The Aliyah Survival Blog

Did you go to Israel with a profession or did you go there looking for something? How is employment for english speakers? Do you know anything about employment training programs? Any other insights you can offer related to this would be great.

Josh

i made aliyah with my dog, leroy, last year. if anyone wants help/advice on doing it, feel free to email me. i’ll gladly walk you through it.

Miry… I couldn’t imagine making Aliyah without my dog. Any advice would be wonderful!

memphis86@mac.com

Hi, I am looking to do Aliyah this year. However I would like to bring my girlfriend log with me as we are planning to one day marry (but not yet – we have been together for 6 years and been living together for a about 5 years).
She is not Jewish though. Can she come with me? Can she work there? We are not looking for any benefits or anything, just the possibility for her to work as well

Any help will be much appreciated

Many thanks
Danny

Hello,
First let me say that I really enjoyed reading your blog as I am in a similar situation as you. I will be graduating college this summer and I am seriously considering making Aliyah. I would be making this journey by myself with no family in Israel. What advice could you give on this? Do you have any regrets? Would I be able to put my degree to use in Israel (its in International Business Marketing and minor in Spanish). I think it will be easier for me to adapt to the non courteousness because I am from Philadelphia :).

no questions…..just… thank you.

I read your story on Jpost.com and I am very sorry this happned to you. My mother is also a reform Jew so I feel like I won’t make aliyah to Israel because of your story and until the law is changed. I am deeply sorry to hear of your story.

My son made aliyah this year and is trying to figure out what health plan he should choose. Is there a big difference in one from the other? He is single. Hes in good health. But he does need eye surgery to corect his vision in one eye . Thanks for any help you can give us.

One other thing–I have a tattoo. Can I be rejected for that?

Hi Jessica,

We are planning on making aliyah in Dec with our pets; and have to admit that it seems nearly impossible to find accommodation that is pet friendly; we opted to find a long term rental apartment but think now we will have to opt for a week or two in a pet friendly hotel. Do you know why they dont allow pets on the kibbutzim?

As excited as we are to come to Israel – the thought of having to leave our dear animals behind is just not an option….

Thanks
M

Thank you! I am not sure if I did, for I have been gone for about 7 years now. I have contacted the Shliach to determine what benefits, if any (or deficits if applicable) that I may have!

Thank you!

how can i make aliyah? where do i start? can we at least be migrant workers? what if we cant get a passport?PLEASE HELP US!!!!???

Hi

Our Aliyah schliach has advised us to buy a car tax free in Europe and import it into Israel and then pay the 75% tax rather than buying it in Israel with the reduced tax – aparently, lots of paperwork but as my wife is Israeli (so is a returnee, not an oleh – should I be spelling that differently as feminine?), she’ll be able to understand and cope with all of it – thoughts/comments?

Thanks

J

Thanks but I meant that there’s more paperwork if importing but we were told that it’s worth the pain of the paperwork and the inconvenience of importing as the saving can be substantial.
Regards
J

Dear Survivor,

I am 16 years old, Jewish, and I wish to make aliyah into Israel. If I make aliyah into Israel would I have to join the IDF?

Hey! Im currently in the process of making Aliyah with NBN and hopefully will be in Israel next September. My parents are putting a lot of pressure on me not to do combat and my mother gets very emotional when I even slightly imply doing combat and I’m worried to put my parents through that much stress for 3 years. So first, do most male Olim/Israelis go to combat units and since I am a trained medic I’m wondering if there is a job in the army where I can use my skills without being in combat? Thanks!

In matter of fact, the Law of Return was modified so that people whose mother was not Jewish could return. An orthodox Rabbi would say that someone whose mother was not jewish is not jewish. Reform Rabbis would say that only one parent has to be Jewish. The Law of Return follows the Reform point of view.

I love the life and culture of Tel Aviv and am considering making aliyah. However, I am completely secular. My mother’s parents were married by a Reform rabbi 85 years ago and buried in a Jewish cemetery. However my mother was raised a Christian as was I (although I’m an atheist now). Will this create problems for me in the aliyah process, particularly since the Reform temple associated with my family (where presumably I would need to get documentation) wouldn’t necessarily see me as Jewish?

