The Day I Became Israeli – Yaron Butterfield’s blog
The day I became Israeli – Part 1
I had intended to stay for the 3 month Livnot U’Lehibanot program in Tsfat, Israel and then head home to finish my degree. However, when it was over, I suddenly realized I couldn’t leave. I had a rather large family whom I had yet to spend much time with including my grandmother, Hanna, who was not doing well. I really wanted to talk to her in Hebrew as she couldn’t communicate well in English (and I didn’t know Kurdish unfortunately!). I found a kibbutz close to where she lived, Ma’ale Hahamisha – “The Ascent of the Five”. There, I would spend 5 months in the kibbutz ulpan where I’d be working one day in the fields, and learning Hebrew the next. It made sense to visit before committing and so I took the bus up the hill to the kibbutz. I was taken by all the beauty around me. I was especially excited since when I told my parents, my father told me he had been at the same kibbutz! The bus drove away and I suddenly realized I had left my wallet with all my money and cards in the bus!
I managed to get to a phone and called my uncle to pick me up. It was frustrating but thankfully I still had my passport. I had already made arrangements for a week trip to Turkey where I would meet my friends from Livnot, Jen and Max (who eventually got married and made aliyah last year). My family gave me some cash spending money. All I had to do now was to go to the passport office and extend my stay as I was initially allotted 3 months with my Canadian passport. No problem, I thought as I sat in the passport office with so many people around from what seemed like so many different backgrounds. And here I thought Vancouver was so multi-cultural! Finally, it was my turn. The officer looked at my Canadian passport. Then he asked what my mom’s name was. Then, based on her name, he asked if she was Israeli. I said yes but she lives in Canada. I also told him I was born in Canada. He left for a while leaving me to ponder what was taking him so long to came back. He stated that he couldn’t extend my stay as a Canadian. When I asked why, he said because I was Israeli. My mom was…and therefore so was I.
I stormed out in frustration and anger. I called the Canadian Embassy and they told me that there was nothing they could do. I got my photos taken with a big grin and went back to the Israeli Embassy and gave them the photos. I told them that I only had a few days before going to Turkey and was assured that I would receive the passport in time before I go. I’ll never forget the moment I opened the package that arrived at my aunt’s and pulled out my Israeli passport. I felt so happy and proud and I couldn’t stop looking at it! I was Israeli.
Passport photo