How WRAI helped Braelee Albert make Aliyah on time

!Disclaimer: All personal details including names, dates, cities, and the sequence of events have been partially modified to protect confidentiality. The story is based on a real repatriation process and the experience of a specific family but represents a composite narrative typical for WRAI clients.

How It Began

The story began not with the athlete himself, but with his father — Craig Albert, a U.S. citizen determined to help his 23-year-old son, Braelee, continue his professional basketball career in Israel. Craig had long envisioned Israel as the next step in his son’s journey — both athletically and personally. However, while Braelee focused on his game and upcoming season, Craig took full responsibility for navigating the complex process of repatriation.

When he first contacted our office, Craig was clear and concise: his son had a professional contract waiting in Israel, but there were no supporting documents to confirm Jewish ancestry — only a U.S. passport and a birth certificate. The question was to understand whether Aliyah is possible and, if so, how to make it happen within just a few months.

From the first consultation, it was evident that the case would require not just knowledge of the Law of Return, but also persistence, precision, and constant coordination. Craig stayed closely involved in every stage, and our Client Journey Manager, Aleksandr Zaikman, became his primary point of contact — ensuring that all communication with Nefesh B’Nefesh and relevant authorities was handled seamlessly through our office.

Despite the tight deadlines and missing records, the goal was clear: help Braelee arrive in Israel on time to begin his season with his new life, and new citizenship, waiting for him.

Family story (the story behind repatriation)

When the time came to prove Jewish ancestry, both parents became deeply involved. To build a credible and complete case, we needed to go beyond standard records. Braelee’s relatives provided information about their parents and grandparents, helping us trace the family’s roots several generations back.

During this process, Craig experienced a meaningful moment of rediscovery — the local synagogue located records of his Bar Mitzvah, which he hadn’t seen in decades. He shared the news with genuine excitement, as a reconnection with a part of his own story that had been waiting to be found. Braelee in his letter to the committee wrote with sincerity and conviction:

He also included his motivation to make Aliyah:

Throughout the process, what stood out most was the family’s unity and mutual support. Craig’s persistence, the mother’s quiet involvement, and Braelee’s faith and purpose all came together to form a compelling, heartfelt story — one that went far beyond documents and official approvals.

The Challenge

From the very beginning, this case stood out as unusually complex. When the Alberts first contacted us, there were almost no documents confirming Jewish ancestry. That meant our team had to start the process entirely from scratch, building a legitimate case for repatriation step-by-step. The contract and all communication were handled not by Braelee himself, but by his father, Craig Albert — a determined and protective parent, who wanted his son to fulfill his dream of playing professional basketball in Israel. Craig was deeply involved and highly detail-oriented, but also cautious and demanding.

Three letters from the rabbi

The lack of documentary proof of Jewish heritage soon became the main obstacle. The first rabbinical letter we obtained was rejected by Nefesh B’Nefesh as insufficient. A second letter was secured from another rabbi, stating that Braelee’s mother was Jewish but this statement prompted an immediate request for additional evidence that simply did not exist. What followed were Zoom calls with the mother, detailed written explanations drafted by Aleksandr on behalf of the family, and continuous correspondence with Nefesh B’Nefesh to clarify every nuance of lineage and conversion.

Timeline of the repatriation process

• The process officially began in May 2025, just as we were uploading the core set of documents, the Nefesh B’Nefesh website suddenly went down for several days. Fortunately, this technical issue didn’t slow the process — we had already established direct communication channels with their team, so progress continued seamlessly behind the scenes.
• By June, communication with rabbis and officials intensified. We secured and revised multiple letters confirming Jewish maternal ancestry — each one reviewed, questioned, and refined to meet every possible standard.
• On July 30, the complete file was finally submitted to the Eligibility Department — the critical stage that determines whether an applicant qualifies under Israel’s Law of Return. Normally, this review takes about two weeks, followed by visa processing through the Israeli consulate, which adds another 10 business days.
• But this case was far from ordinary. On August 6, the Eligibility Department unexpectedly requested additional documents. The family happened to be away at the time, with no one at home to scan or send the papers. Even so, we stepped in immediately — guiding them remotely and ensuring every file reached the department within hours.
• Meanwhile, time was running out. Braelee’s professional basketball contract in Israel was set to begin in late August, and his flight from Los Angeles was already booked for August 18. For several tense days, we awaited the final word. Then, just a weekend before the departure, the approval arrived — a moment of relief and triumph after weeks of uncertainty.
• Still, one major hurdle remained: obtaining the actual visa in time. Normally, appointments at the consulate are booked weeks in advance. Yet through direct outreach and persistent coordination with Nefesh B’Nefesh and consular staff, Aleksandr Zaikman managed to secure an emergency morning slot on August 18 itself.

