Doctors think Aliya is of European origin.

Anti-Semitism has been on the rise in Europe since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, but Michael Marciano, a vascular specialist in Paris, wants to move to Israel not out of fear but out of love for his country. “We feel a rise in anti-Semitism in the media, but I don’t feel it personally and for me, this is not a reason to make aliyah. I want to live in Safed because it is a sacred place. ” he says.

Marciano was one of about 450 Jewish doctors from France and Belgium who took part in a Medex event held in Paris last Sunday, organized in light of Israel’s severe shortage of doctors. Ta. This is the first time that the event has been held in France and is part of a broader national program initiated by the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, the Ministry of Health, Nefesh B’Nefesh, and hosted by the Jewish Agency for Israel, to encourage immigration to Israel. It is intended to promote It plans to recruit 2,000 Jewish doctors from around the world over the next five years.

Dr. Laurent Seberg is a cardiologist who runs nine catheterization clinics in the French capital. One of his children studied medicine at Bar-Ilan University and is a resident at Ziv Hospital. His two other children are studying medicine and biomedical science.

“I want to get the kids involved,” he said, explaining how he got involved in the event. “It’s a little difficult in terms of language and bureaucracy. If I can’t do catheterization in Israel, I’d rather stay in France. But for me, it’s difficult to stay here and there will be problems in the future. My hospital has Slogans such as “Liberate Palestine” were spray-painted. Anti-Semitism is certainly on the rise, and I think there is no future for French Jews, not necessarily for doctors, but for all of us. ”

Dr. Nathan Beliash is a family physician who also works in Paris. “I feel anti-Semitism in the hospitals and universities where I work. Beliash is a Jewish name, so everyone knows it,” he said. “At first they say it’s good to be Jewish, but then they add that Jews rule the world and Jews have a lot of money. Since October 7th It’s getting worse and worse. I don’t feel safe here, so I’m going to Aliyah next year. I want to live in Tel Aviv.”

Dr. Ariela, who asked that her last name not be used, is an emergency physician who flew to Israel after October 7 to volunteer with the Magen David Adom Ambulance Service (MDA). “Saving lives is my passion. It’s in my DNA. I put on my vest and helmet and was ready to go all the way to Gaza if necessary,” she says.

“I took care of a 9-year-old girl in Israel who had a heart attack caused by sirens. If they call me again, I’ll be right back there. In the meantime, I need help. I would like to arrange all the licenses so that I can make aliyah when the time is right. This is our country, our country, so I am in life-saving mode. I also have family and friends who are in the military. I have to help them.”

Among those likely to come to Israel soon are Dr. Joel Toft, a dentist, and his husband Pascal, an engineer by trade. “We are making aliyah because of anti-Semitism,” they said. “We live in a small town, but on October 7th we realized for the first time how much they hate us. We no longer feel like France is our home. We would like to move to Israel, which is our true home.”

The participants met with representatives of the Ministry of Health and the Israeli Medical Association at the conference and arranged employment permits and all professional documents. A notary public was also present to authenticate documents on the spot.

Prospective Olim will conduct a series of interviews with representatives of Israeli hospitals and HMOs, during which they will discuss various employment opportunities, obtain information about upcoming official procedures, learn about the various grants for which they are eligible, and I changed my medical license. Their field of expertise will be recognized in Israel as well. All of this was done under one roof so that they could immigrate to Israel and quickly integrate into the professions they were trained for.

In response to the increased interest in Aliyah since October 7th, the “Solidarity Fair for Aliyah and Israel” was held in Paris in parallel with Medex. A similar fair was held in New York earlier this month with about 1,500 attendees, and two weeks ago an event was held in London. It’s been 5 years.

The event was held in the presence of Mr. Aliya and Minister of Integration Ofir Sofa. Nefesh B’Nefesh, Tony Gelbart, founder of Rabbi Yehoshua Fass. Director of the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, Senior. Avichai Kahana. Dr. Sefi Mendelovic, Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Health; Shay Felber, Deputy Director of the Jewish Agency for Israel, the Israel Medical Association, representatives from Israel’s four HMOs, major hospitals across the country, including Beilinson Hospital, Hadassah Medical Center, Ziv, Barzilai, Shamir, Shaare Zedek, and others.

The event also highlighted the opportunities available to those wishing to integrate and practice medicine in peripheral areas within the framework of the government’s Reconstruction Directorate’s new grant program. Doctor olims who choose to work in remote areas will be given a special grant of up to Sh350,000. In addition, the state will provide incentives to medical institutions that employ physician olim and increase their salaries to reduce the pay disparity in Israel compared to what they earn in Europe.

Minister Sofer said, “Doctors’ aliyah to Israel, especially the Galilee and Negev regions, will significantly strengthen the country’s health care system.” The MedEx conference in Paris builds on the successful gathering held this month in New York, and its aim is to attract skilled Jewish doctors from all over the world to Israel in the near future. Over the past month, we have held large-scale aliyah conferences in New York, London, and Paris, demonstrating strong support and enthusiasm for aliyah, driven by unity and a desire to strengthen the nation despite the current war. was seen. of Israel. ”

Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, co-founder and executive director of Nefesh B’Nefesh, said: “We are witnessing a historic and exciting moment for our organization as we host this joint event for the first time on European soil. “MedEx is not only important to us,” he added. “As an organization, this new national program has proven to be an incredible asset to the State of Israel and the Jewish state. “We are proud to be a resource.” We look forward to working towards our goal of increasing the quality of our work and providing Olim medical professionals with a smooth transition to working and living in Israel.”

“For Jews, not only in France but all over the world, love for Israel is the driving force behind making aliyah. They express their support and pride in Israel,” said Maj. Gen. Doron Almog (Res), head of the Jewish Agency. It continues,” he said. “The State of Israel in these difficult days. In our complex reality, strengthening the health system is a very important goal. The new Olim have been important partners in the construction and development of the State of Israel since its founding. “They are an important part of the State of Israel.” “They are a mosaic of Israeli society as a whole. Their contributions are important in all fields, including the medical field. We embrace these new Olim and express our gratitude from the bottom of our hearts.” I am.”

Emmanuel Sion, head of the Jewish Agency’s French delegation, predicted that 1,000 Jews will immigrate to Israel in 2023 and about 4,000 this year, adding: “Anti-Semitic incidents have increased by 1,000 percent. “There is,” he pointed out. “We are living in all the historical times that are happening in Israel, and the Jewish community is at a crossroads, and we want to be part of this common destiny.”

The author was a guest of Nefesh B’Nefesh in Paris