Israel is encouraging British Jewish medical professionals to make aliyah to assist with the country’s dire shortage of medical staff.

Israel’s Ministries of Aliyah and Integration and of Health, along with aliyah support organisation Nefesh B’Nefesh, launched the International Medical Aliyah Program (IMAP) to streamline the immigration process for medics, ensuring their ability to integrate into Israel’s medical workforce on arrival.

IMAP hopes to bring 2,000 Jewish doctors to Israel over a five-year span, addressing the growing manpower crisis in Israel’s healthcare system.

Earlier this month the inaugural British MedEx in London, a key event in this broader national effort, drew over 100 Jewish doctors from across the UK, many of whom are planning make aliyah in the near future.

As well as receiving advice on aliyah planning and licensing, doctors had the opportunity to meet representatives from the Israeli Ministry of Health and Medical Directorate to discuss employment options and gain insight into official procedures and grants.

Employment opportunities in Israel’s periphery were in particular emphasised, supported by new grant programs from the Ministry of the Negev, Galilee and National Resilience, and the T’kuma government administration in the Gaza envelope.

The MedEx event in London, September 2024

Tony Gelbart, co-founder and chairman of Nefesh B’Nefesh, said British Jewry was a vibrant community with a deep love and connection to the state of Israel. The MedEx was an exciting opportunity for us to come together with our partners, in England, to help the local Jewish medical community realise their dreams of making Israel their home.”

He added, “Their move will not only transform their lives, but also have a profound impact on the State of Israel and its healthcare system for generations to come."

Speaking at the event, Israeli Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely said: "For years, Jewish mothers dreamed of their children becoming doctors. At some stage, that shifted to their children launching start-up companies. Now, we need to go back to the old-fashioned Jewish dream, Israel needs more doctors."

She added that Israel needs “paediatricians, psychiatrists, gynaecologists, and emergency doctors. We need the best people to bring their knowledge to the Israeli medical system.”

The London event follows successful events earlier this year in the USA, France, and Argentina, with future plans to expand to other destinations worldwide.

The MedEx event in London, September 2024

Dr Shimon Goldberg, 47, who was raised in London and made aliyah in his late 20s, said: “If you are religious or practice Jewish traditions, there is no better place than Israel. You have space to pray for minchah, you have a succah on your floor, you even have people to step in and type on the computer for you on Shabbat.”

But beyond religious considerations, Dr Goldberg said Israel’s medical field provided a “pleasant environment in which to work, alongside likeminded people.

“The salaries in medicine have also become very good in Israel, most are very comfortable. There’s also great appreciation for Anglo-trained physicians in Israel, and appreciation for English speaking doctors and especially for those who have made aliyah.”

Some changes a British doctor may have to acclimatise to however included Israel not being “bound by European work directives, and therefore longer shifts are inevitable. I have worked in the past for 26 straight hours when I’ve been needed. Every 10 years or so there’s a national strike to improve conditions.”

He added, “Israel is in dire need of help in the industry, I would encourage others to consider making the move.”

The MedEx event in London, September 2024

Dr Rivka Lebrett, 27, who grew up in Manchester, came to live and work in Israel in 2022. She said that owing to being religious and Zionist she sometimes felt as though she had to be “one person at work and one person at home” in the UK.

“Working in the NHS, I often felt ostracised socially,” Dr Lebrett said. “There would be group WhatsApp chats for hospital staff in which pro-Palestinian or anti-Israel things would be shared, and you felt you couldn’t possibly admit to being pro-Israel.

“There was also the aspect of me being religious, I got so tired of having to constantly explain the chagim, or why I must be off for Rosh Hashanah, what I can’t eat or why I might need to leave a bit early on Friday. I felt like I was one person at work and one person at home.

“Now, in Israel, I feel like I’m able to just be myself everywhere. Chagim you get off work automatically, gifts before Rosh Hashanah instead of Christmas, kosher food without requesting it. My whole life became more authentic and whole, it was very freeing.”

The challenges of moving to Israel included learning the language and adapting to a “much more informal” culture, she said.

“Doctors aren’t wearing smart shirts, they are often in jeans and sandals. They give out their personal phone numbers to patients, talk politics with patients. It’s very relaxed and different.”

She added that “far less red tape” and less bureaucracy existed in Israel, which made working “especially as a family doctor much more enjoyable. Your patients are your patients: you have more autonomy over their care, and you can have actual friendships and personal relationships between doctor and patient. There’s less time waiting about as well as doctors can send you to specialists without needing referrals upon referrals like in the UK.”

But Israel’s actual healthcare system was a “step behind” the UKs in terms of shift durations and workers’ rights.

In response to Dr Lebrett’s observations, an NHS spokesperson said: “It is completely unacceptable for anyone to experience racism, discrimination or prejudice in the health service, and the NHS takes any instance of antisemitism extremely seriously.

“NHS trusts must ensure staff are not forced to choose between their jobs and the flexibility they need – the NHS has supported colleagues to work flexibly for several years.”