Hanoch Shlomo moved to Israel mere weeks after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. Five years after an ultra-Orthodox conversion, and having worked as a secretary at a rabbinical court back home, he never imagined that a year and a half after arriving in Israel, he would still not have received his citizenship and the social benefits that follow.
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"I converted in 2018," Hanoch said. "I worked, and still work, as the secretary of the rabbinical court in Kyiv."
In March 2022, Shlomo, who has a master's degree in computer science, immigrated to Israel like many fellow countrymen and applied to be recognized as an Israeli citizen.
Video: Pro- and anti-reform protesters pray together at the Western Wall. Credit: Yoni Rikner
After receiving confirmation of his conversion from the chief rabbinate of Israel, Hanoch arrived at the Population and Immigration Authority, where he was told he would receive his citizenship in a month. Nevertheless, a year and a half later, that has not happened.
In the meantime, Hanoch lives in the yeshiva where he studies. Without citizenship, he is not allowed to work or receive national health insurance. He has to pay for expensive private health insurance and once even received humanitarian help from a Jerusalem hospital.
According to data from the Our People organization that supports converts upon arrival in Israel, including Hanoch, there are 150 such cases in bureaucratic limbo in Israel.
Nevertheless, Hanoch tries to stay positive and thanks the people and organizations that help him.
The Population and Immigration Authority replied to an inquiry by Israel Hayom, saying that Hanoch's "application is being processed and he will be updated when a decision is made on his matter."
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