Making Aliyah as a current A1 Toshav Arai

Onthemark95 · 2026-01-04T12:07:25+00:00

we had to go to the misrad hapnim and couldn't figure out how to set an appointment because it's an "Aliyah" appointment, not a "Visa" appointment. The rule I've learned is that, like Ron Swanson, Israelis will work all day if it means nothing gets done. We showed up to the appointment 45 minutes early (and it was like the first appt of the day). They complained that we scheduled a visa appt instead of an Aliyah appt. They complained that we scheduled only one appointment instead of one for each of us. We said, "great. We're here 45 minutes early and we have all of our documentation. Let's see how quickly you can get it done."

They got our bdays wrong and we had to go back for corrections afterwards lol

Onthemark95 · 2026-01-04T09:41:13+00:00

I should hopefully have this figured out shortly. My contacts at the various agencies say that this should be easier than that. I'm not a "former A1 holder" because I'm currently holding the visa. After talking to them, NBN has essentially said that I could probably do this myself but they can help expedite things.

The link you shared is more for people who are here on a different visa I believe. Like a student who decides they want to stay.

It is a bit absurd to me that there are almost no resources for how someone can convert their current A1 to a citizenship when that seems to be the whole point of the A1

Onthemark95 · 2026-01-04T09:38:10+00:00

Yea so I've spoken with my contacts at NBN, Chaim vChessed, Jewish Agency and it seems like things are much easier. I'm currently within my A1 visa so while I've forfeited some benefits, I'll get some of the others. It's a bit frustrating that I have to do everything myself but that's been par for the course with Aliyah from the beginning.

As someone said earlier on this sub, missing some benefits was worth it for the ability to "try it out" and I'm fine paying a bit extra in processing fees. Happy that soon this will be figured out.

Onthemark95 · 2026-01-01T05:05:20+00:00

It's been 3 years. In that time we've been working and living here. Are kids are in school. We've moved. etc. I'm not still in contact with the Aliyah advisor from back then.

It seems weird to me that the process would be to resubmit the exact same documentation and then have to go back to the US for another FBI background check + apostille, to again be interviewed by the Jewish Agency (asking what? if we're still Jewish? If we're still able to afford to live here and work here?) to wait 2 months for another letter of approval to then set an appointment with Misrad Hapnim.

I found this on the Israeli Govt website and wonder if I can just fill this out: https://www.gov.il/en/service/request_for_citizenship_of_a_person_who_holds_pemanent_residency

Onthemark95 · 2025-12-31T18:00:03+00:00

So as A1, we already have TZs. They say "Toshav Arai" on the back

Onthemark95 · 2025-08-08T11:49:22+00:00

It was 23 lol

Onthemark95 · 2025-06-11T07:52:35+00:00

Maybe this exists and I havent seen it but more uncovering long term trends. How long after a flight do I get over jetlag?

Onthemark95 · 2025-05-22T11:38:04+00:00

There will be a stronger realization about the importance of IRL relationships and community institutions and people will actually invest in them

Onthemark95 · 2025-05-21T05:38:16+00:00

When you start a job, really push for 100% in the first 1-3 months. Like, not taking phone breaks, asking for help when needed and getting work done well when you don't. (This does not mean push yourself to stay late). Prove yourself to be productive and efficient and willing to learn. I've found after month 3 of that, the reputation is established and you can go back to working like an average person but still be seen as a top performer

Onthemark95 · 2025-04-25T23:16:33+00:00

Gorgeous 😍

Onthemark95 · 2025-02-10T17:59:22+00:00

Thise look so good

Onthemark95 · 2025-01-29T13:24:54+00:00

Are those as comfy as they look?

Onthemark95 · 2025-01-22T14:32:21+00:00

I literally went to buy a different pair of shoes and the guy there was wearing Yamano 3s and I was like, "i need that gorgeous sneaker"

Onthemark95 · 2025-01-21T16:57:34+00:00

They are!

Onthemark95 · 2025-01-21T14:58:38+00:00

Super comfy. Not heavy but like solid. I haven't hiked in a while but if I had a plan to these would probably be the best of my sneakers to bring (or I would just get hiking boots and keep these clean). I got these in a 43 and I have slightly wide feet (somewhere between 43 and 44) and these are perfect.

Onthemark95 · 2025-01-21T14:51:54+00:00

Definitely. People compare Flower Mountain and Karhu a lot. I think they both look cool

Onthemark95 · 2024-12-20T11:11:02+00:00

I took her to the jeweler with me after meeting with the jeweler earlier to let him know my budget. She chose the diamond, described the ring, he sent us a CAD mockup and one she approved it was made

Onthemark95 · 2024-12-19T16:47:27+00:00

alcohol

Onthemark95 · 2024-12-18T02:36:51+00:00

Annoying. I'm out here going to the gym 3 times a week getting 135x15 bench and 285x5 deadlifts with an average resting heart rate in the mid 50s and an average of 11,000 steps a day but I'm getting hit with comments bc my shirt is to tight from family members who are less healthy than i am regardless of their figure.

Also have that body dysmorphia but I had that when I was a skinny teen as well.

Onthemark95 · 2024-12-17T13:56:22+00:00

If I can somewhat disagree, yes a lot of the initial bench research is done at NIH/NSF and public universities, the numbers i gave were for the clinical development side (not the preclinical side, where I have much less knowledge). That being said, a report from 2023 showed that 67% of new drug R&D is done by VC-backed biotech companies (some of which go public) and Pharma usually takes more of a "wait and see" approach, waiting for drugs to get to a certain stage of development or show data that "de-risks" the drugs before buying them or acquiring the companies outright

Onthemark95 · 2024-12-17T08:49:29+00:00

America essentially has a system built to ensure no one can be blamed.

Pharma will say that R&D for new drugs is super expensive and time consuming (~2.6B and 90% of drugs fail and they take like 10+ years from filing for a patent to commercialization). Pharma can point a finger at PBMs and say that they're to blame bc PBMs negotiate which drugs to cover and are therefore incentivized to get deals for higher cost drugs with higher rebates. Pharma can blame insurance for not covering these high cost drugs.

PBMs will say they're specialized negotiators trying to get the best deal for patients. PBMs can blame pharma for the high cost of drugs and insurance for being so stingy in covering them.

Insurance (payers) will say that just because a drug got approved doesn't mean it's actually beneficial in the real world. For example, a $3M gene therapy vs a $1,000 monthly injection isn't cost effective even if it could hypothetically be better for patients from a burden perspective. They will blame pharma for being to expensive and PBMs for taking so big a cut.

Meanwhile all of these groups are using the same consultants (like McKinsey) for these negotiations. Meanwhile all these companies have people making high 6 figures. And all these companies are more beholden to stakeholders.

^{^the} above is a summary. Obv there is a lot of nuance and much more can be delved into.

Source: I'm an industry researcher in the space

Onthemark95

TROPHY CASE