I have a few questions about the Aliyah process
1. I am thinking about move king Aliyah after several amazing trips and falling in love with someone living in Israel. My boyfriend in Israel is not ona permanent visa and I’ve heard of something called a friendship visa, which allows significant others of Israeli citizens to get a work visa so the couple can live together legally. I am wondering if you know if a person who newly makes Aliyah can get this type of visa for a boyfriend/girlfriend?

2. My other question is about the rules and regulations of staying in Israel after making Aliyah. I love spending time in Israel and feel that this could be the right move for me at the moment but also think about wanting to move back to the states in the future, is this possible after making Aliyah? I have tried to find info about this and have has trouble…know where to find anything about either of these questions??

Thanks so much!

Hi

I am a nineteen year old boy and i am looking to join the IDF but my father is an israeli citizen and i just found out that i may not have to make aliya but i may have to serve three years.
Is this the true?

if i want to be drafted who do i get in touch with?
do i have to serve three years?

I’m currently 21 years old, female, have a year left in college in the US (I’m American), and have wanting to make Aliyah for about two years now (however, as I mentioned, I’m in college in the US and want/need to finish that up before leaving. Obviously.) I’d like to make Aliyah not too long after I graduate (although I know the paperwork will take forever, so I’m not expecting to be on a one way flight to Israel only a few months after graduating.) My hope/plan is to go no later than when I’m 23, but: could I still do IDF service as a female at that age? I’m finding a lot of conflicting and confusing statements about this, and I would like to be able to do some IDF service when I get there.

Thanks!

Hi! Thanks for your great info! I have been planning to make aliyah for two years and finally graduate university in December. I’m American and can read and write Hebrew very slowly- have a rough knowledge of some vocabulary but essentially cannot speak or understand fluent conversation. I will obviously do the most intense Ulpan that I can, as I realize that knowing Hebrew is crucial to my ‘survival’ in Israel. However, I am a broke student as of now and really need to find some initial work upon my arrival. Whether it is in a restaurant or what not- I will need some work. How likely am I going to find restaurant work with out fluent Hebrew? Babysitting? Someone’s assistant? Etc? I’ll have a university degree in International Affairs and will want to use it desperately to get work that I am passionate about but I fear that is not realistic initially. Hearing my situation, do you think I’ll find work to help support myself while in Ulpan? I know that I am sacrificing starting a career that I am passionate about, however, I know that I want to be in Israel. Any suggestions or realistic advice/ inormation? I have no family in Israel, just some friends.
Thanks so much! – Erica

Hi! I am actually making aliyah this august and was wondering still how vacation in the army works and how long it is. I know lone soldiers get a special month off but there is also regular leave as well correct? This is more of a question for my mom than for me thanks!

When do most young people make Aliyah? Is it after college or before college because I am thinking that maybe going to college first and receiving an education and a degree is a better plan than going straight to army service, then proceeding to attain my degree in America.

Hi,
I’m making Aliyah very soon and at the moment I’m on some perscription medicines for depression. Do you have any advice who to approach first and are such medications (psychiatric) usually on perscription in Israel. I will be staying in ulpan and I know there is a social worker there, so do you maybe think it’s good to speak to the social worker about this?
Thanks a lot for your help!

Hi!

I went to Israel recently and loved it, especially in the Galilee region. My dad is Jewish but my mom is not, but I identify as Jewish and have also had a Conservative conversion here in the U.S. As I understand it, those with at least 1 grandparent who are Jewish are eligible to make aliyah, as are converts from any of the major streams of Judaism. In my case, would my application be considered on the basis of my father being Jewish, or my conversion, and is there a route that is “easier” in terms of getting accepted. I understand that regardless, the Rabbinate would not currently consider me Jewish because neither my mom is Jewish nor my conversion done through an Orthodox community. That is fine, I am more concerned about actually making it over there and being accepted as a citizen by the state. Also, do programs such as those helping citizens who want to settle in less populated regions (such as the Galilee or the Negev) apply to ALL olim or just the ones who the rabbinate will consider Jewish?

