A record number of Brazilian Jews immigrated to Israel last year, according to Brazilian media. Some 463 immigrants from Brazil arrived in Israel in 2015 — the highest number recorded over the past 10 years, according to official Israeli data.
An in-depth report by Brazil’s Globo TV comes amid the country’s worst economic crisis in a century. Factors making Israel more appealing, according to the television report, are the Jewish state’s social benefits for newcomers and job opportunities.
Immigration from Brazil to Israel last year was 41 percent higher than in 2014, when 308 Brazilians made aliyah. Urban crime was cited as a major impetus. — jta