the best test is to let the new Israelis learn Judaism and everyone who converts eventually will granted citizenship and those will integrate easily. Everything else won't work in the long run. This "test" is part of the jewish culture and more longlasting than Mapai, Shinui and all those movements who are already part of the history while orthodox Judaism is the most stable and peaceful "ism" of human history.

to stamp or emboss a big "J " on the TZ so that we can separate "pure Jews" from Converted Jews !!! What a shame, especially in times when Israel is trying to change its image ! Is Israel such a big economic success ( over 1.000.000 People living under poverty) that so many applicants are desperate to come here ? Idiocy ! an other one of these idiocies so typical.....As stupid as the immigration requirement by which one must fill up one's landing card in ENGLISH and not in HEBREW !!!!! We Are waking upside down. Aren't there any more urgent things that need to be adressed in Israel ( Pensioners scavenging in garbage to eat !!!!) A real shame that we are taking up all of the American flaws and Israelize them ....

Bunnie (if that is your real name)... Then why should a Jew be allowed to live in the US, a Christian state? The answer: both the US and Israel are democratic states.

why not asking about judaism? at least basic judaism.... u know...there are people who dont even know what pesach is for more these people are non-jews knowing a BASIC for being in a jewish country would be the minimal

All the foreign workers that are flooding the country would kill for 3000NIS per month in Thailand/China/The Philipines.

i was exactly going to say that hehe not as a response but as a comment its something really funny that happens even between me and my israeli friends...israelis complaining life is hard, they have money probs and bla bla bla anyone from the brazilian medium class would happily accept becoming a poor under the pooverty line in israel hehe its funny when u complain about that when u dont really live a situation much much much worse

Another badly thought out comment Bunnie. I am a Jew living in and citizen of the UK. Does this mean that, according to your logic, I should be stripped of my citizenship as I live in an Anglican Christian country and likewise for you who lives in an Christian country....? Just what the Nazis wanted to do.... nice one(!)

Even most Americans would probably not pass the citizenship test given to potential U.S. citizens. So what? I think that community centers should provide civics classes to all people: to learn history, laws and culture of Israel. Anyone who wants to become a citizen here should have to have a basic knowledge of Israel, its laws, history and culture.

These days, poorly educated and marginalized SLAVIC people from former U.S.S.R. come to Israel to escape poverty. Vast majority of them are not Jews at all - trust me, it is incredibly easy to fabricate and buy documents to show Jewish background. Many of these people HATE Israel, and bring anti-Semitism from, say, rural Ukraine, to Israel cities. The press does not talk about this, but there are regular incidents of drawing swastikas, beating up yeshiva students and vandalizing synagogues (not by arabs) RIGHT HERE IN ISRAEL! Just look around you - there are people who came here as "Jews" who hate Jews, have nothing to do with Jews and are here only because Israel is very easy to get in to. Change immigration laws, make deportation much easier - Russian non-Jews (I'm NOT talkng about non-religious JEWS from Russia) erode Jewish character of Israel!

She says that, "the whole Western world makes tough demands on those seeking citizenship," but thats not true. In Australia, if you reside and work there for two years, on the third year, you can apply for citizenship. In Canada, if you reside and work there for three years, on the fourth year, you can apply for citizenship. In both cases, only a pledge of allegiance and speaking some English is required. Those are not tough demands. That's easier than in Israel or the US. And Australia and Canada pay more money than in Israel, so I can't imagine why people would be so desperate to go there.

Yes....you are correct , we p[ay slave labourers slightly under what they are paid in Saudiu Arabia, for the same kind of hours and work conditions. Nothing to be proud about

The problem is that Israelis are lazy and will not accept the kind of job that the state has to offer to OTHER since we cannot ( and do not want ) ressource to arab labor !!!Same thing took place in ALL of the European countries !!!

In this country this is just another easy way of making some extra money on the side! Someone is going to fill his pockets at the expense of others'!

arabia to the arabs, there was one gifl of land, to the Jews. America has a lot of Christians and it is not a Christian state but a hodgepodge of every religion and an irrational violent cult or two. Perhaps you would like so much "democracy" that Jews would no longer live in a Jewish state but a hoddgepodge of non-Jews. Non-Jews have the whole world in which to live. Israel can be the one tiny little country that is the Jewish state G-d meant it to be.

Listen,I didn't read the article yet due to lack of time today,but I read your comment and let me tell you:don't include me and other brasilians in your comments ;talk about yourself. I ,particularly,would't do anything to live under poverty line. I want ,and I hope I will ,someday emigrate to Israel,but to leave at least the same very good life ,BH,I live in Brasil. So ,please, again,talk by yourself.If you,as "midle class" live poorly,that's far to be my case.

(brasil we write with s,remember?americans write our name with z,not us) And I would like to add that I have never seen a Jew ,here in Brasil,taking food in the garbage in the street, to have something to eat,as is happening in Israel. Yes,it happens with brasilian people,very sadly. But I guess Jews are a very much ancient culture than brasilians ,and should have alreldy learnt to get rid of this,using intelligence and justice.

These immigration laws you speak of depend on which country your are immigrating from. If you are immigrating from America, it's a lot easier to get into Canada and Australia than if you are immigratin from South Africa, for example. So it is not necessarily so easy. I agree with making immigration policy more tough. People must become citizens because they genuinely want to, not because it benefits their own selfish gain at the expense of their new home country.

i appreciate your loyalty to Jews, but being the chosen people does not mean we are superior to other, but to be an example to others. How do we advocate democracy in the world if Israel is not a democracy? How do we expect to be accepted in the world if we don't let others into our world. Israel can not be a homeland ONLY for Jews, but it must be a Jewish homeland, for the Jewish people to live in and govern themselves.

hit Israelis: Now stop relating this to intelligence and justice but the constant circumstances of Israel fighting a war. your posting isn't relating to facts on the ground

On my opinion even Jewish imigrants while claiming and obtaining their Israeli citizenship by the Law of Return, should not be allowed to vote before they pass basic exams of language, history and citizen's rights. In some matters new citizens should be allowed to be examined in their mother language. In fact the comprehension in history and citizens rights is required no matter in what language.

There is not too much about understanding the reasons. If Israel aplied the Jews principles of Justice,and its governors stoped being corrupts and loved their people,it would never had happened. Something very wrong is going on in Israel ,and hide this fact is the worst thing.The best is face facts from face and try to come back to what is Right.

in respond to bunnie's comment, I still dont understand what you are doing in the US if u feel that way!!!!.... and i completely agree with #25.....one thing is to allow another to become a citizen of a Jewish State( there are still those out there who love the Jews and Israel) and a completely different thing would be to allow a Non-Jew to Rule over a Jewish homeland.... One cant lead a congreagation without sharing that congregation's belief!

Israel's reality