MY ALIYAH PLANNER
Pre-Aliyah Planning Aliyah Arrival Stage Settling into Israel
Eligibility factors for making Aliyah were initially established on the 5th day of the month of Iyar, 5708, May 14, 1948, upon declaring the founding of Israel asthe Jewish State in the Land of Israel, David Ben Gurion appealed to world Jewry, saying, “We call upon the Jewish people throughout the Diaspora to unite with us in our homeland by making aliyah, by building the land, and by taking part in the momentous undertaking of the redemption of the Jewish people, which has been the dream of generations.
Therefore, the main consideration revolves around the question of who is considered a Jew, for acceptance by the State of Israel. The government declared that anyone with at least one Jewish grandparent is eligible for Aliyah. However, that still leaves the question open of how that grandparent, and certainly one’s parent, or even oneself is determined to meet that criteria of being a Jew? Enter the Rabbinate, the Jewish religious authority in Israel. According to strict orthodox regulations, a Jew is considered to be someone born of a Jewish mother, with an establihed Jewish lineage.
The next question relates to Jewish converts, who are also eligible for making Aliyah. However, they also need to meet the Rabbinate’s standard of being Jewish, in this case through having converted through an acceptable Jewish body. Generally speaking, it is fairly safe to presume that conversion through a recognized Orthodox Jewish authority, will suffice. Accordingly, potential converts wishing to make Aliyah are recommended to make contact with their local Orthodox Jewish authority. We cover the question of supporting documents in the next stage of ‘Listing Requirements’