Yesterday, The Jewish Agency hosted a farewell ceremony in Paris’ Nazareth Synagogue for eight hundred French Jews who will make Aliyah this summer on special group flights.

The current number of French Jews seeking to make Aliyah is up 40% over last year’s numbers, and the number of young French Jews participating in educational and volunteer programs in Israel through Masa Israel Journey is up 60% over last year’s figures.

The Jewish Agency estimates that by the end of 2013 approximately 2,500 French Jews will immigrate to Israel and over 1,000 youth will participate in long-term immersion programs in Israel.

photo: immigrants from France receiving their Israel identity cards during a 2011 ceremony; courtesy The Jewish Agency