Guide to Conversion for the purpose of Aliyah :
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Welcome to the Jewish world!
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Converting to Judaism is a serious decision and even more so is the decision to make Aliyah on the basis of that conversion. Israel is the only country in the world where a decision to change your religion can allow you automatic citizenship. Because of this, the situation regarding the granting of such status is very complex. This is especially true in light of the fact that there are no codified rules or regulations and so there are no clear guidelines. The Israeli Supreme Court has handed down general directives and the Interior Ministry interprets these very freely a nd often in a way that limits the rights to citizenship by conversion rather than extends them. This may well change in the near future. In the meantime, the following are some pointers to help make the process a little easier.
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Nothing in this guide can replace formal legal advice and although we will attempt to update this information regularly, no responsibility is taken for any change in government policy that may contradict the information given below:
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Make sure that you check that the congregation and Rabbi are members of one of the recognized streams of Judaism (Reform, Reconstructionist, 1 Liberal, Masorti-Conservative, Orthodox ).
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Your study program should be at least 6 months long and preferably longer (about one year – unless you have previous knowledge of Judaism). You should be actively involved in the Jewish community during this period and afterward conversion as well.
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Make sure that your conversion certificate is signed by all three members of the Bet Din that tested you and that their Hebrew and English names are clearly decipherable.
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In addition to the conversion certificate, you will need to present to the Interior Ministry a letter of explanation as to why you converted, details of the conversion process (how long you studied, what were the main topics studied), were you involved in the congregation during the conversion and after. In addition you will need a similar letter from the Rabbi who sponsored the conversion and was responsible for the conversion program. If that Rabbi did not sit on the Bet Din which converted you, you will also need a letter from one of the Rabbis who sat on the Bet Din explaining the connection between your Rabbi and the Bet Din. You will also need a letter from the converting congregation (or any other congregation of which you may currently be a member), stating that you are involved and participate in its activities and religious services.
It is important to point out that as far as the I sraeli Ministry of Interior is c oncerned, a "recognized" Orthodox Rabbi is one who is recognized by the Israeli Chief Rabbinate. Many of the Rabbis who are members of the American Council of Rabbis and are recognized in the States as accepted Orthodox Rabbis, may not be recognized by the Israeli Rabbinate. For more information on the recognition of Orthodox Rabbis, see the Itim website: www.itim.org.il
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If you have lived in Israel without a valid visa for more than 6 months prior to the conversion, you should stay in the converting community for at least one year after the conversion, in order to prove that your conversion is not simply to enable you to receive status in Israel.
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If you have never visited Israel, or your previous stays were always with a valid visa, you can in theory apply for Aliyah immediately following your conversion, but the process is usually easier if you stay for a while in your converting community. (Serving a request for Aliyah while in your native country through the Jewish Agency or Nefesh b'Nefesh is usually easier and quicker than serving it in Israel. If you apply for Aliyah immediately after the conversion, the request is automatically forwarded to the Interior Ministry, whereas if you wait over 9 months, the other agencies have the authority to process the request). If you serve a request for Aliyah in Israel, the process can take anywhere between 3 months and 2 years, during which time there is no undertaking that you will receive any temporary status.
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The Israeli authorities are very suspect about conversions when only one member of the family converts and no other members of the family are eligible for Aliyah - thus the entire family's aliyah is dependent on the conversion. This situation immediately raises fears that the conversion is fictitious and purely for the purpose of Aliyah – especially if the request for Aliyah is made shortly after the conversion. We would seriously recommend discussing this situation with us before proceeding with an Aliyah claim.
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Ultimately, if you are leading a full Jewish life, although the road may be long and full of stumbling blocks, your will receive Aliyah status and Israeli citizenship. We wish you all the best and feel free to contact us for further questions. Nicole Maor Center, Esq.
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