Fourth Aliyah (jan 1, 1924 – jan 1, 1928)

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The Fourth Aliyah, from 1924 to 1928, was the fourth wave of Jewish immigration to Mandatory Palestine, primarily from Europe. This period saw a change in the character and composition of immigration compared to previous waves, leading to rapid urban development especially in Tel Aviv. However, the period was marked by a severe economic crisis from 1926 to 1927, the most challenging under the British Mandate, causing approximately 23,000 immigrants to leave. David Ben Gurion recorded the dire economic conditions in his diary, noting the increasing lack of work and the hunger among the people.

About 80,000 immigrants arrived during the Fourth Aliyah, mostly from Eastern Europe, with half coming from Poland and the rest from the Soviet Union, Romania, and Lithuania. Additionally, 12% of the immigrants came from Asian countries, notably Yemen and Iraq. The major push factors for this migration wave were rising antisemitism in Europe and an economic crisis in Poland. The introduction of the Emergency Quota Act and the 1924 Immigration Act in the United States, which heavily restricted Jewish immigration, also redirected many Jews to Palestine. This cohort predominantly consisted of middle-class families who established small businesses and light industries in growing cities.

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