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Making Aliyah to IsraelĀ 

1/8/2015

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About a year ago in a letter to the J-weekly, a man who had converted to Judaism in California wrote about his disappointment in learning that he was not considered Jewish by the state of Israel and therefore was not eligible to make aliyah.  I am used to people taking bureaucratic processes personally so I decided to investigate. I emailed Rabbi Mates-Muchin of Temple Sinai to ask how aliyah works for an American convert. Here is her reply.  It covers ALL forms of travel to Israel, not just aliyah. Note that Rabbi Mates-Muchin is a Reform rabbi and if you are from another stream of Judaism you should check with your own rabbi.

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Visas and Israel
The most important thing you need to know about visas in Israel is that the process comes in two types: the “general” one that applies to everyone, and the “Jewish” one that applies if you prove you are Jewish. When you go to websites that explain what you need in order to apply for and obtain a visa, they are often giving you the details for the general visa. This information is accurate if you are either not Jewish or you are Jewish but do not want to go through the Jewish verification process.

Let's start with the general process. Here is what you need to know.

Visa for Entry to Israel
A standard B/2 tourist visa is issued at the border for countries who have visitation agreements with Israel (see the status of your country: http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA_Graphics/MFA%20Gallery/Consular%20forms/VisaRequirements.pdf). This visa is usually valid for up to three months. You are not allowed to work if you enter the country with this visa. If you leave the country and then return, in most cases, you will receive a tourist visa for another three months.

If you are from a country that does not have a visitation agreement, you must obtain a visa from an Israeli Consulate prior to your arrival in Israel.

Work and Student Visas
If you are coming to Israel as a student or in order to work in Israel, you must obtain your visa through an Israeli Consulate prior to your arrival. In the general process, if you come into Israel on a tourist visa, you can not change it to a student or work visa while you are here. See the Ministry of Foreign Affair Website for all the documentation needed to secure a visa from outside of Israel. Contact your regional office (or “mission”) for specific questions.

Visa Extensions
If you want to extend your visa, you have to apply at the Ministry of the Interior (Misrad Hapanim) in Israel. This site has a listing, in English, of the Misrad Hapanim branches throughout Israel. You will likely need an appointment to begin your application process, so it is a good idea to call in advance. If that is not possible or just doesn't work, you should also be able to make an appointment in person.

The following are the requirements listed on the English forms from the office of the Ministry of the Interior in Jerusalem. You may be asked to produce all or only some of these documents, but it is best to come as prepared as possible.

A/2 Student Visa:
1. Passport, valid for a least six months beyond your stay in Israel
2. One passport sized picture
3. A completed application for you and for every member of your family.
4. Birth certificates and marriage certificates when applicable
5. A letter from your educational institution
6. Transcripts from the past year
7. Documentation of adequate funds
8. Apartment lease or dorm contract
9. 175 shekel fee

B/1 Work Visa
1. Passport, valid for a least six months beyond your stay in Israel
2. One passport sized picture
3. A completed application for you and for every member of your family.
4. Birth certificates and marriage certificate when applicable
5. A letter from your employer
6. Proof of medical insurance
7. 165 shekels for a regular visa or 330 for a multi-entry visa

B/2 Tourist Visa
1. Passport, valid for a least six months beyond your stay in Israel
2. One passport sized picture
3. A completed application, for you and for every member of your family.
4. Birth certificates and marriage certificate when applicable
5. A letter explaining your reason for being in Israel
6. If you are staying because of friends or family, provide a letter of explanation and a photocopy of their ID card(s)
7. Proof of funds and an airline ticket out of Israel
8. 175 shekels

Those are the general requirements for obtaining a visa abroad or extending a visa while you are in Israel.

To be eligible for the Jewish process, which ultimately offers more benefits, you have to verify your Jewish status.

Proving your Jewish Status
First, the benefits. As a Jew in Israel, you are not just a tourist, you have some rights. You can stay on a tourist visa for at least a year, if not more. You will be able to go from a tourist visa to a student or work visa. For any visas you obtain in Israel, the fees are waived. Additionally, you only have to go through the process once. After you prove your status as a Jew, you are in the system as a Jew, even for the purpose of making aliyah.

Next, the process. To get the benefits, you have to prove that you are Jewish. Though you apply through the Ministry of the Interior, the confirmation process goes through the Jewish Agency. The Agency doesn't differentiate between their approval of someone's Jewish status for the purpose of aliyah or if someone is applying for a two week tourist extension, so, be prepared that it may take some time.

The basic form of proof is a letter from a recognized rabbi verifying that you are Jewish. “Recognized” means a member of one of the rabbinic professional organizations, such as the CCAR(Reform) or the RA (Conservative). If your rabbi pays dues to one of these professional organizations, she/he should appear on one of the recognized lists.* The letter must state that the applicant is “Jewish by birth”, is a member of the rabbi's congregation (or whose parents are members of the congregation) and that the rabbi knows that the applicant's mother, father or both parents are Jewish. The letter has to be written on letterhead that includes the name of the congregation, address, phone number, and the rabbi's name. Keep in mind that every application is different and the Agency may ask for more information.

