Welcome to Israel 2
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Welcome to Israel 2 ברוכים הבאים הביתה !Welcome Home I am really excited to welcome you to Israel on behalf of Telfed – The South African Zionist Federation (Israel). Being an Olah myself I know that Contents: the first few days and weeks after your arrival can tend to be a bit 3 > Telfed Services overwhelming. You have landed in a different environment to what 4 > First Steps in Israel you may be used to – a new language, new home, neighbourhood, 9 > Olim Rights and Benefits shopping, schools, culture – the list is endless. 11 > Driver’s License You have, however, chosen to come and live in a wonderful, vibrant 14 > Telfed Regional Volunteers and dynamic country. Remember that Telfed is here to help you make 16 > Municipality Project Directors for New Olim your landing as soft as possible. We have a wide range of services and a dedicated, highly professional staff supported by many volunteers. We will certainly 18 > Emergency Preparedness do our utmost to make your absorption as smooth as possible so please reach out 19 > Glossary of Terms to us with any questions. Telfed has come a long way from helping those brave Southern African soldiers who came to volunteer in the War of Independence in 1948. Over the past 70 years we have evolved and adapted to the various needs of the Southern African community in Israel and today we take great pride in being one of the most productive and Telfed | 09 7907800 active Aliyah support organizations in Israel, helping with the absorption of Olim from Southern Africa as well as Australia. [email protected] www.telfed.org.il We look forward to welcoming you to our Telfed family and wish you Follow us on Facebook (Telfed) every success in your Aliyah. and Instagram (telfed_israel) With warm regards and wishing you the best of luck. בהצלחה! Batya Shmukler Chairman 3 TELFED - THE SOUTH AFRICAN ZIONIST FEDERATION (ISRAEL) SERVICES IMMIGRATION (ALIYAH): Each year, Telfed welcomes approximately crisis. One-off grants from SURF – a special urgent relief fund, can be 350 new immigrants (Olim) from South Africa and approximately 175 provided at times of crisis. Olim from Australia. A Telfed representative meets new Olim at Ben Contact: Ariela Siegel / [email protected] / 09-7907821. Gurion airport (Sundays-Thursdays, 6:00-22:00, excluding the Sabbath and Jewish Festivals) and guides them through their first steps of their ESP (ENDOWMENTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, PRAS): Aliyah. SASI (South Africans Studying in Israel) provides financial support to Southern African students coming to study in Israel in English or ABSORPTION (KLITA): Telfed’s Aliyah & Klita advisor assists both Hebrew, on a student visa (i.e. there is no requirement to make Aliyah). prospective and new Olim navigate the Israeli bureaucracy, offers SASI students are eligible to apply for needs-based accommodation advice, support and guidance and answers any questions that may arise. grants and scholarships, access to ulpan classes, cultural events and Contact: Daniela Shapira / [email protected] / 09-7907804. guidance from Telfed’s professional staff. Contact: Simone Pikas / [email protected] / 09-7907811. EMPLOYMENT: Telfed has an employment division, staffed by two highly trained professionals. They advise prospective and new Olim on PRAS scholarships are awarded to students who commit 94 hours of their employment prospects, how to get recognition from professional community service during the academic year to help absorb new Olim. authorities and ensure that CVs are acceptable to potential employers Assistance is given either to Oleh adults, those with special needs, in Israel. They also organize workshops and seminars and with Telfed’s the elderly or Oleh children by providing social activities, Hebrew Mentoring Programme and pair jobseekers with professionals in their conversation, help with homework, etc. field who offer information and advice. Annual scholarships are awarded to over 500 Southern African/ Contact: Yael Strausz / [email protected] / 09-7907815 Australian Olim and Israeli students in financial need. The funds are or Michal Merten / [email protected] provided by over 100 philanthropists and benefactors who entrust Telfed to manage their trust funds or family foundations. HOUSING: Telfed’s Housing Project provides 105 below-market-rate Contact: [email protected] / 09-7907817. rental apartments to Olim, for up to 3 years. The buildings are located in Ra’anana and in Tel Aviv. Contact: Dafna Rosenfeld / [email protected] / 09-7907808. SOCIAL WELFARE: Telfed has a full-time social worker who attends to the needs of the community, new and veteran, young or old. Ariela offers face-to-face and over the phone counseling sessions, offering guidance both pre-Aliyah and after. At present, over 400 Southern Africans living in Israel are receiving financial assistance from Telfed either on a monthly or one-time basis to get them through a financial 4 EVENTS AND VOLUNTEERING: In keeping with the tradition of taking First Steps in Israel care of one another, Telfed has a dedicated staff member who works משרד הפנים – with an enthusiastic committee of volunteers to organize countrywide 1. Misrad Hapnim events. The volunteers work hand in hand with Telfed’s Events In general, all Olim Chadashim (new immigrants) are processed by Committee to organize get-togethers, lectures and social events on a Misrad Hapnim (Ministry of Interior) at the airport and given a temporary regular basis. 