# Am I an Israeli? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 1, 2001, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-an-israeli/74508 "2001-08-01T18:22:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-an-israeli/74508/1 "2001-08-01T18:22:47Z")
What are the conditions set forth in the “Law of Return,” which extends Israeli citizenship to those it defines as Jews? If it turns out I’m eligible, what’s the process for claiming citizenship, and what are the implications for my current (United States) citizenship were I to claim it? ---
**Author:** ![IzzyR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2acd7d/32.png) [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-an-israeli/74508/2 "2001-08-01T19:50:01Z")
It doesn’t extend automatic citizenship - it just makes you eligible to enter the country and become one. You have to show up, anounce your desire to be a citizen, fill out papers etc. Possibly some other declaration may be required. After that you become subject to military service. You can be a dual citizen. ---
**Author:** ![Spritle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Spritle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spritle)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-an-israeli/74508/3 "2001-08-01T20:00:25Z")
Can you say [“Samuel Sheinbein”](http://www-tech.mit.edu/V119/N31/Israel-Palestine.31w.html)? (sorry about the drive-by post) ---
**Author:** ![curwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@curwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curwin)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-an-israeli/74508/4 "2001-08-02T15:23:59Z")
You can go through the bureaucratic process either abroad or in Israel. (The advantage from doing it from abroad is that the Jewish Agency will pay for your flight.) You need to fill out lots of forms, show proof of Jewishness (usually in the form of a letter from a recognized Rabbi or a marriage certificate / ketuba). As was mentioned, there are no problems with dual citizenship. You can read more about it at: [http://www.wzo.org.il/aliyah/index.html](http://www.wzo.org.il/aliyah/index.html) (The process of moving to Israel is called “Aliya”, from “going up” in Hebrew). ---
**Author:** ![IzzyR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2acd7d/32.png) [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-an-israeli/74508/5 "2001-08-02T15:37:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Spritle \* > \*\*Can you say [“Samuel Sheinbein”](http://www-tech.mit.edu/V119/N31/Israel-Palestine.31w.html)? > > (sorry about the drive-by post) \*\* This particular drive-by post may be a misleading one. Samuel Scheinbein did not claim Israeli citizenship based on the Law of Return, but rather on the fact that his father was an Israeli citizen. [Meyer Lansky](http://www.jewishaz.com/jewishnews/990305/lansky.shtml) might be more what you are looking for. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-an-israeli/74508/6 "2001-08-02T17:24:10Z")
Odd, the review you linked to makes no mention of Lansky being the inspiration for the character Hyman Roth in the _Godfather: Part II_. You’d think that would be significant.