The Tel Aviv real estate market sustained its leadership as Israel’s most dynamic and prestigious housing environment through the first quarter of 2025.

The Katzrin real estate market experienced steady momentum during the first quarter of 2025, with transaction volumes rising by 8.7% compared to the same period last year.

The Nahariya property market exhibited solid performance in the first quarter of 2025, with transaction activity rising by 16% compared to Q1 2024.

The path to Judaism through conversion represents one of life's most profound spiritual journeys. For many converts, this path includes the aspiration to make aliyah—immigrating to Israel under the Law of Return, which grants Jewish people worldwide the right to Israeli citizenship.

The impending Basic Law on Entry, Immigration, and Status represents the most significant reform to Israel's immigration framework since the state's founding.

When purchasing real estate in Israel, buyers must pay a property purchase tax, known in Hebrew as "Mas Rechisha" (מס רכישה).

For decades, the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) has positioned itself as the preeminent organization connecting world Jewry with Israel, facilitating aliyah (immigration to Israel), and developing Jewish communities worldwide.

For individuals who have converted to Judaism and wish to make Aliyah (immigration to Israel), navigating the legal framework can be particularly complex.

Making Aliyah—immigrating to Israel under the Law of Return—represents the fulfillment of a profound dream for many Jews worldwide.

When Alian Pessaro (later Goldstein) completed her Reform conversion to Judaism in the United States and sought to immigrate to Israel under the Law of Return, she could never have anticipated that her personal journey would ultimately reach Israel's Supreme Court and establish a landmark precedent that continues to shape the lives of thousands of converts seeking to make Aliyah.

When Benjamin Shalit, an Israeli naval officer, attempted to register his children as "Jewish" by nationality but with no religious affiliation in Israel's population registry in the late 1960s, he could hardly have anticipated that his case would trigger a constitutional crisis, lead to a landmark Supreme Court ruling, and ultimately reshape Israel's Law of Return.

In 1962, an extraordinary Holocaust survivor named Oswald Rufeisen – then known as Brother Daniel – stood before Israel's Supreme Court and challenged what it means to be Jewish in the modern State of Israel.

In 1962, an extraordinary Holocaust survivor named Oswald Rufeisen – then known as Brother Daniel – stood before Israel's Supreme Court and challenged what it means to be Jewish in the modern State of Israel.

Scenario 13: Jewish by Birth, Practicing New Age Spirituality

The Law of Return grants every Jew the right to immigrate to Israel, but this seemingly straightforward provision becomes complex when individuals with Jewish ancestry practice other religions or come from interfaith families. These scenarios directly engage with the "Who is a Jew?" question that has been central to several landmark court cases, most notably the Brother Daniel case (Rufeisen v. Minister of Interior, 1962) and its progeny.

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.

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.

After a marathon legal struggle spanning more than 15 years, the Israeli Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling in March 2021 that fundamentally transformed the landscape of Jewish conversion and Israeli citizenship rights. The Reform Movement v. Minister of Interior case finally recognized Reform and Conservative conversions performed in Israel for the purpose of the Law of Return, ending decades of discrimination and opening pathways to citizenship for thousands of people who had converted to Judaism through non-Orthodox movements within Israel.

In 2012, the Israeli Supreme Court issued a ruling that continues to shape the daily reality of thousands of families. The Adalah v. Minister of Interior case upheld a controversial law that prevents Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza from obtaining Israeli citizenship or residency through marriage to Israeli citizens. Behind the dry legal language of this landmark decision lie real stories of families forced to live apart, couples making impossible choices, and children growing up in the shadow of legal uncertainty.