24 regional committees, assisted by approximately 250 Teudat Zehut. This is valid for 3 months. You will need to make an volunteers, are ready to welcome and absorb new Olim in cities and appointment with Misrad Hapnim in order to apply for a permanent smaller towns around Israel. Teudat Zehut (ID document). You can do so by going online at https:// Contact: Aviva Tal-Ohr / [email protected] / 09-7907805. myvisit.com/#!/home/provider/56 (this is in Hebrew) or by calling *3450. If you schedule an appointment for 3 months after your Aliyah date, you will be able to apply for an Israeli passport at the same time. If you are a Katin Chozer, Ezrach Oleh, former A-1 via holder, Oleh B’Shenit or Oleh Gorer Zakaut you will not be processed at the airport and will have to go to your local branch of Misrad Hapnim to apply for your Teudat Zehut. Most branches require you to schedule an appointment online (see above). Please bring with you: Teudat Oleh (Oleh booklet). LONE SOLDIERS: Lone Soldiers receive assistance, guidance, gifts Passports of all family members (from country of origin). and access to host families. Telfed organizes Lone Soldier events each 2 identical passport pictures for all adults over the age of 16. year and the Lone Soldiers Project in memory of Susan Sharon was The Civil Marriage / Divorce / Death of Spouse certificate with Apostille established to assist Lone Soldiers in their transition to civilian life after stamp. (Ishur Yahadut – אישור יהדות) – completing their army service. The original Proof of Judaism Contact: Daniela Shapira / [email protected] / 09-7907804 Conversion Papers (for converts of Judaism, if applicable) or WhatsApp 058-6608048. Birth certificates for all family members. Document received from Misrad Haklita (Ministry of Absorption) at the COMMUNITY AWARENESS: Telfed keeps its 25,000-strong community airport. You will need to have a Teudat Zehut before you can take any of abreast with news through our print magazine and by maintaining a the other steps! (If you are making Aliyah within Israel, you will also need website, Facebook and LinkedIn page, and sending monthly email a police clearance with an Apostille stamp.) newsletters. To subscribe, please contact: [email protected] 09-7907801| You are invited to share photos of your Aliyah journey with 2. Opening a Bank Account us on Facebook and Instagram (#telfed). To open a bank account, both spouses must be present. Married Olim Telfed website: www.telfed.org.il have to open a joint account in order to receive Sal Klita payments 5 (Absorption Basket) as a family. Make a small deposit when you open has to pay into Bituach Leumi each month. If you are employed, your the bank account as Misrad Haklita cannot transfer Sal Klita payments employer deducts the payment from your salary and pays Bituach to an inactive account. Leumi on your behalf (noted on your salary slip). If you are unemployed What to bring: or self-employed, you need to set up an account directly with Bituach Teudat Zehut and Teudat Oleh. Leumi. As an Oleh you do not need to pay Bituach Leumi during the Passport (from country of origin). first 6 months if you are unemployed during at time. If you are still not Cash, credit card or check to make a deposit into your new account. working after 6 months you can ask Misrad Haklita for “Dmei Kiyum” You will receive: which is an additional 6 months’ worth of financial assistance, during Bank account number. which time you also do not need to pay Bituach Leumi. After you have Instructions for online banking. been in Israel for one year, you will have to pay Bituach Leumi – either Opening statement with your bank account number and branch details through your employer or directly yourself. If you are a Pensioner, you – you will need this to arrange Sal Klita payments with Misrad Haklita. get the basic level of health coverage for free for 6 months, after which you need to go to Bituach Leumi to open an account with them. קופת חולים – (Kupat Cholim (Health Fund .3 משרד העלייה והקליטה – Israel has four state-mandated health care organizations, Kupot Cholim, 5. Misrad Ha’aliyah V’haklita that offer health care services for Israeli citizens.