When prospective immigrants meet with Boaz Nol, aliyah shaliach, or immigration emissary, at the Israel Center of the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation, they “open a file” and begin the bureaucratic process to expedite matters in Israel.
Much of the process involves paperwork that can be filled out online, but prospective immigrants must also prove they’re Jewish by showing a document such as a letter from a rabbi or a copy of their parents’ ketubah.
Nol often discusses job prospects, and even helps plan pilot trips in which the prospective immigrant goes to Israel on a preliminary visit to investigate job opportunities and places to live.
He also conducts a lengthy interview, and in the process, makes sure prospective olim know what’s involved with immigration.
“The first rule is, never promise that everything will be fine,” said Nol. “I really try to explain what a huge step it is to immigrate to a whole different country and make sure they visit, and talk with some people who just did it, so they know exactly what is waiting for them.”
Once their status is confirmed, “then we start to take care of the really important stuff,” said Nol. “We sign them up for ulpan (intensive Hebrew language program) and to an absorption center.”
Each immigrant is entitled to a free plane ticket to Israel, as well as two months in an absorption center, a five-month ulpan, and $3,000 worth of payments over eight months, which begins with about $250 in shekels once upon arrival. Immigrants also have the right to free education, meaning college or a graduate degree, and their belongings are shipped for free. Then, goods that are heavily taxed in Israel, are tax-free for new immigrants during their first three years. They can even buy a car with only 25 percent tax during that three-year period, when Israelis must pay 125 percent tax.
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