This is going to sound like a really stupid question. For that, I apologize in advance.

What is the difference between making aliyah and simply relocating to Israel?

I am of Jewish descent, on my father’s side. My late mother converted in order to marry him. I identify as an atheist.

My paternal grandparents did their best to indoctrinate Jewish culture into me and my sister. I consider it part of my identity but truth be told, I did not have a bat mitzvah and my family did not go to temple. (I didn’t have the most stable upbringing.) With my grandparents sadly no longer with us, it’s namely been through other Jews I’ve met as an adult and reading up on my own that I’ve even learned about my heritage and embraced it.

From my understanding, an atheist of Jewish descent can make aliyah but it will be difficult namely because an organization like Nefesh B’Nefesh would definitely not help me. But…what is the distinction between making aliyah, and simply leaving for Israel?

I can’t seem to find the answer anywhere and am afraid of asking these organizations questions for fear of being mocked because of how I was raised.

I’m in my final semester of grad school and planned on working for another year or two, saving money to relocate to another country anyway, so I have no problem if organizations would rather help the more devout than give the tattooed atheist any funds to leave America.

Thank you so much for writing this blog!

I have a question that I hope you can help me with? I have been trying to get information from Misrad Hapnim but all they do is refer me to the Israeli embassy in my country who in turn tell me that they do not know the answer to my question and direct me back to the ministry. Sigh! Perhaps I should get used to this?

My fiancee is a Jewish Israeli citizen and we met in my country New Zealand. He has been here for the last 5 years and is returning to Israel in November, I will then go to Israel in April of next year.

I understand as the spouse of an Israeli citizen I will not be eligible to make Aliyah and will have to apply to Misrad Hapnim for a work visa etc and am currently in the process of gathering all the documentation for this.

Once I have the work visa our plan is for me to begin the conversion process. My question is, once I have converted, will I then be able to make ALIYAH from WITHIN Israel after converting, as I will then be Jewish and eligible under the law of return to make Aliyah. Or can you only make Aliyah if you converted in another country first?

Being from New Zealand, organisations like NBN have said they are unable to assist me, which is making the process of gaining information harder, any help you could give would be much appreciated!

I have a question about the length of this process. I sent in my application five months ago and received confirmation that all the required documents had been received. I’ve been emailing my Shaliach but she still has no news for me. Is this normal? Could the fact that I am a convert have anything to do with the delay?

Thank you so much for your response. I am aware of the rabbinate’s restrictions. I made my conversion with a reform rabbi, and my husband (who is Jewish) and I have lived for several years now in our community. Since all of our future plans have been suspended until I hear back, we are both, understandably, a little concerned about how long this will take.

I would like to find a free or even low price program if possible for like one or 2 months. The problem is I am 42 and most programs are for 20 somethings. Do you know of any low cost/volunteer programs for people my age. I understand that Kibbutzim are only for up to 35 years old. In the meantime NBN is expecting me to have an interview with the Socnut so I guess I’ll make an appointment.
Thank you so much.

Hi there,
I’m an Israeli American (traveled to Israel and lived there temporarily for <4months). I'm planing on returning as a katin chozer. I want my bf to join me, he is not at all Jewish. I know it's possible for a non married spouse to gain residency on behalf of their Israeli partner (friends of mine went through this process), but as part of the process, the Israeli usually has to provide proof of income, rent, arnona payments or the like. Seeing as how I'm not currently in Israel , do you think I would have to move there earlier and get a legitimate job, pay rent, etc. to prove these things?

Where would be the best place for a 60 year old reform Jewish women who has never been to Israel, has no real interest in going either, to make Aliyah and live in? Example : a specific kibbutz or small town

We would like to make Aliyah in November in Netanya. Is there anyone out there who could help us.

