Aliyah question

On the facts you describe, this looks more like a proof issue than a true eligibility issue. Under Israel’s Law of Return, a person born to a Jewish mother falls within the core definition of a Jew, and the official Aliyah guidance also states that proof of connection to Judaism is commonly requested through a letter from an affiliated rabbi, with additional documents sometimes required. The same official guidance says that when the process is done from within Israel, the application is handled directly through the Population and Immigration Authority.

The best next step is to stop dealing with this only informally and demand a precise written explanation of what is allegedly missing. Ask them to state in writing whether they are saying you are not eligible, or whether they are only saying that your current proof package is insufficient. Then submit one organized file showing the full maternal line: your mother’s birth and status documents, proof of her Jewish identity, your birth certificate linking you to her, and, if available, documents showing that your sister and mother were already accepted through the same family line. If any civil records are foreign, make sure they are in the form the authority expects, including apostille and translation where required. Since you have already been in Israel for about three months, you should also deal with your current visitor status without delay, because visitor entry is generally limited to 90 days and an extension requires a separate request.

If they still refuse after you provide a complete documentary chain, then the matter should move to a formal challenge. The Israeli government provides an appeal route against Population and Immigration Authority decisions regarding entry, stay or residency, and the Appeals Tribunal is the body that conducts judicial review over Population and Immigration Authority decisions.

In practical terms, the file now needs to be handled as an evidentiary and procedural case, not as a casual request at the counter. A lawyer dealing with Israeli immigration and Aliyah matters should review the exact wording of the refusal or deficiency notice, prepare the evidence package in the format the authority expects, and, if necessary, file the appeal immediately.