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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Russians search for Jewish roots to flee Putin’s army draft for Israel |
| 2022-10-12 |
| [IsraelTimes] Genealogists trace Jewish ancestry for Russians seeking move to Israel and private agencies pop up to facilitate emigration as tens of thousands run from Ukraine mobilization. Many have scrambled to find their Jewish roots to open up the doors to Israel. Under Israel’s Law of Return, anyone with at least one Jewish grandparent is eligible for Israeli citizenship, as are people who convert to Judaism. More than one million of Israel’s 9.4 million residents have roots in the former Soviet Union. Israel has said immigration applications from Russia and Ukraine have tripled since the conflict started. The Central Bureau of Statistics counted 20,000 arrivals from Russia and more than 12,000 from Ukraine since the end of February. Faced with an avalanche of departures, Russia in July ordered the dissolution of the Jewish Agency, which helps Jews emigrate, accusing it of breaking the law. The case sparked a major diplomatic crisis with Israel and is still unresolved. Some Russian celebrities — including Russia’s pop queen Alla Pugacheva and her comedian husband Maxim Galkin — have left for Israel. The announcement of a chaotic and often random mobilization led to a new exodus, with tens of thousands flocking to the borders of Georgia and Kazakhstan for weeks. In a sign of just how many are choosing Israel, five new private agencies have opened to help Russians emigrate. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #2 Based on historical trends, probably about half will go back after things settle down at home, or go on to the West. Many do not deal well with Israel’s different language and culture, not to mention climate. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2022-10-12 11:30 |
| #1 Офигеть! Just when I needed it, like abra-fuckin'-cadabra! What do I find in my attic? Gramma's Jew candelabra! My bag're packed, and I am jacked. Fake papers will show I'm a Sabra. |
| Posted by: Dron66046 2022-10-12 09:19 |