The Law of Return allows Jews, their children, grandchildren and their family members to obtain Israeli citizenship.
A Jew is a person who was born to a Jewish mother or who has converted to Judaism. And if everything is clear with the first category, the second category raises many questions.
How does one embrace Judaism?
Conversion (giyur) is a complex and meaningful process that requires time, study, and personal involvement. The process may vary depending on the denomination of Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, Reformed, etc.) and the country.
First of all, it is worth remembering that not every conversion can be recognized by the Ministry of Interior for the Aliyah purposes. Conversion performed within the framework of Orthodox Judaism is usually recognized without any issues. Conversions performed under Reformed or Conservative Judaism may also be recognized; however, these often entail a more complex recognition process, including additional verification by the Interior Ministry.
Conversion has to be conducted under the guidance of a recognized rabbi or Beit Din (religious court). Even if a Rabbi is recognized by the Israeli Rabbinate, this does not guarantee recognition by the Ministry of Interior and the Jewish Agency (it is the Jewish Agency that determines whether a Rabbi will be recognized or not).
One of the criteria for conversion to be recognized is the sincerity of the process. The Ministry of Interior can verify the sincerity of the intention to convert to Judaism to ensure that the conversion was not done for the Aliyah purpose only.
Depending on the denomination and the Rabbi who performed the conversion, the proof of Jewish tradition observance may be required both before and after the conversion process.
In most cases, candidates for conversion attend classes. These courses can last from a few months to several years.
For the conversion to be recognized, the candidate has to be part of the community for at least one year.
Candidates usually make a formal declaration of their intention to observe the commandments of Judaism before a Rabbi or Beit Din (religious court) and then receive a Giyur Certificate.
After completing the conversion process, the course participant receives a Jewish name to be used in religious ceremonies.
Upon completing the conversion, individuals become full members of the Jewish community. They must remain active in the community for at least one additional year before applying for Israeli citizenship.
Documents required to prove the right to repatriation on the basis of Giyur
In order to prove that the Giyur was conducted in accordance with the necessary rules for its recognition, it will be necessary to provide relevant documents such as:
- Giyur Certificate from a recognized rabbi or Jewish community
- A letter from the rabbi preparing for the Giyur
- A letter from the rabbi who will confirm that the converted person has been a member of the community for at least one year after the Giyur
If you are considering repatriation after the Giyur, it is recommended that you consult with a lawyer who specializes in repatriation issues to learn about all the details and requirements.