Hi, I would like some advice if possible.

Me, my Israeli husband and our baby son are thinking of moving to Israel. For a year at first and if I feel comfortable then we will stay. I am a British secular Jew and we are currently living in London but would like to leave the UK. I do not want to officially make aliyah so I suppose I would be classed as a temporary resident and if I decide to stay then a permanent resident. I only want to make aliyah after a few years if we will stay in Israel.

Therefore, I would like to know if I will be eligibile for any rights or help with moving to Israel as we would need to ship all our furniture over there, buy a car etc. I think you have to be an olim to get these benefits. Are there any forums or websites that would be able to give me advice or let me know what rights I would have as this status?

Also, if I did 'make aliyah' but hten left after a year, would I have to pay back all the grants/discounts I had been given or is this not repayable?

Would appreciate any decent replies.

Thanks.

dinodski,

One of your "rights" is called "Sal Klita" (or Absorption Basket) - it's cash with the amount depending on several factors including family status. In any case I believe if you are living in Israel 18 months out of 36 months (I could be wrong as to these exact numbers) you forfeit this right. The idea is the money is meant to help you stay in Israel and if you demonstrated that you are able to live in Israel without it then it seems you don't need it.

Other rights - such as custom-free lifts, cheaper housing loans, health care, etc. will only start once you declare Aliyah. I don't believe they are affected by staying in Israel before you made Aliyah.

I suggest you contact Nefesh B'Nefesh. There are loads of resources on their website: www.nbn.org.il

They may also give you a financial grant (but you can only keep it if you stay in Israel for at least 3 years I believe.)

Good luck!

Or if you live in Israel for 3 years in a 7 year period.

You might want to consider coming in on an A1 Visa, particularly if you want work while you are here. Check with the Israeli Consulate. Coming in as an A1 offers some similar benefits (Tax free Imports) but not others (Sal Klita/Free Ulpan)

If you come here (under any visa) and then make Aliya, the time you are here can be deducted from the time limits for other benefits. As an example, an Oleh Hadash has 3 years to make 3 tax-free imports, however if you're here for 1 year as a tourist, and then make Aliya, you will only have 2 years.

Looking at it the other way, lets say that you come as Olim, and then leave, you don't have to pay back any government monies that you have received, although anything brought in or bought with rights needs to leave with you, or needs to have depreciated taxes paid. You should check with Meches and Misrad HaKlita before you leave to let them know you are leaving and "freeze" your rights. That will make it easier should you decide to return down the line. Any rights you use will be considered used, and any not used will be available for the remainder of the time that was left before freezing the rights.

If you get private money (Like an NBN grant) you need to check with them as to their commitments/obligations.

As an aside, most people that I know who have had a succesful Klita (absorbtion) agree that 3 years is the test. The first 3 years are the most brutal, but if you get past that, you're likely here to stay. 1 year will probably not be enough time to assimilate. Consider the most difficult thing you have ever done in your life, and multiply it by 100, and that is Aliya and Klita.