According to statistics released on Wednesday 24 Menachem Av by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), more than a few yordim, Israelis that left to build their lives abroad, are returning home. The report states that in 2012, 8,800 yordim decided to return home and in 2013, that number increased to 9,020. This results in a negative immigration number for 2012 (referring to the number of people that immigrated as opposed to those returning home following at least one year abroad), standing at 7,100.

The CBS information signals that one of every two yordim decides to return home. In addition, since the start of the fiscal crisis in 2008, the number of Israelis deciding to return home has increased 40-50%. In actuality, 57% of all yordim opt to return home within two years of leaving Israel.

Regarding singles, the number of males returning is 66% which represents two of every three as opposed to 56% back in 1996. Regarding single females during the same period, 54% opt to return home as opposed to 44% in 1996. In the eighteen years since 1996, 158,800 Israelis have returned home.

From the establishment of the state in 1948 until the end of 2012; 698,000 Israelis have decided to leave. Between 116,000 and 149,000 Israelis have died abroad so the number of Israelis born in Israel (Sabras) living abroad today stands between 549,000 and 582,000.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)