Ok, here goes. As The Topic states :
Are there any black jews in here who have made a successful Aliyah? hat was the experience like? Good? Bad? Please share.

Spider senses tingling (I sense the racially tensed folk coming)! One word to the hordes : BRAKES! Hold Up, stay put!
Im not talking about any splinter group claiming israelite ancestory etc etc. Im speaking about a proper traditional Jew, Orthodox, Conservative or Reform!

Now thats out of the way, let's move on.
Im thinking of sending in my application for Aliyah(and I will), but truth be told, Im worrirying my head off what the true experience will be for someone of my background.
We've all heard the phrase : "Aliyah : LIVE The Dream"
Now some would dare say that this dream is reserved for and directed at a select few, predominantly English speaking and Caucasian!
We've also read the stories of legitimate black jewish families being held up at the airport, and even after being let through(after being humiliated), they are denied certain rights and their citizenship is put on hold for sometimes many years. For the sole purpose being the colour of their skin (Yet they fly in by the truckloads Neo-Nazis who attack israeli citizens, without any jewish checks being done on them, and are solely accepted on a claim that they have jewish grannies n pappies, and their skin colour matches a certain criteria).
When I say legitimate black families, I mean those families who either converted through respected and recognised Jewish synagogues and institutions whether orthodox, reform etc etc.

So yes, I am a bit worried as to whether this is really the case and still the case in Eretz Yisrael. Maybe these families were a few minor exceptions, and maybe there are many more black families or individuals who made aliyah without any form of discrimination or humiliation by airport bureaucracy etc tec.
Are black people still being called "Cushi" and "neggeh" on Israeli streets and public places? Should I make aliyah expecting these problems, or can I be rest assured, these things have disappeared?
Yes I know it may seem I come across as a bit negative about the whole issue, but come on, these things have happened, and I pray that they dont anymore.
But I want a true perspective as to what life is like over there for people with darker skin.

Also, what has been job hunting like for you in Israel? What about housing? Were you accepted into diffrent communities as warmly as Ive read other Aliyah candidates report?

Now there might not be any black persons or families in here to answer these my questions. So if anyone else has a professional and informed knowing about these matters and the questions I've asked about the integration of black families (non ethiopian) into Israeli society, please reply.

Many Thanks!

Whoops!
I think I posted in the wrong place, admins please move to the correct area.
Cheers!

First of all if you are Jewish in accordance with HALACHA* and have the documentation to prove it, you should have no problem. But realize even aryan looking blond haired blue eyed swimsuit model, you WILL STILL have a taste of Israeli bureaucracy which is second to none in the world...

As for being accepted in Israel, at least in the RELIGIOUS community, I think you will be better accepted and integrated that you would be in the US. Israel has all sorts of Jews of all colors and cultures, and they are less focused on external appearances and backgrounds.

Can I say you will never get snickered at, or that no one will make snide remarks, or judge you based on your appearance, NO. There are bigots everywhere, but in my experience, Religious Jews in Israel are a lot more open and welcoming than they are in other places and at least in religious circles Ethiopian Jews, or Bnai Menashe from India, have no problems integrating, while they have considerable problems doing so in secular circles....

*If you are NOT halachichally Jewish, ie you were not born to a natural born Jewish mother, or had an ORTHODOX conversion, you are going to have problems in Israel, without any regard to the color of your skin...... The Rabbinut and the government will NOT consider you Jewish, nor will the community at large. And realize there is VERY little representation of NON-Orthodox Judaism in Israel. Most people are "secular" but they are NOT "Reform or Conservative" so if you are looking for such communities you are NOT likely to find them over here...

Wow, that post is fantastically reassuring, thanks so much.
As for finding a shul to attend, i spoke to my synagogue and they have affiliates over there, so they said it shouldn't be hard for me to find a place to worship.
Wow, dude you kinda got me really hyped to go now. In all honesty, I was sotta expecting a discouraging reply.
Wow, this is awsome.

I have just one thing to add to K-Rebbe's reply. In Israel even more so than in the rest of the world people are extremely quick to make judgements based soley on apperances. Stereotyping is the norm here. Therefore don't be suprised if you find everybody assuming you are Ethiopian. That said I don't get the feeling at all that the Ethiopians here are looked down upon or cosidered a low classs by anybody. However there is a tendency for communities to "stick to thier own kind" be it Ethiopian, Russian, American, Charadi, Dati Leumi, etc., etc. etc. and I'm not sure what that will mean for you.