We are coming through Nefesh B Nefesh.

B”H

Hi, I converted to Judaism 20 years ago under Orthodox Conversion, learned in Yeshiva in Israel, and even did Giur L’chumra in Israel just before me and my wife got married (in Israel) because a dayan required it so we could marry in Israel. My wife was born in Israel, left, & then came back with NBN to be a citizen before we met. Seven years ago we all moved back to the US and have had four children here, B”H. We now want to come back home to Israel. What do you think is the easiest and most beneficial process to do that? Obviously, my wife has no issue, but what’s best for me & the children? Do they get automatic status because of their mother? Is simply moving their and doing Guided Aliyah from over there easier? Thanks for any suggestions and input! NBN is closed today so I figured I’d ask an experienced person!

Hi, so I am planning on making aliyah in the beginning of December and was looking to do ulpan as a way to ease my way into aliyah and whatnot. The only thing was I wanted to do Ulpan in Tel Aviv and it looks like the Ulpan doesn’t start until March. I think I would be at Gimmel or higher although I have no way of knowing really. I know there is Ulpan Etzion in Jerusalem that starts in January but I was really hoping to be in Tel Aviv so I could start interning/volunteering and hopefully be able to get a job when I finish ulpan in 5 months. Any suggestions?

Hi, first of all i just need to thanking you lot.
My question is that I’m always in thinking that weather I have the right to be israeli citizen or not.Let me make it clear,I’m 20 years old Ethiopian guy living in Ethiopia but my father lives in israel & also he is a Israeli citizen so please inform me the way how can i obtain a citizenship of israeli.

That makes sense, but have you heard of the American government or credit card companies pursuing people for their debts in Israel? It’s not something I’m super proud of, but maybe I can get a fresh start in the promised land. FYI – I found your post on the cab drivers after you land in Israel so funny.

Hi there, I made Aliyah in June. I did not apply for the Nefesh B’Nefesh financial grant because I have to live back in my birth country for about a year to finish off some university things (and I know you have to be here for a minimum of 3 years or you have to pay them back). I now know that I will be here for at least the next 2.5 years before going back to finish my degree (after which I will be coming back to Israel)… Do you know if you can apply for the grant and have time you have already been living here count for the 3 years?

Shalom Jessica,

Your blog has provided many with lots of valuable information. Do you happen to know anything about how the Student Authority works as far as getting financial assistance. I found this on the Nefesh website, “Student Benefits are provided by the Student Authority. Students who are studying for an MA may be eligible for a subsidy covering up to a year of Hashlamot (prerequisite classes), in addition to assistance with the cost of the degree. Students who choose to study in a one year MA program are eligible to receive two years of assistance to use towards the cost of their studies.” Do you know of any other opportunities for financial assistance for the Hashlamot that are available for an Oleh pursuing a MA? Any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated. All the best!

Hello,
I am currently a Freshman at an American University, I spent a year in Israel last year so I am currently 20 years old and want to make Aliyah perhaps next year. Do you recommend finishing school in the US and then making Aliyah, moving to Israel this summer and joining the army and then continuing my studies in Israel or moving to Israel to first finishing my studies at an Israeli University and then joining the army?
Do you know of any similar cases?

Thank You

hi i just moved to israel from costa rica to do the army, im 18 and they put me in modash, i am a couple days away from giyus and i dont want to be in modash i want magav. what do i do? i am not joining no matter what if they put me in modash, jail or no jail im not going there i am going to go to magav but i just want to know if there is an easier way to do this, thank you

Hi, I’m about to go for ulpan giyur process, but I was wondering if I’m gonna be able to make aliyah after finishing my giur?

Hello,
I was wondering if you knew of any programs that helped holocaust survivors return to Israel. My Sapta was part of the Jews who helped to create Isreal and her and her family moved to the states 15 years later. She has now lost her husband and her surviving family including her sister and brother are in Isreal. She wants more than anything to go back and see her sister and brother and other family members. The only issue is that none of us can afford to send her there. All she needs is a round trip plane ticket, she will have a place to stay once she is out there. If you know of anything that we can do or anyone to contact who could help us out that would be great!
Thank you.
3G Katie.

