I was a lawyer in the US and made Aliyah in 1981 - without hotels, without anything ... to a kibbutz. It was the best decision of my life.

Avi G is talking about a special bus drivers license ,NOT a regular driving license .You do not know what you are talking about.

What did they come here for, economic or political opportunities? The peace process? Yes they are packing them in giving these financially stressed economic and political refugees an Israeli passport and identity card ? Won't they be surprised with the culture shock socially, financially and politically when they realize these are not my people?

I think this kind of difference is very bad. What it shows is a false image of what will be one day after leaving the hotel. Furthermore, it is not fair to other olim hadashim. Some spend much time, mo0ney and effort to receive the rishaion neiges and others receive just as easily. This encourages future problems among immigrants in Mercaz Klit, ulpanim and also against a Klit Misrad secretaries who are not as polite nor as efcientes as the "free sample" they received in the hotel. This is because they need to conform to many people, and everyone wants to receive the same attention. I made Alyia in 2001 and there were also differences between countries, academic degree and so on and cause some problems in the Mercaz Klita. Anyway I wish luck to the fortunate families but life in Israel is not that they feel now.! Sorry!

It may come as a shock once they leave the luxury hotel for the absorption center. Probably going directly to the kibbutz or absorption center is the best way to do it. After all they are going to another country.

And try to read , too difficult with your inexisting brains

What are you doing here then ? Yes , of course , if you take this stupid rapper as an example of an Israeli , you should flee , and never come home . But he is only one specimen , the champion in stupidity .

I lived more than 50 years abroad , 65 . Of those i spend around 2 here , while visiting here a 20 times . Contrary to many , i spoke some Hebrew , did'nt have to look for a job . Had already arranged a bank account during my last visit , some months before making Alyah . Yes , Europe too is changing , but i almost never , exept 40-44 , suffered from antisemitism . And the only time it happened , another non Jew shouted back at this antisemite . Where will you talk to a neighboor in a bus as you do here ? People who tell their life as if they knew you for years ? Where will a shopowner ask you how you are ? wish you "titchadesh" when buying new clothes ? Only here , at HOME , בבית , does such things happen . Life is not easy [ for many ] there are things , many , who could , and need , to be ameliorated . Bureaucracy ? what angers me is the waste of paper . If you bring in the correct papers , generally no problems . They help you , told me that i was entitled to 90 % reduction of arnona . Another told me that i did'nt need a new passport , mine could be prolonged .

Approxomatly 10 years ago I came to Israel from the UK via the Jewish Agency and it was certainly not 5 star treatment. It started with nearly a years worth of running around on documentation they wanted. I had my parents ketubah, letters of reference from the synagogue, letters from the police that said I had no criminal record, a copy of my driving licence. They wanted passports going back to when I was a child. My parents passports. It took the better part of a year and alot of running around. Finally I got to Israel I was met by a representative from the Agency at the airport I was put into a taxi to the merkaz klita where I was staying and I never heard from them again. The only reason I knew all the things I needed to do was because of some papers they gave me before I left. The Jewish Agency was no help to me. There was an American in the merkaz klita who had never been to Israel before, he had no proof of being jewish or any of the things they wanted from me. The only reason he was even there was because he had lost his money in the US and he knew that the government helps olim so he decided start over in Israel with government help rather than remain in the US. Only this week I needed to go to the Nefesh B Nefesh office in Jerusalem where they were welcoming a new group of olim from the US. They were giving them they had a cake saying welcome to Israel, pastries and drinks, presentations. So the Agency took me from the airport and thats the last I heard of them. Nefesh hold welcome parties and organize their ID cards no need to spend a long time at the Misrad Hapanim especially considering most of the people going to apply for their tudat zahut first time and they are absolutly useless. I won't be praising the Jewish Agency for this 5 star treatment unless its a new attitude and they keep it up and its not a one off.

All bells and whistles.

I did create in 1993 a Photo store there, (Jerusalem st 75) named photo smile, (after the big one in NY) and I managed it 3 years before selling it to Orient Color. It was a great time !! Best to you. Avi mformankind.blogspot.com

these french olim are doing Shabbat and are believing in G.d though they watch TV after the Shabbat meal and go to the shul by car, common custom of the "sentier" jews. Transp. Ministry do not give on an exchange basis professional licences, truck, bus, taxi ... And yes, I have an employer in Marseille where I worked in 2008 that can give me work tomorrow, but this time I'll go to Paris but, even at 51, there is plenty of work for the good ones ... best ! Avi

ask for Yaakov Kachemacher's studio in the old city, a french photographer, painter, he's my friend and worth knowing !!!!

