The fight for my child's recognition in Israel has already stretched over two years. In this second episode, I dive into the next chapter – traveling back to Israel, facing the legal hurdles, and navigating a system unprepared for someone like me. Challenges, unexpected turns, and difficult choices define this part of my story – but my journey is far from over.

Support the show

When I first arrived in Israel as a mother, I didn't come just to prove my son's right to belong – I came already knowing he was from here. From the very beginning, I told everyone I met that the child was Israeli. Even without a visa for myself and even the court's decision, I chose to live as I his belonging was unquestionable, rooted in him since birth. In this episode, I look back on that first arrival, the courage, the risks, and the quiet defiance of living the truth before it was recognized.

Support the show

Before stepping into my personal story, I take you to the roots of the struggle: the Israeli laws on family and citizenship that shaped every step of my fight. In this episode, I unpack the legal framework, the gaps that leave families in limbo, and the questions those gaps force us to ask.

Why is belonging reduced to paperwork? Who decides if a child is recognized? And what happens when a system built on ancestry cannot handle lives that don’t fit its boxes?

This is the legal prelude — the foundation of my battle for recognition, identity, and a place in Israel.

Support the show