7, 2023), fear of escalation, and deep dissatisfaction with the government, including judicial overhaul plans.

4. "Tsunami" Warning: The Knesset's Immigration Committee chair termed the emigration rate a "tsunami" and a strategic threat to Israeli society.

5. Long-term Residents: Many leaving are young, educated individuals, with some reports noting that even with incoming Aliyah, the net balance is heavily tipped toward departure

I understand their desire to leave, the Israeli government is an extremist mess, largely dominated by the somewhat rapid members of the Orthodox community.

In addition if you take into account the fact that Israel's becoming infinitely less relevant, and infinitely less popular with far less support around the world these days. A true pariah state.

2 hours ago, Jingthing said:

The historical homeland for the Jews in Russia established by Stalin in a very undesirable backwater in far east Russia was never successful and is now only a historical oddity.

There are very few Jews there now if any and Jews don't move there now and never will. The area attracts a little tourism and some youtubers to view tbe historical Jewish relics there.

To suggest the area is relevant today to Russian Jews is trollish of the highest order.

Just a bit of history, Jing. I'm sure the 50k won't be going to live there. That said, it seems like Jews want to stick together, for cultural and dietary reasons. Wonder where these 50k will wind up. There are 140 Lubavitcher centres throughout Russia and a Chabad shul in the JAO.

2 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Just a bit of history, Jing. I'm sure the 50k won't be going to live there. That said, it seems like Jews want to stick together, for cultural and dietary reasons. Wonder where these 50k will wind up. There are 140 Lubavitcher centres throughout Russia and a Chabad shul in the JAO.

Bizarre post.

Most probably aren't even religious.

2 hours ago, Chalky0w said:

Why post an article from 2005 under “What the papers are saying”?

A lot has happened since then for both Israel and Russia so is it still relevant? Are Jews still migrating back to Russia or has Ukraine war stopped that?

Um, because it's still relevant, and growing.

It may be that Russia wanted Jews on the frontlines of China's power, not a buffer but a sacrificial zone.

If I were a betting man, I'd bet that Stalin just wanted to get them all in one place so he could wipe them out and nobody would know.

But then, I've never been a Stalin fan. The remnants of my family ended up in Kazakhstan under his purges. Most of them seem to have found their way back to Europe since the break in the Cold War.

Um, because it's still relevant, and growing.

I'm not saying you're wrong, but do you have any updated stats?

Edited May 12May 12 by impulse

14 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Bizarre post.

Most probably aren't even religious.

You have to be 'religious' to move to Israel? Used to be for a passport. I doubt carrying an Israeli passport is a benefit these days. Just like Americans sewing Canadian flags on their backpacks.

I also note those on this forum, many of whom are retired are flocking to the Holy Land. Many, in fact, are flogging the Wholly Land.

3 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

[Opinion. If Russian Jews are made so uncomfortable in Israel that they want to go back to Russia…

Some Russian Jews Rethink Emigration to Israel

American Council for Judaism: 1 Feb 2005

Moscow’s 100-year-old Bronnaya Street Synagogue is being restored and expanded, with a new community center under construction next door. In September, hundreds of people attended events marking the re-inauguration of the shul. The Bronnaya Street Synagogue itself was the target of three attempted bombings in little more than a decade.

The revamped synagogue is just one sign of the renewed strength of Russia’s Jewish community, which after decades of decline is now seeing a boost in numbers as tens of thousands of Russians who had left for Israel are now returning. Russia’s economy is strong and many regard the political environment as more stable than it was 10 or 15 years ago. While Russia has become more hospitable, many of the Jews who left the former Soviet Union for Israel are finding the Jewish State unwelcoming. Not only is Israel’s economy sagging and security situation a disaster, but also many Jews from the former Soviet Union report that they are facing anti-Russian discrimination.

About one million Jews left the Soviet Union for Israel. The exodus gathered steam in the 1990s, with peak years in 1990 and 1991. Jews from the former Soviet Union make up one-fifth of the Israeli population. According to official Israeli figures, about 72,000 of the Soviet Jews who came to Israel have left, including the approximately 50,000 who have left for Russia. In the last two years, more Jews have moved from Russia to Germany than from Russia to Israel, according to German and Israeli figures.

