The increase of anti-Semitic attacks throughout western Europe has Jews so worried for the personal safety of their families, the Jewish Agency figures 8,000 new immigrants have come from France in the past year, as a result.

The Jewish Agency revealed on Thursday that the number of Jews who made Aliyah to Israel from Western Europe has reached an all-time high.

Jewish new immigrants from France are welcomed upon their arrival at Ben Gurion Int’l Airport on December 8, 2015 – Photo: AFP/Jack Guez

According to the figures, 9,880 Western European Jews immigrated to Israel in 2015 – the highest number ever recorded.

The agency believes these high numbers are an outcome of increased anti-Semitic attacks.

The vast majority of Western European Olim, nearly 8,000, came from France where a rise in anti-Semitism has reduced the Jewish population’s sense of security.

Just this week, a machete-wielding teen attacked a Jewish teacher in the town of Marseille, sparking a debate among France’s Jewish community over whether men and boys should stop wearing a kippah.

Moreover, the Jewish Agency revealed that the nearly 800 Jews who made Aliyah from the United Kingdom in 2015 rose by almost 25% compared to the previous year, making it the third highest Aliyah figure in a decade.

In response to the security threats, Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky said, “the record numbers of European Jews that feel that Europe is no longer their home should alarm European leaders and serve as a wake-up call for all who are concerned about the future of Europe.”

“At the same time,” added Sharansky, “the fact that Israel has become the number one destination for European Jews seeking to build a better future elsewhere is a tribute to the appeal of life in Israel and the values the Jewish State represents.”

View original Arutz Sheva publication at:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/206475#.VphIDjZ2fFI