Some 21,300 new immigrants have moved to Israel since last Rosh Hashanah, an increase of 19 percent over last year, according to the Jewish Agency for Israel.

Funds raised by The Birmingham Jewish Federation Annual Campaign help support the work of the Jewish Agency, including helping Jews immigrate to Israel and become part of the Israeli mainstream.

"The choice of thousands of Jews to build their homes here is the deepest expression of a Diaspora Jew's identification with Israel," Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky said. North American aliyah (immigration to Israel) reached about 4,070, up from 3,720 the year before, an increase of 9 percent.

About 8,290 immigrants arrived from the former Soviet Union, including from Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic states and Central Asian countries, an increase of 19 percent over last year. Immigration from France rose 4 percent to approximately 2,100 this year. Some 2,780 immigrants from Ethiopia made aliyah, compared to about 1,320 the year before.

Over the past year, Israel has welcomed small numbers of immigrants from unexpected countries, including Honduras, Vietnam, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Monaco, Suriname, China, the Philippines, Thailand, Angola, Japan, Malta, Congo, South Korea and Nicaragua.

The statistics also show that most of the immigrants are young: From January to July 2011, approximately 62 percent were younger than 34, of which about 36 percent were young adults from 18 to 34, according to the Jewish Agency.

In addition to the funds The BJF provides the Jewish Agency to help Jews immigrate, The Birmingham Jewish Foundation also has an Aliyah Fund that helps Birmingham Jews move to Israel.

The above photo, taken in 2010, is of Jews arriving in Israel to begin their new lives as Israeli citizens. Above information is from Jewish Telegraphic Agency, a worldwide Jewish news service and one of 32 agencies and programs funded by The BJF Campaign.

Christians United for Israel (CUFI), a national pro-Israel advocacy group, is becoming increasingly stronger in Alabama.

One of the group's Alabama leaders, Brandy Gibson, called The Birmingham Jewish Federation on Thursday to express her support for Israel as important deliberations continue this week at the United Nations. Brandy spoke to BJF staffer Donna Berry.

"Brandy wanted me to relay the message that in less than 24 hours, over 44,000 CUFI activists have sent emails to Prime Minister Netanyahu telling him that when he enters the 'lions' den' and addresses the UN General Assembly, he is not alone," Donna wrote in an email after talking to Brandy. Netanyahu is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Friday.

The BJF is grateful to Brandy and our other Alabama Christian friends for their passionate support for Israel and their partnership with The BJF. Just a few weeks ago, The BJF co-sponsored a breakfast briefing with CUFI which gave members of our respective communities an opportunity to get to know each other better and express our common commitment to Israel.

Such support is crucial as Israel continues to navigate an exceptionally difficult terrain and its enemies keep trying every ploy -- such as the unilateral declaration of independence being pushed at the UN by the Palestinians -- to isolate and weaken the Jewish state.

Moishe House is an international organization providing meaningful Jewish experiences for young adults in their 20s. Moishe House's innovative model supports, trains and sponsors young Jewish leaders who create vibrant home-based communities for peers.

This approach has enabled the existing 38 houses worldwide to engage more than 40,000 attendees a year and now an effort is underway to develop a Moishe House in Birmingham.

Open to Jewish young adults of all movements, Moishe House Birmingham would be housed in a historic home on Birmingham's Southside, directly next door to Temple Beth-El. Moishe House Birmingham would be only the third Moishe House in the Southeast.

Two to three young adults are being sought to live in the house and lead this effort. Moishe House leaders receive rent subsidies from the national organization as well as a programming budget.

Dan Horwitz with Moishe House North America, will be in Birmingham this Sunday, Sept. 25 at 2 pm at the Levite JCC to share information on Moishe House with potential leaders and participants.

Whether you think you might be interested in being a Moishe House leader (leaders in other Moishe Houses range from medical students to young working professionals) or just in attending future programming, please come meet Dan and learn more

For more information or to confirm your attendance at Sunday's meeting, contact Temple Beth-El president Vikki Grodner at vikki@thegrodnergroup.com or Caren Seligman at The Birmingham Jewish Federation at carens@bjf.org.