Sami Rahamim, a 31-year-old Iranian-American Jew, immigrated to Israel during wartime, describing the move as 'closing a circle' that began generations ago. He sees his decision as a continuation of his family’s history and the ancient return of Jews to their homeland under the Persian king Cyrus, especially during a period when Israel is engaged in conflict with Iran.

Rahamim’s grandparents left Shiraz for Israel shortly after the state was founded in 1948, seeking to rebuild their lives. Decades later, his father moved to Minnesota after the Yom Kippur War, where he built a successful business and became a respected community figure before being killed in a 2012 shooting.

Rahamim said his connection to Israel deepened following his father’s death and grew stronger after the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. After several visits, he decided it was his time to settle in the country. He plans to live in the northern village of Klil with his dog and study to become a tour guide at the University of Haifa.

His arrival was part of a group of more than 50 new immigrants from North America who became citizens this week. Despite wartime travel restrictions, immigration has continued, with hundreds arriving since the start of the conflict with Iran and thousands making the move over the past year, according to an immigration advocacy nonprofit.