Aliyah-FAQ

AKA: "How to give your life added meaning, while supporting psychiatric professionals."

Plan for the worst, and pray for the best
Rabbi Yisroel Cohen

Keep laughing, your sanity is at risk
DovBer Eliyahu Finkel

Are we having fun yet?
Ron Aaron

NOTE: The contents of this page are undergoing constant update; please check back every few days for new material.

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Introduction

Making "aliyah" (עליה - 'ascending', specifically to Israel) is one of the most important actions you, as a Jew, can take. See my "Aliyah" essay for some reasons why I think that is true.

It is also a major change, and has repercussions in every aspect of your life. Therefore, one should plan for it and prepare oneself as much as possible. This page is an attempt to help give information from the practical perspective of one family which is undergoing this change.

Preparation, Persperation and Panic

Saying "you need to be prepared" is an understatement. In order to successfully "make aliyah", you will first of all have to convince the "Jewish Agency", AKA the "Sochnut", AKA the "Israel Center", that you are permitted to get citizenship in Israel under the Israeli "Law of Return". You will need to ensure that all of your paperwork is 100% complete, that you have documents to back up your claims. You may need to provide proof of medical condition. You will need to deal with your hometown government. You will need to deal with family and friends who may oppose your move. You will have to deal with moving your household, with finding employment... and a thousand other things which "normal people" don't have to worry about at all.

Above all else: you have to maintain your sense of humor, and know why you are making aliyah. You will have to have a firm desire to carry through, because - believe me - the obstacles are not insignificant.

Israel is a modern country which inherits from the former British Empire and from the former Ottoman Empire. From the British, the Israeli Government inherits a deep and abiding love for bureaucracy. From the Ottoman Turks, an infuriating indolence. If you think the US (or wherever you are from) has red-tape, just wait! Your patience will be tried over and over, but if you "hang in there" you will attain your goal ... just keep the goal in mind!

The Sochnut

Abandon hope, all ye who enter here...

My Aliyah diary

• 14 JUN 2006 - Sent in completed forms and check to the Sochnut
• 10 JUL 2006 - Shelichah from the Sochnut speaks to me (phone interview). She informs me that since I have Israeli citizenship, my daughters are Israeli citizens - so I need to contact the consulate and get identity numbers for my daughters, before the "tik" can continue processing.
• 10 JUL 2006 - Contact the consulate via email, they let me know what forms to fill out. I fill them out and start the process...
• 05 SEP 2006 - Attempt to contact consulate and find out why I don't yet have any documents from them.
• 09 NOV 2006 - Shelichah informs me she will open my "tik" even though I haven't yet got the numbers she needs; she asks for several documents, which I send her via email.
• 13 DEC 2006 - Finally receive the documents from the consulate. Note that it took five months!
• 14 DEC 2006 - Inform Shelichah about the numbers, and she tells me she will start processing our "tik"
• 18 DEC 2006 - Ask Shelichah what our status is (no answer).
• 20 DEC 2006 - Our check to the Sochnut was cashed
• 08 JAN 2007 - Shelichah asks what we were able to settle with the consulate (note I already informed her three weeks ago).
• 16 JAN 2007 - Shelichah informs me she does not have all the documents I sent in November. Why she waited until now to inform me is unclear. I send all 34 pages via fax, and confirm she received them.
• 18 JAN 2007 - Shelichah informs me she needs yet other documents (which I don't have). In this case, she needs my birth certificate (with apostille) and that of my wife (from Argentina), as well. In addition, the "travel log" was not filled out correctly and I need to redo it. Why it took until now to tell me that, when we submitted the travel log in June, is again a mystery.
• 30 JAN 2007 - After several email queries, a fax and a phone call, the Shelichah informs us that we do indeed need the documents she asked us for, and wishes us "good luck". I wonder at the import of that last word (בהצלחה)