Case Study: Aviva Goldstein, Age 39, Canada

Beyond the common criminal background scenarios already covered, some particularly serious offenses present unique challenges for Aliyah eligibility. These sensitive cases involve violent crimes, sexual offenses, and other serious criminal histories that raise significant concerns for immigration authorities. This guide examines how these challenging backgrounds typically affect Aliyah applications for both Jews by birth and converts.

While the Law of Return grants every Jew the right to immigrate to Israel, this right is not absolute. Section 2(b)(3) of the law specifically excludes "persons who may endanger public health or the security of the state" from eligibility. This security exclusion is regularly applied to individuals with criminal histories, creating potential barriers even for those who are Jewish by birth or ancestry.