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It’s official!
Twenty-four Naale 12th graders at Meir Shfeyah Youth Aliyah Village are now Israeli citizens.
After several delays due to Israel’s war with Iran, the students were granted their Israeli citizenship with brand-new ID cards at the Ministry of Interior in Hadera.
Mark came to Israel alone four years ago from Belarus through the Naale program. He was a young boy needing to navigate a new country and language.
“The beginning was challenging, but the journey I’ve gone through taught me to be independent and self-confident,” said Mark. “I learned Hebrew, made lifelong friends and truly began to feel at home here.”
Receiving his Israeli citizenship, he said, is “a very exciting full-circle moment and an important step in my life. I am happy with the journey I have taken and proud to be part of this country.”
“I arrived in Israel on March 22, 2022, on my own from Ukraine due to the war that began there, with many fears but also with great hope in my heart,” said Margarita.
“At Meir Shfeyah Youth Village, I found a warm home and caring staff that taught me everything about the language, culture and our traditions. Today, April 15, 2026, my friends and I have the honor of officially receiving our Israeli citizenship, and it is an exciting moment like nothing we have ever experienced. After four years of growth, I feel mature, responsible and more ready than ever for an independent life as a proud citizen. Thank you to everyone who accompanied me on this incredible journey — today I am finally, truly home.”
The word "Naale" is an acronym for the Hebrew words that translate to "youth making aliyah before their parents." Naale students come from all over the world, most from Russia, Ukraine and the surrounding countries. At Meir Shfeyah, some students are South American and French. These are students who choose to come to Israel on their own to complete their education at a youth village. Many of them stay in Israel, serve in the IDF and become full citizens.