ETA: Also please don't be offended by K-Rebbe current Avatar! He did put it there to offend people but not you. He put it there for the people that were making certain private forums that excluded a certian crowd. He's point is those are as discrimitory and bad as practices in America in the mid 20th century were..

I'll definitely be looking up a mixed community, hopefully it should represent a community of tolerance. If not, then Ill probably reside round the ethiopian communities (the ladies are lovely : ha aha aha ha)!



Yeah I kinda figured that out, funny pic though.. ha aha aha ah! It made me laugh the first time I saw it (looks like Shawn Wayans) (no offense to anyone else)

A friend of mine, who is black and converting Orthodox, had no trouble at all on a Birthright trip she went on after converting reform - except a LOT of guys hitting on her!
As for K-Reb's avatar, I found this site after he wrote an article titled something like "No blacks, Dogs, Or Jews" that A7 picked up a wile back.

Eli

I made aliyah as a single and lived in southern Jerusalem neighborhoods (Baka, Moshava Germanit) that were mostly modern Orthodox/dati leumi and secular. There were a few black people/fellow olim in my social circle and no one batted an eye or asked any questions. They were simply accepted as fellow Jews/immigrants. One was an American guy whose mother was Jewish and father was African American. Another was a French young woman who I always saw in the neighborhood. She appeared to be half African, but seemed Orthodox as she wore long skirts and was just one of the French girls/immigrants in the neighborhood. There was also another African American guy who was religious who wore a kippah who made aliyah and I used to see him at parties often.
I know a few other people who are African Americans and converted, or have one black parent and one Jewish parent, and as long as they are halachically Jewish they have been accepted in the dati leumi community in Israel.

Just to add to what has been said.
I think a Black Jew should have a much easier time fitting in, in Israel, than in an Jewish community abroad.
You have such a mix in Israel that should make it relatively easy.
As has been said there is always going to be those who will look at you in a strange way anywhere you go. But I think that would happen more commonly in the US than in Israel. In the US you really stand out, but in Israel you can really fit in.

When I was in the army there was a commander who made a racist remark to one of the ethiopian soldiers and that commander got kicked out. But the two ethiopian soldiers in my unit were very much liked by everyone in the unit and were respected by all.

Can a mod please move this to the Aliyah forum? Thanks so much!

We know ppl. that adopted 3 Ethiopian kids as babies (19+ yrs. ago)..I went to visit them a few years back and went walking with 2 of the girls. I noticed people staring (and I say 'who cares whom I walk with')..over the years in most situations, I've learned it usually isn't out of malice or disprespect; more like curiosity. Even in such a diverse country as Israel.
GL, let us know how it goes!

I'm a black jew(ess) who made aliyah to Modiin in May of 2007. Our family doesn't really have too many problems. There are a lot of Africans (not just Ethiopians) here, anyway, and they seem more integrated than back in Michigan. My (bi-racial) girls fit in more here than they did back in the states because of all the darker Sephardim.

Most of the (unintentionally, I think) stupid comments come from fellow olim.
Examples:

Comment to my husband- "Are your kids adopted?" "No." "But they look Black?" "So?" "Is your wife Black?"
This is where my husband's sense of humor sometimes comes into play... occasionally he'll say no, just to see the puzzled expression.

South Africans can be annoying sometimes- "I don't get the big deal about being called African-American... I mean, I'm from Africa and if I moved to America, I'd be African-American, right?"
I'm tempted to say, "Yes, and I recommend moving to Detroit and explaining your logic to the average Black citizen. Let's see how far you get before you're seriously injured." In fairness, that comment is usually from someone young enough not to have really seen apartheid in full force.

Usually, Israelis (especially secular ones) are curious, but more about why you converted to Judaism in the first place. I think they'd ask the same question to any convert, you're just more noticeable. I've never been treated differently. In fact, due to a foul-up with my (Ashkenazi) husband's verification of Judaism, My daughters and I are listed as Jews and he's a "citizen". Ironic, huh? Don't refrain from making aliyah over worrying about it. However, if you didn't convert Orthodox, eventually that'll be an issue if you're religious. If you're not religious, I guess it won't matter that much until you get married, have your kids marry, or need to be buried...

Malynnda

No Comment Just don't move to Kiryat Gat. There are plenty Ethiopians but the town isn't that great.