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A new study by researchers at Tel Aviv University has found that Israel’s elevated emigration trend continued through 2025, marking the third consecutive year in which record numbers of Israelis left the country for extended periods, raising concerns about the long-term impact on the nation’s economy and security.

According to the report, 90,922 Israeli citizens spent at least three consecutive months outside Israel during 2025. That figure is nearly identical to the 91,499 recorded in 2024 and slightly above the 86,509 departures documented in 2023.

Over the three-year period from 2023 through 2025, a total of 268,509 Israelis left the country for three months or longer. Researchers noted that this is dramatically higher than the 183,219 departures recorded during the comparable period between 2013 and 2015.

The study was prepared by Prof. Itai Ater, who heads the Economists for Democracy forum, Prof. Nati Bergman, head of Tel Aviv University’s School of Economics, and Doron Zamir, a doctoral student in the university’s Faculty of Management. Their analysis is based on data from Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics.

Because official migration figures based on 12 consecutive months abroad have not yet been released for 2025, the researchers relied on data tracking Israelis who remained outside the country for at least three months. They said the two measurements have an exceptionally strong correlation—0.96—making the shorter-term data a reliable indicator of longer-term migration trends.

Based on that methodology, the researchers estimate that between 45,000 and 50,000 Israelis will ultimately qualify as official emigrants for 2025 under the government’s 12-month definition.

Prof. Ater said, “Even in 2025 we see very troubling numbers of Israelis leaving the country for a significant period. These figures do not yet pose an immediate danger to Israel’s resilience, but if the trend continues without change, there is a real risk of harm to Israel’s security and economy.”

The researchers noted that public debate over emigration has intensified since late 2022 amid Israel’s political turmoil, widespread protests, and the war that followed the Oct. 7 massacre. They said the purpose of the study is to provide an updated assessment using official government data.

The report also points to previous research showing especially sharp increases in emigration among physicians, PhD holders, engineers, academics, and higher-income earners.

Despite the concerning numbers, the researchers said the greatest threat lies not in the current level of departures but in the possibility that the trend accelerates. They warned that additional political instability, security challenges, or economic difficulties could trigger a “snowball” effect, in which continued emigration encourages even more Israelis to leave, potentially inflicting lasting damage on both the economy and Israeli society.

A terrible tragedy struck during bein hazemanim on Monday evening when 21-year-old bochur Meir Shaar z”ל, a talmid of Yeshivas Ponevezh in Bnei Brak, was killed in a RZR rollover accident in an open area near Neveh Erez in the Binyamin region.

Meir, who had become engaged just last week, was preparing to marry his kallah from the Har Nof neighborhood of Yerushalayim. ZAKA volunteers responded to the scene and are tending to kavod hameis.

The fatal accident occurred shortly before 7:35 p.m., when ZAKA’s 1220 emergency dispatch center received a report of an overturned off-road utility vehicle in an open area near Neveh Erez. Emergency medical teams rushed to the scene but were forced to pronounce the 21-year-old bochur deceased.

Volunteers from ZAKA’s Judea and Samaria District, Binyamin Region, were dispatched to the site and are handling kavod hameis while collecting all necessary remains for proper kevurah.

Asaf Baruchi, deputy commander of ZAKA’s Binyamin Region, and Baruch Zakbach, a ZAKA volunteer, described the scene: “We arrived at a difficult scene in an open area, where we found the off-road vehicle after it had overturned. MDA paramedics were forced to pronounce the young man’s death. ZAKA volunteers from the Binyamin team are working at the scene, ensuring kavod hameis and collecting all findings for burial.”

Moti Bukchin, ZAKA’s spokesman, noted that this was the second fatal tragedy during bein hazemanim in a short period of time. “Within a short time, we are dealing with two difficult tragedies that occurred during bein hazemanim—a two-year-old child who drowned in a swimming pool in Moshav Sdot Micha, and a young man who was killed in an ATV accident. This period brings many outings and recreational activities, but along with the enjoyment comes responsibility. We call upon the public to exercise extra caution.”

ZAKA volunteers from the Judea and Samaria District, under the command of district commander Gil Bismut, are overseeing kavod hameis at the scene and gathering all necessary remains. The body will then be transferred to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine in Abu Kabir to complete the identification process.

Levayah arrangements have not yet been announced.

Meir was born in Bnei Brak on the 3rd of Teves 5765 (2005). He was the son of Harav Avraham Harel Shaar shlita, gabbai of the Nesivos Shalom Bais Medrash of the Edas Teiman community and a R”M at Yeshivas Derech HaTorah in Kiryat Herzog, Bnei Brak, and Mrs. Ora Shaar.

As a youth, Meir learned in Yeshivas Ponevezh L’Tzeirim before continuing to Yeshivas Ponevezh, where he became known as an exceptional masmid. He earned the admiration of the roshei yeshiva and his fellow talmidim for his diligence and devotion to learning.

He was also active in the Ohr Yisraeli youth movement, headed by Harav Yitzchak Dovid Grossman, where he helped bring two young men closer to Yiddishkeit. Those two are today fully observant bnei Torah learning in yeshivos.

Just a few weeks ago, Meir became engaged to the daughter of the Kahelet family of Har Nof. Only last week, the couple had gone to register for their upcoming marriage in preparation for the wedding.

The tragedy has left the talmidim and hanhalah of Yeshivas Ponevezh in deep shock.

Earlier on Monday, Meir had gone on an outing with a friend near Neveh Erez. It was there that the tragic accident claimed his life.

Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com}

A terrible tragedy struck on Monday afternoon when a two-year-old child drowned in the swimming pool of a tzimmer in Moshav Sdot Micha, located in the Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. Despite extensive resuscitation efforts by emergency personnel and an airlift to the hospital, the child was later niftar.

Emergency responders from Magen David Adom and United Hatzalah rushed to the scene and immediately began advanced lifesaving measures, performing CPR after finding the child in critical condition.

The child was flown by MDA helicopter to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Yerushalayim while medical teams continued resuscitation efforts en route. Despite every attempt to save him, doctors were forced to pronounce him niftar upon arrival.

MDA EMTs Rafael Toledano, Eliya Binyamin, and Ari Rabinovitz said: “We received a report of a toddler who had drowned in a swimming pool at a private residence. We arrived quickly and were brought a two-year-old child who was unconscious, with no pulse and not breathing.”

They added: “We immediately began advanced resuscitation procedures, including chest compressions, assisted ventilation, and the administration of medication. While continuing medical treatment, we evacuated him by MDA-Hatzalah Air helicopter to the hospital in critical condition as we fought to save his life.”

United Hatzalah EMTs Yissachar Yaakovzon, Mordechai Friedman, and Itzik Fuchs, members of the organization’s Koach Hatzalah unit, said: “His family told us that he had drowned and was pulled unconscious from the pool at the vacation rental where they were staying. We performed CPR, after which he was evacuated by helicopter to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in critical condition.”