Polls show that many Israelis associate the typical Russian with prostitution or the mafia. This image persists despite the fact that the Russian immigrants, many of whom are doctors and engineers, are better educated and more economically productive than native-born Israelis. In fact, this success is one of the sore points for the Sephardim, many of whom have been in Israel for decades and are less successful.

In an article titled “Return of the Jews,” Frank Brown writes in Newsweek [August 9, 2004], “It’s not easy being Jewish in Russia, original home of the pogrom. But sometimes it’s even harder to be Jewish in Israel.”

Thank you for sharing your recent article about Jewish migration to Russia. I eagerly anticipate you posting the 2025 update around 2046 for further insights.

17 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

You have to be 'religious' to move to Israel? Used to be for a passport. I doubt carrying an Israeli passport is a benefit these days. Just like Americans sewing Canadian flags on their backpacks.

I also note those on this forum, many of whom are retired are flocking to the Holy Land. Many, in fact, are flogging the Wholly Land.

No.

You do not need to be at all religious to move to Israel.

Duh

5 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

No.

You do not need to be at all religious to move to Israel.

Duh

5 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

No.

You do not need to be at all religious to move to Israel.

Duh

You said it, Jing, not I.

"Bizarre post.

Most probably aren't even religious."

D'oh!

Between 1.3 and 1.4 million Russian Jews and their families have emigrated to Israel since the 1970s, the vast majority of whom had never practiced Judaism and had no familiarity with Jewish custom or tradition. Russian Jewish males had not been circumcised, for example and virtually none had even a rudimentary knowledge of Hebrew. Many remarked they had never heard Hebrew spoken until they arrived in Israel.

These Russians were considered Jewish under Israel's Law of Return because they had a Jewish parent or grandparent, but that was their only connection to Judaism. Moreover, most of them didn't really want to live in Israel, but considered it a better option than life in post-Soviet Russia.

Some of the Russian Jews who made Aliyah knew from the beginning they wouldn't stay in Israel once they acquired Israeli citizenship and took advantage of the education and job training programs available to new immigrants to Israel. Since Israeli Jews enjoy full employment, i.e., everyone who wants a job can get one, some Russians would also work for several years to accumulate money and job experience before moving back to Russia or on to a third country.

"As of 2026, Israeli citizens have visa-free or visa on arrival access to 166 countries and territories, ranking the Israeli passport 16th in the world according to the Henley Passport Index." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_requirements_for_Israeli_citizens

"As of 2025, Russian citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 114 countries and territories, ranking the Russian passport 43th in terms of travel freedom (tied with Turkey passport) according to the Henley Passport index."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_passport#cite_note-126

And here's the link about the Henley Passport Index itself. Before you look at it, does anyone want to guess what passport gives the most travel freedom?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henley_Passport_Index

Edited May 26May 26 by Evil Penevil

People come.

People go.

I have a relative who sponsored a boat load of relatives from the USSR to the USA back in the Save Soviet Jewry days.

We all though he was crazy.

Emphasis on the Soviets.

Adjusting to hard core capitalism as an adult was hard in Russia and also hard in the US.

They had very unrealistic expectations of quick success and they were all very stressed and miserable.

I lost track but most went back.

Edited May 26May 26 by Jingthing

Lots of Vory became suddenly Jewish

How did AN become the most anti-semitic site probably on the internet bar Stromfront. It's quite bizarre. That said 425k Israleis visited Thailand last year per capita that's probably the most visitors of any country.

Edited May 26May 26 by beautifulthailand99

20 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

How did AN become the most anti-semitic site probably on the internet bar Stromfront.

Guys like you?

2 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Guys like you?

So you say I haven't a racist bone in my body I believe there is only one race - the human race and there is no god and no chosen people. Prove me wrong.

4 hours ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

How did AN become the most anti-semitic site probably on the internet bar Stromfront. It's quite bizarre.

That's a good question and it is indeed bizarre. It's hard to know whether the AN members who write the heavy duty antisemitic posts are merely determined to or true believers

who really do hate Jews and

want to destroy Israel.

I would bet that the authors of the most hateful comments are hardcore antisemites due to the intensity of their posting.

4 hours ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

That said 425k Israleis visited Thailand last year per capita that's probably the most visitors of any country.

No, that distinction goes to Singapore. It has only 3.66 million citizens but had 877,000 visitors to Thailand in 2025. Israel appears to rank second in terms of the highest number of tourist visitors to Thailand on a per capita basis.

Edited May 27May 27 by Evil Penevil