Hi,

What a useful site! I have really enjoyed reading it. Thank you.

I was wondering if you would be kind enough to answer two questions:

Both my wife’s parents were born Jewish and my father was but mother was not. I undertook a Conservative (Masorti) conversion in the UK. If we made Aliyah what is the status of our son (I know he’s Jewish but assume he would be considered born outside of marriage as we were married in a non-orthodox shul) ? Could he get married in Israel? I don’t want to move anywhere where he feels marginalised in anyway.

In terms of the “modest” lifestyle you mention just how modest is this? My motives for moving are not financial and I am fully prepared for a change in lifestyle, actually a simpler lifestyle seems very appealing. However we have are comfortable and the moment (far from rich) and I am concerned that the adjustment may be too great. My friends tell me that professional opportunities (excluding tech based industries) are far more limited in Israel. As a result what kind of work do you think I could hope to get in Israel and where are there the greatest chances of landing it (bearing in mind I have no talents to draw on).

Also could you recommend a good part of the country to settle in (a lot of this will be shaped by working opportunities) My wife has always preferred Tel Aviv, although my wife is every inch the secular Jew and I guess that’s why she prefers it to Jerusalem.

Thanks
Adam

Hi there. here comes a more complicated case.

I am jewish, born in the former Soviet Union.
My parents made Aliyah when i was a newborn, but left the country again when i was 4. I get US citizenship when i was 10.

When i was 16 my parents revoked the Israeli citizenships of all family (i didnt know about that). I had never israeli passport but was citizen by the Aliyah automatically and registered with my mom.

Now i am 40. I am married; my wife is halachish not Jewish as father is Jewish, but mother not.
She was born in the Californai and holds US citizenship.

We want to make Aliyah, so that she can make orthodox Giur there and our children raise Jewish.
I seem to be eligible to second Aliyah as Katin Chozer.
How about my wife and 4 years daughter?

Any advice?

is it possible to make aliyah if u have never been to israel before?

Hi! I am planning aliyah from India. I have a 4 year pet dog – Lasha Apso. I would like to bring him into Israel with me. But I was told that the ulpans do not allow dogs?? What should I do?? Rentals are very HIGH !! I cannot leave my dog back in India. Please advice

Thank you for taking the time to answer all these questions!

I am making Aliyah and am thinking of doing a kibbutz ulpan, because it seems like the most affordable option. However, I am a little afraid I will feel isolated and older than most of the ulpanists. Have you heard of anyone switching ulpans if one did not work for them? (either from kibbutz to city, or just one program to another).

Thanks so much,

Rachel

I am a licensed English language teacher in the USA. Would any alya survivors help me to find out if I could teach English at a public school in Israel without passing any required state tests in Hebrew. Thanks

Hey Jessica,

Love the blog! Do you still live in Israel? I’m moving in a few weeks. Wanted to ask your opinion of the dating life there.

If you still live there and want to go for coffee to chit chat about life that would be amazing as well! LMK, Natali

Hi,
So I am hereditarily jewish (my father and his parents …etc were religiously jews and left Germany during the holocaust). However, I am not a religious jew. How does the Law of Return apply in my circumstance and would my children be able to come with me?
Thank you.

Hi Jessica,
I was wondering, does Israel have programs for special needs children? I have a non-verbal classic autistic son. He is so beautiful and a complete joy to me. He just turned 7 years old yesterday.
How would his disability affect our aliyah?
Thank you so much!
Angie

Hi! I am so glad I found your blog! I 24, living in Minneapolis, and your story seems to be like my life. I would love to talk with you about your experience. Reading your blog came at the best possible time. Let me know if we can connect!

-haley

Hi. From what age oleh hadash doesn’t need to serve in the army?

