Aliyah

Aliyah (Hebrew: ?????; "ascent") is a term widely used to mean Jewish immigration to the Land of Israel (and since its establishment in 1948, the State of Israel). The opposite action, Jewish emigration away from Israel, is called Yerida (descent).

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Aliyah is an important Jewish cultural concept and a fundamental concept of Zionism that is enshrined in Israel's Law of Return, which permits any Jew the legal right to assisted immigration and settlement in Israel, as well as automatic Israeli citizenship. A Jew who makes aliyah is called an oleh (m. singluar) or olah (f. singular), the plural is olim.

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As a concept of Jewish "return" to the Promised land (as interpreted from the Bible to have been promised by God to the descendants of the Hebrew patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), aliyah is greatly espoused by most, though not by all, Jews.

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In Zionist history, different waves of aliyah, beginning with the arrival of the Biluim from Russia in 1882, are known as aliyot (the plural of aliyah). These aliyot are often categorized by date and the country of origin of the immigrants.

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Aliyah also refers, in synagogue life, to the honor of being "called up" to read a section of the Torah during a service. For example, the relevant section of the Torah reading for each shabbat is divided into seven aliyot.

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Hebrew: The word Hebrew can variously mean:...

Jew: The word Jew (Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity; and often a combination of these attributes....

Land of Israel: The Land of Israel (Hebrew: ארץ ישראל Eretz Yisrael) is the land that made up the ancient Jewish Kingdoms of Israel and Judah. The term has been used by Jews and Christians throughout history. Note that the term "State of Israel" in contrast denotes a ...