2008 ends on a high note for South African immigration

[Courtesy : www.haaretz.com) By Cnaan Liphshiz
For people involved with immigration from South Africa, 2008 will be remembered as one of the most dramatic years of this decade - possibly the most significant since the end of Apartheid in 1994. As reported by Haaretz, immigration from South Africa increased by some 90 percent in 2008, with the arrival of the 360th immigrant from that country on Wednesday, compared to only 191 South African immigrants in 2007.

The last planeload of South African immigrants for 2008 landed on the last day of the year, bringing with it 76 people. In July, the Jewish Agency brought to Israel the largest flight ever by South African immigrants, who numbered 100 people.

Much of this rise owes to unusual and difficult circumstances that enveloped South Africa and Zimbabwe last year. But Dorron Kline, director of project development of the South African Zionist Federation Israel (Telfed), says the effects of Israel's own favorable situation was just as influential.

In listing the "push factors" that drove South African Jews to pack their bags, Kline recalls the so-called "xenophobic riots" that erupted there last spring, leaving dozens dead in the wake of violent attacks directed against migrants from Zimbabwe, also added to the pressure, says Kline.

As several immigrants from Southern Africa told Anglo File, Zimbabwe's own ongoing financial demise also made life difficult for its small Jewish community, but also served as a warning light for some of where South Africa might be going. The fact that Jacb Zuma, a controversial figure believed by some to hold radically communist views, was elected to head the ANC ruling party also made the decision to leave easier for some.

If that wasn't enough, there was the ever-increasing crime rate, and the shocking murder last January of businessman Sheldon Cohen, 47, who was shot and killed in Johannesburg as he was waiting for his teenage son to finish soccer practice.

With Australia tightening its immigration quota on the one hand, and the strong Zionist inclinations of South African Jewry on the other, this all meant more immigration to Israel.

The most remarkable trend of this new wave, says Kline, is the steep increase in families coming to Israel, says Kline. Normally, immigrants are younger people, after school or university, or pensioners coming to be with their family. "It's very hard to move a family; you have school, a house and obligations. Families don't like moving if they can help it."

Kline reports that during his visit to South Africa in November, "Fifteen Orthodox religious families came to see me to plan their Aliyah, and that's unbelievable." In addition, he interviewed seven ultra-Orthodox families and eight "traditional" families. Out of 65 immigration applications, 33 were made by families with children. According to Kline, Telfed has not been able to boast similar statistics in over ten years.

In parallel, the South African community has expanded its activity in Israel. Telfed opened up six new regional committees, in Tel Aviv, Rishon Letzion, Netanya, Hod Hasharon, Haifa and Ashkelon. This increased work volume means more financial demands of Telfed, precisely at a time when the economic crisis is making donors less capable of giving.

To try and meet that demand, the organization set up a new fundraising committee, chaired by Telfed executive member Kaye Neil. "So far, we have depended on a fairly small group of regular donors who give substantially," Kline says. "In 2009 we may need to appeal to more people for support, and switch to a system which collects small donations from a lot of people."
 
for additional reports, pictures and video clips see
http://www.telfed.org.il/content/2nd-group-flight-arrives-south-africa