Increase in Yordim to U.S.

The number of Yordim — Israelis leaving the Jewish State — arriving in the United States is constantly increasing, according to Haim Schein, head of the aliya emissaries, in an interview with Voice of Israel Radio.

“I have met very talented scientists, senior army officers, and I was especially shocked to see the number of young people who have just been discharged from compulsory military service currently in the U.S.” Schein said.

According to figures provided by U.S. immigration authorities to a team of researchers, in the past 20 years, 402 Israeli government officials were naturalized as U.S. citizens.

“This is the most despicable assertion,” said Aharon Kfir of Haifa University, who along with Asher Friedberg of Hebrew University, headed the research team. Kfir added that this was a universal phenomenon but noted that the number of immigrants from countries in the West is about five to 10 percent of the number of Israeli immigrants to the U.S.

Kfir proposed a number of ideas to correct the situation. He suggested that first this should be considered one of Israel’s national problems. The problem is not the individual but rather the tolerance toward emigration. He said that without a clear policy negating the diaspora, it is difficult to deter emigration.

Kfir believes there is an interdependence between aliya and yerida and suggested there be a clear-cut and radical policy which should cut down the scope of yerida.

He also said the leadership of the Zionist movement should be replaced. Presently there are eight active Zionist groups, Kfir said and while he conceded that such groups are minor, he said, “Every resolution begins with small numbers.”