“We Can No Longer Wait”: Why Leaving France Is Becoming an Urgent Question for French Jews

How much longer can French Jewish families continue to wait, hoping that the situation around them will improve?

For some, that question is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. For years, moving to Israel was often a distant ambition, a dream discussed at family gatherings or a possibility reserved for retirement. Today, among a growing number of French Jews considering Aliyah, the mood appears to be changing.

What was once a personal aspiration is increasingly accompanied by a sense of urgency. The Aliyah fairs held in Paris, Marseille and Lyon between October 11 and 13, 2026, offered a revealing glimpse of that transformation. Families came seeking information about employment, housing, schools and the practicalities of immigration. But behind those questions lay a deeper concern: how much longer can they confidently imagine their future in France?

For some, the fear of leaving everything behind is beginning to compete with an even more unsettling fear — that remaining could eventually prove to be the greater mistake.

Paris: When the Future Can No Longer Wait

The Paris Aliyah fair on October 11 attracted more than 600 households, representing approximately 2,000 people, according to figures reported by the organisers and the French Jewish press.

The event brought together representatives of Israeli institutions, employment organisations and integration services, allowing prospective immigrants to explore the practical realities of starting a new life in Israel.

But the significance of such gatherings goes beyond attendance figures.

Behind every discussion about a school, a job or an apartment may lie a family facing one of the most difficult decisions of its life.

Leaving France means leaving a familiar language, established careers, relatives, friends and sometimes generations of family history.

Yet the fact that so many families are seriously examining this possibility raises an important question: what has changed in the way they perceive their future?

For some, the answer lies in a gradual erosion of confidence.

The concern is no longer limited to individual antisemitic incidents. It extends to the atmosphere in which Jewish families live, the tensions surrounding Israel and the uncertainty about what the coming years may bring.

Parents in particular face a painful dilemma.

Should they continue raising their children in the country they have always considered home, hoping that tensions will eventually diminish? Or should they begin preparing for a future elsewhere, before circumstances become more difficult?

The choice is far from simple. But for those increasingly concerned about security and belonging, waiting no longer necessarily feels like the safest option.

Marseille and Lyon:

When the Fear Followed Families Inside the Aliyah Fairs

What happened in Marseille and Lyon added a particularly disturbing dimension to the October Aliyah fairs.

In Marseille, on October 12, the venue hosting the fair had to be evacuated for approximately one hour following a security alert.

The event was interrupted, forcing families and organisers to leave the premises before they could return.

The following day, in Lyon, a violent demonstration took place outside the venue. As the event came to an end, participants were rapidly evacuated because of the situation outside.

The symbolism was impossible to ignore.

Jewish families had gathered to explore the possibility of leaving France because of growing concerns about their future. Yet even the events intended to help them prepare that departure were disrupted by security incidents.

In Marseille, an emergency evacuation interrupted the fair. In Lyon, a violent protest outside the building turned the conclusion of the event into a hurried departure.

For prospective immigrants already questioning their future in France, these incidents gave a particularly concrete dimension to concerns that might otherwise have remained abstract.

The question was no longer only whether Jewish families felt secure in their daily lives. It was whether they could even gather to discuss their future in Israel without facing disruption and heightened security measures.

For some, the urgency surrounding Aliyah was no longer merely a feeling. It had become part of their immediate experience.

Antisemitism and the Erosion of Confidence

The growing interest in Aliyah must be understood against the backdrop of a difficult period for French Jewry.

France is home to one of the world’s largest Jewish communities, with deep historical roots and a remarkable contribution to the country’s intellectual, cultural, economic and political life. For generations, Jewish citizens have been an integral part of the French Republic.

Yet the sharp rise in reported antisemitic incidents following the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, and the subsequent war in Gaza has intensified concerns about security and belonging.

For some families, the anxiety extends beyond isolated incidents. It can influence ordinary decisions: whether children should openly display their Jewish identity, whether religious symbols might attract unwanted attention, or whether expressing an opinion about Israel could lead to hostility.

Jewish schools and synagogues have long operated under heightened security arrangements. While these measures provide essential protection, their very necessity can also contribute to the feeling that Jewish life requires constant vigilance.

This does not mean that French society as a whole is hostile to Jews. Many French citizens, institutions and public officials remain firmly committed to fighting antisemitism and protecting religious freedom.