I made Alyah in 2001 . What did the Zionist org , alyah departement in my West European country need : to fill in a form , A certificate that i'm Jewish , a health certificate , extract of my birth register , 8 photographs , and , as a retired , sources of my income , and a 50 Euro . That's all . I was allowed to make Alyah "besidour prati" , i had'nt to go to a merkaz klita . They paid the plane and a taxi to a family here .

My daughter whose husband served seven years in the army,thought it would be easy for her to become Israeli.She went with the necessary papers to the misrad hapanim or wherever.One of her papers looked suspect,and my daughter was told she is not jewish. Not believing her ears,.she yelled:my grand-mother died in Auschwits, and i am not jewish! After this outcry ,everything went smoothly.

Great post Al I hope your kids have morevstaying power than me. I came back because it was easy to. The JA btw was of no help to me in the late seventies. My Israeli pals back then knew how to use their elbows and had protektzia all over Tveria. That's the key: having good Israeli friends and having a great sense of humor. I wish them luck. And you too on your eventual Aliyah

I didn't ask Transp. Ministry to exchange my french licence over an israeli one, but I passed (at a cost of NIS.900) an exam in TAV for the right to pass the israeli exam (after a 3 month course) of bus driving and that has not been agreed for with no reason specified.

I've been here just over a year. Once I got out of ulpan, it hasn't been easy. I'm still here. but i guess patting yourself on the back is what you need. Hey everyone, JL got here by him/herself in '71. Hip Hip HOORAAAYYYY.

When my daughters made Alyah , they had'nt any problem . Both had a certificate from an Orthodox Rabbanut , the same as their mother and me . They even did need this , they had their birth certificate with the names of their parents . When i brought my cedrtificate , in Hebrew , with all the other papers to the ministry of interior the clerck said that i did'nt need this certificate , but "if it's there , let it be" . So you , i presume , are also a relatively new oleh , also retired ?

They even did'NT need this , instead of "did"

You presume well.Concerning the suspect paper,they did not recognise the signature of the Rabbi,as he signed a few days before passing away.

Just enjoy being here in Israel ,the sunshine ,the food ,the yiddish-keit and all the good Israel has to offer .It will takes decades to adjust and improve things here ,so don't expect this to be like France or England or the U.S. etc.. As for obtaining a bus driving license here ,those are mainly reserved for Israelis born here ,although I may be wrong about that .Wishing you lots of luck .

One of my daughters had a diploma from a recognised school abroad . As they had moved the last year , here in Israel they had some problems , they had the old address , not the new one mentioned on her diploma . .

From me the Jewish Agency wanted: Birth certificate Parents Ketubah Letters of reference from the synagogue A letter from the police to say I had no criminal record. Copy of my drivers license. Copy of my parents passports. Copies of my passports till what I was age 10-11 and I had a real argument with them to explain it wasn't practical to expect me to provide passports going back to when I was 10 because people don't genrally keep passports going back that long. There was an american in the merkaz klita. Never been to Israel in his life Not a member of any synagogue No proof he was jewish They let him come though because he took a picture of himself standing by his grandmothers grave and apparently she had a jewish name. Anybody can go have their picture taken at a grave stone with a jewish name. The Agency though accepted this as satisfactory proof he was jewish but the amount of paperwork they wanted from me when only a tiny fraction of it should have been fine its crazy. I don't think the Jewish Agency have a set rule on how they decide if your jewish or not and considering the absorbtion package is worth alot of money there should be much stricter guidelines. A photograph should not be considered acceptable evidence but at the same time they should not be asking for passports going back to when your a child.

I was most interested in the piece about the help given to the latest batch of olim. We, too, were offered first-class services when we made aliya from the U.K.on 21 March through the Shtiach Adom (Red Carpet) programme. However, I'm amazed to learn that the latest olim are given "an Israeli driver's license, an HMO membership card and a cellular phone". We received none of these; had trouble with the purchase of new sim cards and hand-sets through Orange and what's more my husband's paid through the nose for driving lessons towards a test to acquire an Israeli licence. If you are right, we will demand an Israeli licence without his taking the test and also a full refund for all expenses made. Now, are you sure???? Natalie Wood

Come on Jewish people... Come back to Israel... Still 6 million left in the nations...(or more) Ezekial 39:28 - Then they will know that I am the LORD their God because I made them go into exile among the nations, and then gathered them again to their own land; and I will leave none of them there any longer.

I have'nt seen any agora . Received the plane , free healthcare for 6 months , free import of my belongings [ half a container ] , no taxes on a frig , 90 % arnona reduction , tax exemption [ or reduction ? ] when i bought my appartement , that's all . But i did'nt receive any agora , and am lucky not to receive Bituach Leumi either , but i pay "mass Briouth" health care taxes . I do not complain ! Regarding the papers , i can't understand the differences . I went to the Alyah departement of the World Zionist organisation , in my country . They were those who arranged everything .