Proof of Jewish status for aliyah

What counts as proof?

According to the Jewish Agency, to prove your connection to Judaism you present a letter written by an affiliated rabbi of an affiliated Jewish community, or conversion documents. Additional documents may be required. Proof of Judaism sits alongside the other core aliyah documents: birth certificate, marital status documents, criminal background check and a valid passport. See documents to gather now.

What the rabbi letter must include

Nefesh B'Nefesh's document list for North American applicants sets out these requirements:

• Written on official synagogue letterhead, stating the congregation's name, location and telephone number, with the rabbi's name and title.
• Your full legal name as it appears on your passport, and your parents' names (and grandparents' names, where relevant).
• A statement that you are Jewish and born to a Jewish mother, and how the rabbi knows you.
• Dated, written within the past year, and signed by the rabbi in ink. A digital signature is not enough.
• In English or Hebrew.
• Required for every adult in the family who is making aliyah.

Requirements outside North America are similar but can differ by country, so confirm the details with your Jewish Agency aliyah representative before you ask a rabbi to write the letter.

If your claim runs through a father or grandparent

Under the Law of Return, the child or grandchild of a Jew may be eligible even if they are not Jewish under religious law. In that case, Nefesh B'Nefesh says the letter should state that you were born to a Jewish father or grandfather, as relevant, and name them. The Jewish Agency may also ask for documents that prove the family link, such as your father's birth certificate, your parents' marriage certificate or your grandparent's marriage certificate.

If you converted

Converts submit conversion documents instead of, or in addition to, a community letter. Nefesh B'Nefesh says converts receive specific instructions during the application process, so ask your aliyah representative early which documents your conversion requires.

If you have no connection to a community

• Talk to an official representative first. Nefesh B'Nefesh advises North American applicants who cannot obtain the letter to discuss their options with their Jewish Agency shaliach.
• Gather family records. Old ketubot (marriage contracts), synagogue membership records, Jewish burial records, and birth or marriage certificates that show a parent's or grandparent's Jewish identity can help a rabbi, and the officials, understand your family history.
• Former Soviet Union. If you or your family come from the former Soviet Union, eligibility checks involve Nativ, an Israeli government liaison office, which typically reviews civil records such as birth and marriage certificates.
• Be wary of paid shortcuts. Nobody can sell you a guaranteed approval. Eligibility is decided only in the official process.

Common questions

Why we are petitioning for a registry

Gathering proof of Judaism can take weeks or months, which is time families may not have in a crisis. Our petition asks the Jewish Agency and Nefesh B'Nefesh to establish a national registry where people can learn in advance whether their documents are likely to be enough, and hold a dated eligibility credential. This is a proposed structure. No such arrangement exists today, and nothing here implies endorsement by the Jewish Agency or Nefesh B'Nefesh. See how it would work.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Eligibility and procedures are decided only by the official process; always confirm current requirements with the Jewish Agency or Nefesh B'Nefesh.