Hi,

I am a pensioner Jewish women living in Australia. I would like to spend at least 3-4 months every year in Israel. I am Australian citizen, but I will like very much to be and Israeli citizen too. I will not be a financial burden on Israel as I have my Australian pension to live on . Should I make an Aliyah to be a resident and Israeli citizen there or just come on tourist visa? Could I rent an apartment there without be resident of Israel?

Thank you!’
Sarah Nurit A. Trifoi

Hello,
If my family and I accept the benefits from the ministry of absorption and leave Israel for good, 3 mo later or 6 mo later, do we need to pay anything back? We don’t plan on coming back, just wanted to know if there are any obstacles if we wanted to leave after a few months?
Where can I find this information?
How long does someone need to stay in Israel after receiving help from the Ministry, to where they dont need to pay anything back and the aid will just stop.
Someone please shed some light.
Thank you!

someone I know is in Yerushalayim, and she’s scheduled to leave tonight just after midnight. She doesn’t want to leave!
She applied with Nefesh B Nefesh, but she still has some paperwork to get in the states. She can’t make guided Aliyah because her conversion was done only 5 months ago.
She can find a place to stay until the 4th when she gets paid, but she doesn’t want to stay only to have to leave.
Do you know of any way she can get NBN to allow her to remain here under guided Aliyah or any other agency? She will need their help with Hebrew classes and to become a citizen with an ID card and insurance.
Can you help her at all?
Thanks so much!

My father’s wife is Israeli so having an apartment in Israel we often go there. We aleays dreamt to establish the centre of our life in Eretz but we both work a lot in Europe and we travel a lot.
Is it possible making aliyah and travel over the continents at the same time?
We couldn’t give up traveling not even three months, our jobs are all over the planet. At the same time, we’d like to have roots in Israel.
My wife is the daughter of an Israeli man so she has only to get her passport, but as far I’m concerned is different, I should stop working for at least six months.
I need advice…
Yours,
Raz

hi, i’m drafting in august, but i want to travel to south africa before then. is it possible? should i get permission from the army or something?

thanks 🙂

Hi,
I am making alya tomorrow and I just changed my mind I want to have the Visa A1. What will happen to me if I don’t make alya ? Will they give me the visa a1 ? Will it cost me any problems ? I’m Very scared

Regards,
Carolina

I want to stay in mercaz klita with my little dog. You know where can ı stay?

Be careful! I know of one instance where a young Jewish boy was hidden with Poles during the Holocaust and brought up as their own. He became a priest, but when he found out he was really Jewish, he tried to make aliyah and was refused because of his conversion to Catholicism. I believe conversion from Judaism makes you ineligible for aliyah. Jews for Jesus, for example, who are Jewish by birth, are not allowed to make aliyah because of the ‘for Jesus’ part. There have also been cases of Jews who converted to Islam when they were living in Muslim-dominated countries, and they too were refused aliyah. DO NOT TELL the Jewish agency that your mother converted, or that you converted, call your upbringing and your mother’s ‘nonreligious’ or ‘secular’ if it comes up, but If you admit the conversion you are ineligible. A non practicing Jew is ok, but a converted Jew is no longer considered a Jew (despite the Jewish genetics), the same way an ex-Catholic who properly converts to Judaism is no longer a Catholic but has become a Jew. I make no judgment on a Christian Jew returning home, but other people certainly will, and Nefesh b’Nefesh or the Jewish Agency will tell you that you are ineligible if you reveal this information, and they will make you go through a full conversion and one year waiting period after conversion, etc, before they will even consider you.Be careful! I know of one instance where a young Jewish boy was hidden with Poles during the Holocaust and brought up as their own. He became a priest, but when he found out he was really Jewish, he tried to make aliyah and was refused because of his conversion to Catholicism. I believe conversion from Judaism makes you ineligible for aliyah. Jews for Jesus, for example, who are Jewish by birth, are not allowed to make aliyah because of the ‘for Jesus’ part. There have also been cases of Jews who converted to Islam when they were living in Muslim-dominated countries, and they too were refused aliyah. DO NOT TELL the Jewish agency that your mother converted, or that you converted, call your upbringing and your mother’s ‘nonreligious’ or ‘secular’ if it comes up, but If you admit the conversion you are ineligible. A non practicing Jew is ok, but a converted Jew is no longer considered a Jew (despite the Jewish genetics), the same way an ex-Catholic who properly converts to Judaism is no longer a Catholic but has become a Jew. I make no judgment on a Christian Jew returning home, but other people certainly will, and Nefesh b’Nefesh or the Jewish Agency will tell you that you are ineligible if you reveal this information, and they will make you go through a full conversion and one year waiting period after conversion, etc, before they will even consider you.

