Yad L’Olim is an organization to help non-Hebrew speaking immigrants to have someone to call to help them navigate Israeli bureaucracy. It was established in 2021 by former Knesset member Rabbi Dov Lipman.[1]
| Founded | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Dov Lipman |
| Type | Non-profit |
| Headquarters |  Israel |
| Services | Support for olim |
| Website | yadlolim.org |
History
editElected to the 19th Knesset in 2013, Lipman was the first American-born Knesset member in nearly 30 years.[2] While in the Knesset, he held open office hours for Olim to come and meet with him every Sunday.[3] He continued to do this even when he was no longer in the Knesset.[4]
During the coronavirus when the country’s borders were closed. Lipman was inundated with requests from people to help them enter the country.[5] Once he started receiving hundreds of messages a day from people in over 20 countries, Lipman created an organization with a staff. They succeeded in allowing people to enter Israel in order to celebrate family life cycle events.[6] After a while, the organization branched into other areas such as health, tax and other bureaucratic issues.[7][8] It is now one of the leading advocates for Olim within the Knesset and local municipalities.[9] When October 7 resulted in a spike in Aliyah, Yad L’Olim assisted many of these olim.[10]
Services
editHealth
editIt has a stand alone health care department just to help Olim deal with Israel’s health system. They then subsumed the Shira Pransky Project[11] to bolster their related health offerings.[12] Because of Yad L’Olim, the government now provides health services in hospitals that are offered in English, French, Russian and Amharic.[13]
Education
editThe organization works with the Education Ministry to assist those young students who struggle with Hebrew.[8]
Ukraine War
editThe organization provided support and guidance to Ukrainian olim leaving the Ukraine due to the Russian invasion and helping them open a bank account, find work and a place to live.[14]
Academic Degrees
editThere was an issue with olim having their foreign academic degrees accredited and for professional licenses to be accepted. The organization made this process more streamlined.[15]
References
edit- ↑ "Israel, Yad L'Olim reach breakthrough in healthcare accessibility for olim". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2026-05-03.
- ↑ "Dov Lipman becomes 1st US-born MK in nearly 30 years". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2026-05-03.
- ↑ "American-born MK attuned to Anglos' needs". YNet. Retrieved 2026-05-03.
- ↑ "Former MK Lipman to continue serving Anglos in Knesset". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2026-05-03.
- ↑ "Help! How can I get to Israel for my child's wedding amid COVID-19?". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2026-05-03.
- ↑ "Ayala Laub Waltuch: 'Let Our Parents In'". JewishLink. Retrieved 2026-05-03.
- ↑ "Israel'Superhero in a kippah' fights new aliya policy". South Africa Jewish Report. Retrieved 2026-05-03.
- 1 2 "Israeli immigrant advocacy group Yad L'Olim marks anniversary". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2026-05-03.
- ↑ "Yad LOlim". Chesed Match. Retrieved 2026-05-03.
- ↑ "The Jews flocking to make aliyah after October 7". Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 2026-05-03.
- ↑ "Yad L'Olim teams up with Shira Pransky Project". Israel National News. Retrieved 2026-05-03.
- ↑ "Aliyah shake-up: Yad L'Olim to incorporate the Shira Pransky Project". JNS. Retrieved 2026-05-03.
- ↑ "Israeli hospitals to guarantee new immigrants doctors who speak their language". i24 News. Retrieved 2026-05-03.
- ↑ "What's It Like To Be a Ukrainian Refugee in Israel?". Israel Today. Retrieved 2026-05-03.
- ↑ "Rabbi Dov Lipman: Knesset can finally take care of immigrant issues". Israel National News. Retrieved 2026-05-03.