In my neighborhood there is quite a large group of converts from a certain South American country. Some are really sincere and observant Jews, but many seem to have converted just to get a free plane ticket and other help from the Jewish Agency so that they could leave their homeland which is more poverty-stricken than Israel. They are what I call phoney converts. I wouldn't be surprised if they still practice their former religion in secret (like the Marranos)! They told me that they were converted Reform and Conservative in their country. Only a minority of them went on to get an Orthodox conversion and really practice Judaism.

Is there any way I can be accepted to immigrate to Israel before Barak Obama gets into office? I have wanted to move there and be an Israelite for at least 20 years, and we saved up for four years visited Israel 16 years ago. I am not Jewish by birth, but I have a messianic Jewish religion and I think I am partly Israelite because my father was Swedish and my mother, who grew up keeping Shabbat, was Engish, Irish, French, Tyrolian, Swiss, German and Indian. I would appreciate your advice. Shalom