Right, I interpreted “brought up as a Christian” to be damaging enough, with or without any official conversion, and something the person definitely doesn’t want to mention. If her mother was taken from a home and brought up Christian, she would probably have gone through baptism, communion, etc., that I think would disqualify her, even though as a baby she didn’t have a choice, she would be in the same boat as the Jewish boy who got brought up Catholic and then became a priest. He wasn’t officially converted, he was just brought up Christian, but that disqualified him, as a practitioner of a religion other than Judaism. Even if the mother didn’t know she was being converted, she probably engaged in all the rites of passage as a Christian, so that would disqualify her too. Same for the daughter who calls herself a Christian; being a practicing Christian is a deal-breaker.

The comment on the Rabbi sounds ridiculous. You don’t need the stamp of approval of an Orthodox Rabbi for one thing, and for another, this is the sort of thing one usually hears in regards to rabbis performing conversions, not just stating whether someone is Jewish. Call the Rabbi, tell him what was said, and ask for the letter anyway. I don’t care how weird they think the Rabbi is, he can’t make your grandfather un-Jewish. Ask the Jewish agency to state their objection in writing, as it seems like something that will not hold up, so push them a little. Ask the cemetery to provide a letter stating they only perform Jewish burials in the Jewish section, etc, and separately ask them what their standard was for defining someone as Jewish when they sold the plot to your family. The cemetery will want to prove they buried a Jew not a non-Jew in their Jewish cemetery, so they at least will be on your side. If they have any written policy that favors your claim that your grandfather was Jewish or they would not have sold the plot to your family, you can include it. Don’t forget you also have the ‘Hebrew’ nationality paperwork, use that too. You are going to need an certified copy of that, not just something you printed off the internet, so hunt that record down. After you get that, you may need to have an ‘apostile’ certificate added onto it, I’m not sure if that kind of document needs it or not. You can submit the certified copy from US Immigration first, then wait and see if they demand the apostile seal. Also, any chance you can find a ketubah? Regarding your BF question, the boyfriend thing will immediately open you up to the converting questions, since if you have kids with him they won’t be halachically Jewish, so just be prepared. I don’t think it hurts you, just have an answer ready if you go that route that will tell them what they want to hear (maybe be ready with something like we are considering having me perform an Orthodox conversion in Israel after aliyah prior to marriage, etc.). But be sure to reiterate that you are making the decision for aliyah based on your legal Right of Return, not based just on a relationship. Also, you can’t legally marry him in Israel since you aren’t halachically Jewish, FYI, but if you married him in the US or Cyprus (a popular choice) your marriage would be legally recognized by Israel. Israeli weddings are still governed by Ottoman laws that only allow people to marry within their same religion, so as someone ‘without religion’ (as you would be classed), you won’t be able to marry anybody in Israel unless you convert to a religion after you gain citizenship. You are Jewish enough under the Law of Return to become a citizen but not halachically Jewish enough to marry under the Israeli Rabbinate. You could convert and become halachically Jewish and marry a Jew, or even convert to Christianity and marry a Christian after you have citizenship, but otherwise you are stuck not being able to legally wed inside Israel itself. Not pushing marriage, just giving you the info on the current state of the law. You and a half million other people are in the same boat, so again, don’t let them intimidate you, your situation is not unusual, and what you want is completely your legal right under the Law Of Return. You do have the legal right under the Law of Return to make aliyah, you just have to be prepared for some possible gamesmanship on their part. You would think they would want people to make aliyah, but it seems like they might have a soft policy of discouragement, kind of like the deal with would-be converts, as everyone I know has had some kind of petty paperwork battle with them, although everyone also did succeed in the end. This is kind of a preview of Israeli bureaucracy. Don’t be discouraged!

