The Law of Return was passed in the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) in 1950. It grants every Jew the right to acquire citizenship. Combined with the Nationality law (1952) it results in unique legislation combining nationality, religion and democracy.

In plane words, the Law of Return declares that Israel is not only the home to its citizens, but also for all Jewish people, their decedents, and keens. The basis for this concept is resulting from the goals and purpose for which Israel was established. To be a home for the Jewish people is the ultimate fulfillment of the Zionist vision. Regarding an independent state of Israel as the solution for the Jewish people was recognized by the League of Nations in 1922 and later voted on and accepted by the United Nations in the Partition Plan in 1947.

Eligibility remained a complex issue, as it boils down to the definition of Jew according to the Law of Return. The question “Who Is a Jew” has shaken Israeli Society in the 1960s and 70s, involving subtleties relating to differences between Jewish groups (Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, etc.). When created, the law encompassed Jews only. An amendment from 1970 expanded the eligibility to a child and a grandchild of a Jew, the spouse of a Jew, the spouse of a child of a Jew and the spouse of a grandchild of a Jew.

An extremely rare and perhaps the only case that a Jew was denied his privilege was in 1972, with Meir Lansky, a “retired” Mafia head who sought “righteous retirement in the land of his people”, as stated in one of those days’ newspapers . The minister of Interior at that time, Dr. Joseph Burg refused Lansky’s application for citizenship under the law of Return based on the claws excluding those with a “criminal past likely to endanger the public weal”.

For the curious among us, we chose to offer an opportunity to peek at this famous and controversial law.

http://www.jewishagency.org/JewishAgency/English/Aliyah/Aliyah+Info/The+Law+of+Return

E-H Dictionary

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