U.S. aliyah highest in 36 years Aliyah to Israel from the United States rose by 19 percent this year over 2008, setting a 36-year high, according to the Jewish Agency for Israel. Some 3,324 immigrants to Israel in 2009 came from the United States. Some 3,767 came from all of North America, compared with 3,124 in 2008. Some 200 olim from North America, including 81 singles, were scheduled to arrive on Dec. 30 as a part of a joint Jewish Agency-Nefesh B'Nefesh flight.