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Israeli society is a vibrant tapestry of Jewish culture from around the world. But for many expatriate Jews, the challenging reality of moving to Israel often feels foreign and isolating, leaving many to question their place in the modern Jewish homeland. Eilon Gilad, CEO of Belong, a private, independent Israeli company that helps Jews find purpose and opportunity in Israel, will share his unique approach to the transformative experience of moving to Israel at The Jerusalem Post Annual Conference New York 2024.
Featuring videos of immigrants from around the world who have made an impact on Israeli society, including Dancing with the Stars’ Anna Aronov, Israeli sketch comedy actor Orel Tsabari and Miss Israel 2013 Yitish “Titi” Ainau, “Belong” exudes new energy and passion to be part of the modern Zionist movement against the dark backdrop of rising anti-Semitism around the world.
“Belong was founded to strengthen the connection between the Diaspora and Israel,” Gilad explains. “We are making sure that Israeli society and Israeli businesses are ready to welcome olim who are moving to Israel.” Founded a year before the October 7 attacks, Belong saw the rise of anti-Semitism in the world and understood that meaningful, customized integration into Israeli society required support from the private sector. While many mainstream organizations have been working to help immigrants immigrate to Israel for decades, Gilad is adamant that Belong’s services complement the traditional services offered by immigration support organizations, such as concierge services to help would-be immigrants understand how to become a valued part of Israeli society.
Support from the private sector
“After October 7, we learned how important the Diaspora connection to Israel is, and how Jews from all over the world crave that connection and want to be involved and impact daily life in Israel.” With immense pressure on government sectors since October 7, Gilad is working to share the benefits of support from the private sector and build a network that supports and embraces new immigrants to be part of the mission of the State of Israel. Belong CEO Eilon Gilad at the Jerusalem Post Annual Conference 2024 (Photo by Noam Galai)
While many would consider the security situation in Israel precarious as the war continues, Gilad reiterates the ideal of Israel being a haven for Jews: “The best place to be a Jew is Israel. We are trying to bridge the gap between the pressure to emigrate, the fear of how difficult it will be, and the opportunities that any Jew can find in Israel, by connecting them to a society that is accepting of Jews, where they can use their talents to strengthen Israel and help build a stronger Israeli society.”
Gilad sends a powerful message to Jewish nations around the world, underscoring the importance of aliyah now more than ever. The idealism and collective hope that drove the early pioneering Zionist movement in the face of centuries of adversity have not yet disappeared. Today’s aliyah blends innovation and tradition, inclusion and social justice, inviting a new generation to be part of building the future of the Jewish homeland.
“The fight for a free and democratic Jewish state of Israel is not over. Our enemies have understood for some time now that they cannot defeat Israel on the battlefield, so they have switched to psychological warfare and tried to delegitimize Israel globally,” Gilad asserts. “Imagine their frustration when they found out that their actions, especially since October 7, have caused an increase in immigration to Israel and strengthened us as a state. It’s a simple formula: they want us out of here. We need to do exactly the opposite and create a wave of immigration that will strengthen Israel’s Jewish population.”
Belong sponsored a portion of the Jerusalem Post Annual Conference 2024. www.jpost.com/AC24
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