Happy to help!

Greetings.
I am a American citizen, 57 years old, retired Paramedic.
My father’s great grandfather was a german-jew who was born in Germany circa 1860 and immigrated to the United states circa 1900.
I recently learned about Israel’s right of Aliyah.
I have been a Christian for nearly 35 years and my passion has been studying the bible and the history of Israel.
I have a deep love for Israel, it’s people and it’s amazing history, and have a strong desire to live there and serve it’s people in some capacity, even as a volunteer.
In my heart, I believe Israel is my true home on this earth.
I have a modest retirement income of approximately $1,000.00/mo, which I do not know if that would be enough to live on in Israel?
But, my first interest would be to immigrate to Israel under the right of Aliyah, and live there as an Israeli citizen for the rest of my life.
I have read that a person can only qualify as being a jew for Aliyah if the mother is of jewish ancestory, otherwise it would be necessary to “convert” to Judaism.
Please clarify this for me.
If I was able to qualify through my father’s ancestory I would have to somehow be able to connect to his great grandfathers documentation in Germany, which I’m afraid could be difficult to find such records of the mid 1800’s!
Can you help me learn how I might successfully apply for Aliyah given my situation?
I appreciate your attention.
Shalom.

Ignoring the Christian angle, if your father’s great-grandfather was Jewish, and that’s the most recent connection to Judaism, you are too far back in history to qualify, as you need a Jewish parent/grandparent. While the parent/grandparent for the Law of Return can be on either the mother’s or father’s side, Judaism is passed matrilineally. So if your father’s great grandfather was Jewish but not his great grandmother, your father’s father would have been the last person with a Jewish parent/grandparent. The parent/grandparent you count back from has to have had a Jewish mother. Your great great grandfather is too far back, your father’s father is the last in line who could qualify as having a Jewish parent/grandparent. Your father’s father (your grandfather) and your father aren’t halachically Jewish so your they can’t pass Jewishness onto you. If your great great grandfather was Jewish, the last person with a Jewish father/grandfather would have been your grandfather, but since that grandfather isn’t halachically Jewish he can’t pass any Jewish status on to you. If the great great grandfather’s spouse was also Jewish, then it’s a different matter and your father would have been the last one with a Jewish parent/grandparent. Any way you slice it, if your last halachically Jewish relative was a great great grandparent, you’re too far back. Even if you had been raised with no religion (and thus not disqualified by practicing Christianity), you’re two generations too far. You need a parent or grandparent born of a Jewish mother to qualify, sorry. Conversion is of course an option if that is what truly speaks to you.

I greatly appreciate your attention and that you have taken the time to try answering my questions.
Just to clarify, my father’s grandfather was a true geneological Israelite, not just in religious observance. Would that make a difference?
Shouldn’t that qualify me as having Israeli ancestory?
Evidently as far as Aliyah is concerned, “jewish” qualification includes either genetic heretage or religious observance.
At this time I understand that I cannot qualify under the religious observance (also neither of my parents observed Judaism), and I have no idea whether or not his great grandfather was an observant Jew, but I believe he was a jew, or an Israelite by genetics.

I started with Nefesh and there standard reply to my emails was that a letter from a Rabbi is required and nothing else will work. I reached out to Itim and am waiting to hear back from them.

I will be talking to the Rabbi of my shul next week but it strikes me as being very limiting when there is only one way to do things.

for example, my mother is buried at har hamenuchot. The only way she could have been buried there is if she Jewish. That alone should be enough proof to the Israeli government that I am Jewish, but no must be a letter from a Rabbi.

I have heard from many friends that Israeli bureaucracy takes the cake, but to see it in action is a different matter

Thank you.