1990s post-Soviet aliyah

In the years leading up to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 and for just over a decade afterward, many Jews left the Soviet Union and the post-Soviet countries. This was a big movement of people, with most going to live in Israel, while many others moved to Western countries like the United States and Germany.

Between 1989 and 2006, around 1.6 million Soviet Jews and their families moved away from their homes. About 979,000 of them, which is 61%, went to Israel under a special law called the Law of Return. This law lets Jews and their spouses move to Israel and become citizens. Many of these people were Ashkenazi Jews, who often did not follow many Jewish traditions because of life in the Soviet Union. When they arrived in Israel, some teenage boys and men had a special ceremony called a Brit milah that they had not had before.

Not all of the people moving were Ashkenazi Jews. Some were Mizrahi Jews from places like the Mountain Jews, the Georgian Jews, and the Bukharian Jews. These groups kept strong Jewish traditions and were less affected by Soviet rules. They often worked in business and crafts instead of high-tech jobs.

The Ashkenazi immigrants helped grow Israel's economy, especially in technology, making big changes to the country.

History

See also: History of the Jews in the Soviet Union and 1970s Soviet Union aliyah

After a big war in 1967, many Jewish people in the Soviet Union wanted to leave. They asked for special papers to exit the country and many faced problems or were not allowed to leave. In 1989, a leader named Mikhail Gorbachev made it easier for people to leave. That year, many Jewish families began moving to new homes.

Most of these families moved to Israel, but many also went to the United States. By the early 1990s, thousands of Jewish people were leaving each year. Some traveled by plane, and others by ship. Hungary helped many people travel safely during this time. After the Soviet Union broke apart in 1991, more people were able to leave, and many went to Israel to start new lives.

Absorption in Israel

The sudden and large number of people moving to Israel caused a big need for homes, especially in the Gush Dan area. This made house prices go up fast. To help, the leader in charge of building homes started plans to build more houses, changing some rules to make it happen faster. Even with these plans, many people still did not have homes, so about 430 places to live in temporary houses were set up all over Israel. The biggest one was in Beersheba, with over 2,000 homes.

After this, people spread out more across Israel. But there was a pattern: people with less money often moved to areas far from the center, while those with more money chose to live closer to the city center, mostly in Gush Dan. Many also moved to cities like Haifa, the Krayot area, Petah Tikva, Ariel, and Ashdod.

Over time, the rules for helping new residents changed. Many found jobs, but often not in areas matching their past skills. Some kept their old traditions, while others tried to mix their culture with Israeli culture. Their children, however, grew up fully as part of Israeli society.

Some new groups formed to help represent their needs, like the party Yisrael BaAliyah, which became popular. Later, another party called Yisrael Beiteinu started, focusing on national issues. During the 1990s, many of these new residents voted against the current government leaders. As time went on, their views often leaned toward supporting stronger policies toward nearby areas.

Culturally, many kept parts of their Russian background while also taking part in Israeli life. They started newspapers and TV channels in Russian and were very involved in activities like theater and music. Even though many learned Hebrew, many still spoke Russian at home. Their children, however, grew up speaking mostly Hebrew and feeling fully Israeli.

Demographics

Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union

Evolution among the Israeli populace

Economic integration in Israel

See also: Yozma Program

Many people who moved to Israel from the former Soviet Union found jobs and did well in the Israeli economy. They helped grow Israel's famous high-tech industry by bringing their skills as scientists and engineers. This wave of newcomers helped boost Israel's economy and made many companies bigger.

At first, many of these newcomers had to take jobs that were not very exciting, and some lived in tough conditions. But over time, things got better. By 2012, their average pay was about the same as people born in Israel, showing that they had really helped the country grow.

Impact on Israeli society

When many Jewish people moved from the Soviet Union to Israel in the 1990s, many Israelis were happy at first. They believed that each new person made their country stronger. However, over time, some people became worried. They were concerned that some of the newcomers might not share the same religious or cultural beliefs, and they feared that there might not be enough jobs for everyone.

Some Israelis also found it hard to welcome the new immigrants because they kept their own languages and customs. This made some people feel that they were different from the rest of the community. Over time, though, these immigrants helped Israel in many ways. By 2009, many worked in universities, and leaders like Prime Minister Netanyahu praised how well they had become part of everyday life in Israel. He called their arrival one of the biggest positive changes for the country.