Project Spotlight: Olim from Chile

IFCJ Canada  |  November 28, 2025

The Fellowship Freedom Flights (sponsored by our global offices, including IFCJ Canada), have helped almost seven thousand Jews from the former Soviet Union, Europe, as well as South America make aliyah (immigration)to their biblical homeland of Israel this year. Often, these olim (immigrants) stories are of dreams, escape, and transformation. This can be the case for many wanting to lead a Jewish-centric life in Israel, free from anti-Semitism, with dreams they couldn’t achieve anywhere else.

The Fellowship recently met with three olim who had made aliyah from Chile, which is home to a Jewish population of up to 16,000.

Rodrigo made aliyah to join his elderly parents in Israel. However, the true purpose of immigrating from Chile was to pursue his craft as a photographer without hiding his true identity from the art world. Rodrigo recalls being told at a gallery that he should not present himself as a Jewish artist.

“That moment changed my perspective on living here,” he said, “It’s about identity – feeling free to live as myself.” Even though he doesn’t live in the same city as his parents, Rodrigo continues his photography as his authentic self.

Felipe’s brother and friends already lived in Israel when he began the aliyah process four years ago. He describes his Jewish upbringing in Chile as a bubble, with him attending a Jewish school and feeling safe within the community. When he went to college, he realized that things were different. Outside the humble Jewish community he grew up in, he found the sentiment that Jews were “bad people” to be widespread. The time after October 7 has only made it harder.

“Many people think I’m crazy for leaving a safe place to go to a country at war. However, for me, it’s the opposite. The war has made it harder to live here as a Jew,” said Felipe.

Nathan also grew up in a similar Jewish community with supportive schools and protective friends, and family. When he went to college, he served as the political director of the Jewish Student Federation. After October 7, he recalls it becoming very tense.

“Some of us don’t feel safe in our home countries, others just want to live out our Jewish identity fully. Aliyah gives us that second chance, that opportunity to live with meaning. Beyond the personal, I think it strengthens Israel too. The diversity of cultures, languages, and traditions that come together there is what makes Israel unique and beautiful,” said Nathan.

“Even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you” (Psalm 139:12).