We are proposing to immigrate to the Jewish Autonomous Oblast in Russia. The concept of this proposal derives from the implied duty of Jews in diaspora to immigrate, make “Aliyah” to the State of Israel. (Literally “Aliyah” means ascension. To make “Aliyah” is to ascend to the Promised Land).

In 1934 Joseph Stalin created the Jewish Autonomous Oblast (JAO) in the far eastern region of the country. Stalin believed that creating a Jewish state in the Soviet Union would have provided Soviet Jews with an alternative to the desire to move to Palestine and would have redirected their loyalty to the Soviet state.

In 1979 the parents of Nathaniel went in search of a communal Jewish lifestyle. They moved to the State of Israel; Nathaniel was four years old. They lived on a kibbutz, a secular Jewish agricultural socialist settlement for nine years and fulfilled their duty to populate the State of Israel.

The conceptual premise of the work is that we would like to fulfill our duty as Jews much like Nathaniel’s parents did, however, given the political situation in the State of Israelwe would like to immigrate to the other Jewish homeland, in Russia.

We will stage an “Aliyah” to the JAO. We will pursue the promise of building a Jewish homeland. We will make the rigorous voyage across Russia to arrive in the distant region. Upon arrival we will claim the promised parcel of land. Once we have secured a parcel of land we will cultivate it and seek our Jewish community.