Aliyah is the term that describes the return of Jewish people from the exile in the Diaspora back to the land of Israel. The word aliyah is derived from the verb “la’alot” which means “to go up,” or “to ascend” in a positive, spiritual sense. A person who makes aliyah is called an oleh, meaning “one who goes up” or more colloquially known as an “immigrant.”

Israel’s law of return holds that, with a very few exceptions, all Jews are eligible to become citizens of the State of Israel.

According to a marketing representative at Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), anyone living in North America who wants to make aliyah must submit an application to Nefesh B’Nefesh (Nefesh) As the only branch of the Israeli government authorized to process applications in the U.S., JAFI has contracted with Nefesh; applications are submitted to Nefesh and evaluated and processed by JAFI.

Once an application is submitted, a Nefesh shaliah (or emissary), an Israeli citizen who encourages and promotes the concept of aliyah to Israel, will work with the potential oleh on identifying the best programs for the individual, the paperwork needed, etc.

There’s no specific time frame involved in the aliyah process, the JAFI representative said. Some individuals, who come in with all their paperwork prepared and homework completed, can sail through the process in a matter of three weeks, other individuals may file an application and then wait months or even years to get started.

The Ministry of Absorption, she explained is responsible for providing benefits packages to new olim. The Israeli government, she said, wants people to make aliyah.

For more information, visit JAFI at www.aliyah.org/Jewish Agency/English/Aliyah or Nefesh B’Nefesh at 1-866-4-ALIYAH or www.nbn.org.il/index.php.