Record-breaking aliyah from North America projected for 2021, with 5,000 expected to make the Israel move

Leah and Yehuda Smolarcik are moving to Israel from Chicago with their four children this summer. The challenges over the past year and a half of COVID convinced them not to put off reaching for their dream any longer.

"My husband and I met in Israel while living there temporarily after college, and we always hoped to return as immigrants," Leah said. "The pandemic made us realize that there is no sure or stable thing anywhere, so we felt now was the time to make the move."

The Smolarciks are far from alone in seizing the moment.

Approximately 5,000 people are expected to immigrate to Israel f...