Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai says that Hashem gave us three gifts that can only be acquired by suffering: Torah, Eretz Yisrael, and Olam Haba. The process of aliyah is testing the truth of this. We began the application process about 8 months ago. Fine. Throughout the process, we told everyone that Daniel has lived in Israel on an A-1 visa as a child. His family returned to he US when he was 12. We all received our approval for aliyah a few weeks ago and sent our passports to LA to get our aliyah visa. Again, all was well and good. We were told that the kids and I were also approved for the flight benefit but that they had to look into Daniel's situatio.
So today, I got an email from the Jewish Agency. They have said that Daniel is a gorer zechuyot, but they are sending it to a special committee now to try to get more rights for him. The committee will be meeting early next week, so we are hoping to get an answer for you soon.
This seems like an unbelievable decision! If he were an Israeli citizen he would qualify as a katin chozer (a returning minor) and receive full benefits. A katin chozer is someone with Israeli citizenship, who left Israel before the age of 14 with both parents, lived at least 4 years out of Israel, and wants to return at the age of 17 or older. The only thing I can think is that because he spent two years in yeshiva, that second year triggered a technical aliya and now his benefits are 25 years out of date. For more information.
I hope they can figure out something, since he has never made aliyah or receieved any benefits from the Israeli government. It will be annoying if we have to pay for his flight ($1000 for a one way). Also, it will impact all of our other benefits once we get there. Luckily, I put the lift in my name, and I am for sure an oleh chadash.
The other issue will be his status when he tries to find a job. As a new immigrant to Israel (oleh chadash) he would get special benefits when a teacher. Basically, the school gets added benefits for hiring an oleh chadash. If he isn't an oleh chadash, they have to deal with a new person who doesn't know the system without also getting the corresponding benefit. I think it will make his job search much harder.
The other issue will be his status when he tries to find a job. As a new immigrant to Israel (oleh chadash) he would get special benefits when a teacher. Basically, the school gets added benefits for hiring an oleh chadash. If he isn't an oleh chadash, they have to deal with a new person who doesn't know the system without also getting the corresponding benefit. I think it will make his job search much harder.
I hope this suffering will be worth it.
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