Many in Israel and around the world have closely followed the case of Yosef Kibita, a Ugandan Jew who has been waging an intense legal struggle to make Aliyah since 2018. Yosef, who has lived on the Masorti-affiliated Kibbutz Ketura in the Negev since moving to Israel, has faced tremendous opposition from the Interior Ministry. Yosef suffered another blow from the Ministry that once again rejected his request to make Aliyah, and a home, in Israel. He now faces deportation, currently expected by the end of 2021.
You can read more about Yosef and his efforts to make Aliyah here.
Yosef, who was already Jewish, was converted again by a Masorti religious court. He did this to comply with an 8-1 decision in March by the Supreme Court, which ruled that Conservative and Reform Conversions in Israel must be recognized for purposes of Aliyah and the Law of Return. Because of Yosef’s long connection to Jewish communal life in Uganda and Israel, the Masorti court did not mandate a new and extended period of study as part of Yosef’s conversion process.
Please consider sending brief and polite email messages to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked, and Immigration and Absorption Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata raising grave concerns about the potential deportation of Yosef Kibita and the government’s failure to recognize Conservative conversions.
Sample language and email addresses are included below.
Email addresses:
On behalf of the Masorti Foundation, and the Masorti Movement in Israel, we thank you for your concern and for any efforts you make on behalf of Yosef Kibita.
Warmly,
Gideon Aronoff
Executive Director