If you have converted to Judaism through the Reform movement, you will also need to produce all of your conversion documents. The process will be more complicated and will likely take more time. It is best to contact attorney Nicole Maor at IRAC ([email protected]) in advance of your travel to Israel so that you know what to expect and you can bring the necessary documentation with you.

For the purpose of a visa, if you prove you are a Jew by patrilineal descent**, you will be accorded all of the rights of Jews under the Law of Return's second amendment that gives rights to members of Jews' families. Spouses, children, spouses of children, grandchildren and spouses of grandchildren of verified Jews would all fit into the category of members of Jews' families. The definition of a Jew under the Law of Return, however, is someone born to a Jewish mother or someone who has converted to Judaism and is not practicing another religion. Unless you went to the mikveh and have additional documentation, as a patrilineal Jew, the Jewish Agency will consider you a non-Jew. In light of this, you may want to weigh the benefits of initiating the “Jewish process” depending on the kind of visa you need. If you have questions, contact attorney Nicole Maor ([email protected]) of the Israel Religious Action Center.

If you are applying for a visa or visa extension as a Jew, or as one of the aforementioned relatives of a Jew, you will need your proof of Judaism documents as well as all other items listed in the general process section above.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not feel pressured into proving your Jewish status. You will encounter people who will assume you will want to go through the process, but remember, it is your choice. If you are simply extending your tourist visa for three months, you might prefer to just pay the fee. If, however, you plan to be in Israel for longer than six months, or if you plan to apply for a student or work visa in Israel, the benefits will likely outweigh the burden of the extra time and effort. If there is a chance you will opt to go through verification, it is recommended that you bring all of your
documentation with you to Israel.

If you encounter issues with the process of proving your Jewish status, feel free to contact attorney Nicole Maor at [email protected].

*Note from Dawn: To my knowledge the rabbis from the Renewal movement have not yet applied to the Jewish Agency to have their status and the status of their converts recognized.  Before you begin conversion it is a good idea to check with the rabbi you want to work with to find out whether they are on the list as a Recognized Rabbi. Orthodox rabbis will have a somewhat different process since they want their conversions to be accepted not only by the Israeli government, but also by the religious authorities.

**Close relatives of someone who is Jewish up to a grandchild-in-law have a right to make aliyah under the Law of Return. So, they could go and become a citizen, but they would not be considered Jewish. It may be a significant distinction because it would prohibit them from things like getting married, but at the moment lots of Jews are also not able to do that. So patrilineal Jews are not considered Jewish by the Israeli rabbinate but can make aliyah. They should know that because people will tell them they are eligible as a relative of a Jew not because he or she is a Jew. Again, I think the trauma of all this would be greatly reduced if people know what to expect. At the Ministry of the Interior, people will say you are not Jewish but can come because your father is, assuming you can prove that. If you want a visa or if you want to make aliyah, just know what they are going to tell you as they complete their paperwork so that it doesn't shock or insult you in the moment. The clerk you are talking to can't do anything about it. It will just make the process less emotionally traumatic for you if you understand that this is a bureaucratic function. 

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A little History on Conversion Guidelines in the Reform Movement

1/7/2015

1 Comment

 
We found an article from the NY Times dated June 28, 2001 that describes the Reform rabbis voting to adopt new guidelines on conversion. Thought others might be interested in a look back.
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Deciding to Convert after Years in an Interfaith Marriage

1/6/2015

1 Comment

 
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As my children were attending the Peninsula Temple Sholom preschool, I became very curious about Judaism and how to build a Jewish life for my family. My husband clearly identifies as a Jew, but had not been raised in a strong religious tradition. I had been raised as an Episcopalian. Through the preschool and adult education courses, we started to feel a part of the community, and believed that making a commitment to raise our children in the Jewish tradition would enrich all of our lives.

I approached Rabbi Dan Feder about studying with him. He was very warm and welcoming. We had numerous (almost monthly) meetings over the course of a couple years. (Generally the process takes about a year, but I had extended it.) Rabbi Dan would suggest that I read one or two books a month and do a brief write-up, which helped to focus my thoughts. He carefully and thoughtfully addressed all of my questions. I was also able to take a few adult education courses with Rabbi Dan.  He teaches with humor and an engaging style. As a prior religion major, I particularly loved the readings and delving into discussions with Rabbi Dan. His guidance has helped to shape my Jewish identity and frame the questions that I have as I continue this journey.

A fundamental part of my family’s Jewish experience has involved creating roots in the Jewish community. Both Rabbi Dan and Rabbi Rebekah Stern have been helpful in our quest to create community at Peninsula Temple Sholom. We have developed sustaining friendships and community through the activities at the preschool, events at the religious school, and through classes and services.  I am very grateful to Rabbi Dan for his patience and guidance during the past few years of my studies
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