For the First Time: Over Six Million Jews in Israel

A Rosh Hashana census demonstrates the various ways in which Israel’s population has grown over the past year, passing the six-million mark for the first time.

An annual census published by Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority in honor of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, shows that during 2013 the Jewish population in Israel has passed the six million mark for the first time since the establishment of the State of Israel.

Israel’s total population stands at 8,904,373, a growth of almost 200,000 Israeli citizens since the previous census, which stood at 8,730,562 Israelis.

The census revealed further interesting details:

Israel absorbed 24,801 olim (new immigrants) over the past year, contributing to the population growth.

More boys than girls were born in 2013 – 90,646 boys and 85,584 girls. In total, 176,230 babies were born this year in Israel.

Since last Rosh Hashana, 75,848 Israelis were married and  23,419 divorced.

The census also listed the favorite names given to Israeli babies. The top three names for boys this year were Yosef, Daniel and Uri, and the girls’ most popular names were Tamar, Noa and Shira.

Numbers of Historical Significance

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu related to these numbers during the weekly Cabinet meeting on Sunday, noting the historical significance in Israel’s population growth.

“Israel’s population has passed eight million,” he stated. “No less important, for the first time in the history of the State of Israel, more than six million Jews live here. This number has great significance in light of our people’s history in the previous century as well as in the current one.”

Netanyahu was alluding to the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust.

The Israeli leader further expressed his good wishes for the upcoming Jewish New Year, which begins on Wednesday evening this week.

“On the eve of our holiday, I would like to send our best wishes for a full and rapid recovery to the wounded IDF soldiers and citizens and at the same time send our deepest condolences to the families of the fallen,” he said.

“I would also like to commend the entire people of Israel for the determination and unity that they showed during Operation Protective Edge. I would like to send them greetings from the ministers and myself that they should now have the vacation that was denied them during the summer. Be with your families and above all, have a happy, quiet and safe year.”

Author: Aryeh Savir
Staff Writer, United with Israel

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