Nor does it mean that all French Jews share the same fears or conclusions. Many remain deeply attached to France and determined to continue building their future there.

Nevertheless, for those who increasingly question their long-term security, the accumulation of concerns can have a decisive impact.

The decision to leave may emerge not from a single dramatic event, but from a gradual loss of confidence.

And once that confidence begins to erode, the question of timing becomes particularly important.

October 17: Another Warning Sign of a Troubled Climate

Just days after the Aliyah fairs, France witnessed demonstrations and episodes of unrest on October 17, reflecting broader social and political tensions.

The protests were not organised against Jews and should not be confused with antisemitic demonstrations.

Nevertheless, for families already questioning the country’s stability, images of confrontation and public disorder can reinforce an existing atmosphere of anxiety.

The issue is not that every demonstration represents a danger to Jewish citizens. Democratic protest is a legitimate part of French public life.

Rather, it is the cumulative effect of different sources of uncertainty: antisemitism, political polarisation, economic pressures and concern about the direction of French society.

The proximity of the events was striking.

During the same week that Jewish families were exploring the possibility of relocating to Israel, France was again confronting visible social tensions.

There is no established evidence that the October 17 events directly increased Aliyah applications. But for people who already feel uneasy about the future, further unrest may strengthen the perception that waiting carries risks of its own.

The greatest concern is not necessarily what happened on one particular day. It is what families fear the coming years might bring.

Israel: From a Distant Dream to a Concrete Alternative

The growing interest in Aliyah is accompanied by efforts to make immigration more practical.

At the Paris fair, Israeli employers from several sectors met prospective immigrants, offering opportunities to explore professional integration before departure.

This approach addresses one of the greatest obstacles facing French Jewish families: the fear of losing financial and professional stability. For someone with an established career in France, moving to Israel can mean adapting to a different labour market, learning Hebrew and rebuilding a professional network.

Employment opportunities before arrival can help reduce those uncertainties. The broader immigration figures also suggest renewed momentum.

More than 3,300 people immigrated from France to Israel in 2025, compared with approximately 2,228 in 2024, according to figures from Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration. Although these numbers remain below the exceptional levels recorded in 2015, they indicate a significant increase in recent arrivals.

It would be premature to describe the current situation as a mass exodus. Interest in immigration does not always lead to departure, and many French Jews have no intention of leaving. Nevertheless, the growing number of actual immigrants, combined with the interest surrounding the October fairs, suggests that Aliyah is becoming a more immediate consideration for a meaningful segment of the community. Israel is not without challenges. Security threats, housing costs, economic pressures and the difficulties of integration are serious realities that prospective immigrants must consider.

Yet for some families, Israel offers something they increasingly value: the possibility of living in a society where Jewish identity is part of everyday national life.

The decision is therefore not simply about choosing between two countries.

It is about choosing where they believe their children will have the strongest sense of security, belonging and confidence in the future.

When Staying Begins to Feel Like the Greater Risk

Perhaps the most revealing aspect of the October Aliyah fairs is not the number of families attending, but the difficult emotional calculation taking place behind their decisions. France remains their country. Their lives, memories and family histories are rooted there.

Leaving means sacrificing much of what they have spent years building. Yet for some, the possibility of remaining is becoming increasingly difficult to accept without questioning what the future may hold.

That is the fundamental change.

For years, the fear of leaving everything behind could be enough to postpone Aliyah. Today, among some prospective immigrants, that fear is being challenged by another: the possibility of looking back one day and wishing they had acted sooner.

The future of French Jewry is not predetermined. France remains a democracy with institutions committed to protecting its citizens, and its Jewish communities continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience.

But the sense of urgency expressed by some families deserves attention.

It raises questions not only about Israel’s ability to welcome new immigrants, but also about France’s ability to restore confidence among Jewish citizens who are beginning to doubt their future there.

For those considering departure, the decision is deeply personal. It involves weighing the difficulties of rebuilding a life against the uncertainty of remaining in the one they already know. 

And increasingly, the question is changing. It is no longer simply: Why should we leave France? It is becoming: What if we wait too long? For some French Jewish families, the fear of leaving everything behind is beginning to be outweighed by the fear of staying too long.