The First Organized Aliyah and the Road to Financial Success

As originally appeared in The Jerusalem Post on May 8, 2026.

This week’s Torah portion, Parashat Behar, opens with laws that only become relevant once the Jewish people settle in the Land of Israel. The Torah states: “When you come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a Sabbath unto the Lord.”(Vayikra 25:2)

At first glance, the verse appears technical. The Torah is introducing the laws of the Sabbatical year(shemittah). Yet hidden within these words is one of the great transitions in Jewish history: the movement from a wandering people sustained by miracles into a nation building an economy, an agricultural system, and a functioning society in its homeland.

This is the first organized Aliyah in Jewish history. While there was no Nefesh B’Nefesh (NBN) helping process Aliyah in the desert, earlier this week I joined my wife, who works for NBN, in Paris for the 3rd annual Medex event. While she had to work the event, I went to the Louvre and saw the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and other masterpieces. But before I headed out, I went down to the Medex to see what it was all about. I was blown away. Hundreds of physicians from France, Belgium, Germany and neighbouring countries came to both learn about and start the process of Aliyah. All the leading Israeli hospitals and health funds were there recruiting these doctors. In fact, over 50 applications for medial license conversion were submitted to the Ministry of Health. That basically means that 50 doctors will be making Aliyah in the very near future. Incredible.

“This year’s MedEx France marks an important step forward in our ongoing efforts to strengthen Israel’s healthcare system, as it showcases the remarkable dedication of physicians choosing to build their futures in Israel while helping address critical national needs,” said Co-Founder and Chairman of Nefesh B’Nefesh, Tony Gelbart. “These future Olim bring not only exceptional professional expertise, but also a profound sense of purpose. Their impact is already being felt across Israel’s healthcare landscape, from north to south, and we look forward to assisting many more physicians, from all over the world, integrate in the near future.”

For forty years in the desert, the Jewish people lived in a supernatural environment. Manna fell from Heaven. Clothing did not wear out. Water arrived miraculously.

Then everything changed. The people were told that they would enter the Land of Israel, work the soil, build homes, establish businesses, and create a sustainable society. They would need to learn responsibility, patience, delayed gratification, and economic discipline. In short, they would need to transition from dependence to stewardship.

A warning to potential Olim. There are those who make Aliyah fantasizing that life in Israel will immediately fall into place. Some arrive expecting a seamless transition. Yet the reality sometimes is different. There are language barriers, different tax systems, housing challenges, and the emotional stress of starting over. Don’t let that get you down, it takes a bit of getting used to, but this is also the land of opportunity and I have no doubt that you can thrive.

The first organized Aliyah was also not easy. The generation entering Israel had to shift psychologically from consumers of miracles to producers of stability. They needed to plant vineyards whose fruit would not appear for years. They had to invest effort today for benefits tomorrow. I would say that this process is true of most immigrant groups. Certainly, the Jews who landed at Ellis Island had their travails, but they did what they had to do and made a much better future for both themselves and their children. While there are challenges, to make Aliyah today is easier than the Jewish immigrants had it 80-100 years ago.

That is the essence of financial success as well. Too often, people seek quick results. They chase hot investments, instant wealth, or financial shortcuts. But lasting financial stability is usually built the same way the Land of Israel was built: patiently, systematically, and with long-term vision.

The Rashbam comments on the phrase “when you come into the land” that the commandments discussed here only become relevant after the Jewish people establish themselves agriculturally and nationally in the land. Judaism was never meant to remain purely theoretical or spiritual. It was designed to function within real economic life.

The Sabbatical year itself teaches one of the most profound financial principles imaginable: understanding that we are not in absolute control. For six years, a farmer works tirelessly. He plants, waters, harvests, and plans. Then suddenly, during the seventh year, he must stop. The pause reminds him that despite all human effort, success ultimately comes from G-d. It’s a dose of humility.

Modern investors sometimes forget this lesson. During strong markets, people begin believing that success is entirely self-generated. Confidence turns into arrogance. Risk management disappears. Diversification feels unnecessary. Then markets decline and reality returns. It’s a financial dose of reality.

At the same time, Shemittah also teaches optimism. A farmer only allows his land to rest if he believes there will still be a future. The ability to pause reflects confidence, not fear. Similarly, successful financial planning requires balancing discipline with optimism. One must save for retirement because one believes tomorrow matters. One invests because one believes the future can improve. One builds slowly because one trusts the long-term process.

The parallels to the generation entering the land are striking. No one walked into Israel and achieved instant prosperity overnight. The land required effort. It required faith. It required sacrifice. But ultimately it offered something deeper than comfort: permanence, meaning, and national purpose.

Wishing you a successful Aliyah!

The information contained in this article reflects the opinion of the author and not necessarily the opinion of Portfolio Resources Group, Inc. or its affiliates.

Aaron Katsman is the author of Retirement GPS: How to Navigate Your Way to A Secure Financial Future with Global Investing (McGraw-Hill), and is a licensed financial professional both in the United States and Israel, and helps people who open investment accounts in the United States. Securities are offered through Portfolio Resources Group, Inc. (www.prginc.net). Member FINRA, SIPC, MSRB, SIFMA, FSI. For more information, call (02) 624-0995 visit www.aaronkatsman.com or email aaron@lighthousecapital.co.il.