Earlier this week, the first MEDEX conference was held in Paris, as part of a broad national program initiated by the Aliyah and Integration Ministry, the Health Ministry, Nefesh B'Nefesh, and the Jewish Agency.
The aim of the conference was to encourage and accelerate the immigration of Jewish doctors from around the world to Israel, where they can help address the country's severe shortage of physicians.
This was the first time such a conference, essentially a job fair with representatives from the Israel Medical Association and medical bodies in attendance, was held in Paris.
In recent years, the MEDEX conference has been held annually in March in the United States. The conference has so far led to the aliyah of hundreds of doctors. The decision to hold a similar conference in Paris was made following a major spike in requests to open aliyah application files from there since Oct. 7.
The conference was held under heavy security. The organizers were asked by the French police to avoid displaying identifying symbols. The conference location was only provided to participants two days prior.
Booths representing all Israeli hospitals, health funds, the IDF, and emergency services were set up on site, with representatives from the Medical Association assisting with explanations about the process of obtaining a work license even before making aliyah.
Over 450 doctors specializing in various fields from all over France and Belgium were in attendance. Almost all exuded a strong sense of solidarity with what is happening in Israel, as part of their desire to finally take the step
and make aliyah.
One such doctor is Dr. Marc Abecassis, a plastic surgeon. When asked when he was planning to move to Israel, he replied, "yesterday," saying the sooner the better.
"Now is the right time," he said. Abecassis He resides and works in Paris and Geneva, and although he doesn't feel antisemitism, he no longer feels secure in France. "I think the Jews here are in danger, and it has increased since Oct. 7. The Jews here are sleeping."
Doctors Mary-Lynn and Emmanuel Dahan live in a small town near Paris. Emmanuel is a family physician with a private practice, and Mary-Lynn is a geriatrics doctor working in a nursing home. The couple have four children. The eldest has already made aliyah, the second one is planning to finish her studies and enlist in the IDF, and their two younger children are still in school. They have been dreaming of making aliyah to Israel for four years but have not taken the final step until now.
They too speak of the increased antisemitism. The religious couple avoids going out in public with religious symbols, as do their children. From time to time, when their Jewish identity is discovered, they are cursed at.
"France is no longer safe for Jews," says Emmanuel, with Mary-Lynn nodding vigorously. "We're almost 50 years old. It's not easy to make the change at our age, and there is a lot of pressure and questions, but we think it's better now than at 60," Emmanuel says with a smile.
Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer, who attended the conference, told participants, "There is a major need for doctors in Israel. It's very moving to see the great interest, and we are working to facilitate and assist with the process."
Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, co-founder and executive director of Nefesh B'Nefesh, said, "This is a historic moment. We are talking about nothing less than a message that will provide the Israeli health system with the additional working hands it so desperately needs."
The author was a guest of the Aliyah and Integration Ministry and Nefesh B'Nefesh at the MEDEX conference in Paris.