In the morning Braelee received his visa. Same day in the afternoon, he boarded his flight to Israel — on schedule, approved, and ready to begin his new life.

Our Process

Aleksandr Zaikman, the Client Journey Manager overseeing the case, coordinated every step personally:

“We began with almost no paperwork, so I had to build the case from the ground up. I stayed in contact with Braelee’s father (including weekends) to make sure no time was lost. All interactions with Nefesh B’Nefesh and other institutions were centrally coordinated through our office, allowing the family to stay focused on preparing for their move while we managed the procedural side with precision and care.”

An unexpected delay during the Aliyah interview almost put at risk the entire timeline. With August holidays approaching and flights booked, Aleksandr pushed for daily updates from NBN and secured a third rabbinical letter to satisfy all requirements. Two days before Braelee’s scheduled flight, the visa was finally approved — but there were no open appointment slots. Aleksandr contacted every NBN representative connected to the file, requesting an emergency solution. That same morning, Braelee received his visa. By the afternoon, he was already boarding his flight to Israel.

The Outcome of this case

Upon arrival, Braelee was greeted by our local representative, who guided him through the final steps at the Ministry of Interior to receive his Israeli ID and complete registration. Despite being handed over to a new manager for in-country support, Braelee and his family continued to reach out to Aleksandr Zaikman, who had become their trusted point of contact throughout the process.

Today, Braelee successfully plays professional basketball in Israel, combining his passion for sports with a deeper connection to his Jewish heritage and new citizenship. Here you can watch his short review:

His case became a meaningful reminder for our team that every successful Aliyah is more than paperwork — it’s a personal journey filled with emotion, trust, and perseverance.

Beyond Bureaucracy — True Partnership

At WRAI, we believe that repatriation is not just about obtaining citizenship; it’s about guiding a person and their family through one of the most important transitions in life. This case vividly demonstrates that philosophy. From the very first call, Craig Albert knew he needed more than consultants — he needed partners who would take responsibility, handle communications with multiple authorities, and keep the process moving even when the offices were closed for holidays.

Our role went far beyond form submission. We became the family’s link to Nefesh B’Nefesh, rabbinical institutions, and government offices — coordinating everything behind the scenes while keeping Craig informed every step of the way. We answered messages on weekends, worked through Passover, and handled urgent correspondence during the August vacation period, ensuring nothing stalled the progress.

The success of this case came not from luck, but from persistence, trust, and genuine care. Even after Braelee’s arrival in Israel, our communication didn’t stop — it transformed into long-term support, helping the family navigate life in a new country. For us, that’s what “client service” truly means: to stand beside each client until the goal is reached — and beyond.

Behind Every Success — a Team That Never Stops

While this story highlights the dedication and persistence of Aleksandr Zaikman, it represents the collective effort of many people within WRAI who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make complex repatriation processes possible.

Every successful Aliyah begins with far more than a single consultation — it’s a coordinated operation involving our document specialists, legal advisors, genealogical researchers, rabbinical communication, and local representatives in Israel. Each of them plays a crucial role in transforming uncertainty into clarity, and paperwork into a new beginning. For Braelee Albert’s family, that meant:

Throughout this case, communication between our international offices never stopped. When the U.S. side was asleep, our Israeli team was already preparing updates for the next day. This seamless collaboration is what allowed the entire process to stay on track and end successfully — with Braelee boarding his flight to Israel on time, fully approved, and ready to start his new chapter.

At WRAI, we take pride in the quiet strength of our teamwork. Clients often see only one person — their assigned manager — but behind that individual stands an entire network of professionals who share a single goal: to make each client’s repatriation story smooth, dignified, and truly life-changing. Because at WRAI, we don’t just process applications — we guide people home.