What is an aliya?

Answer 1

Aliyah is a Hebrew word meaning that a Jew is returning home to their land, Israel. Many folks who are Jewish move back to Israel to be close to and live in the center of the Jewish people. I am planning on making Aliyah so I can live in Israel and live out the rest of my life as a Jew living amongst other Jews, where I can have a daily integration with other people who have the same beliefs as I have. It takes months of preparation. Once there, there are classes to take to learn Hebrew. Also, because I have not been an observant Jew, I would want to take classes to learn more about the Jewish faith and begin attending synagogue services and joining in with others for all the Holy Days and celebrations that the Jewish people hold so dear to their hearts. Making Aliyah is the life-long dream of many Jews!!

• Answer 2

"Aliyah" is a Hebrew word that translates as "ascent", "climb", "up-going" etc. A Jew who receives the honor during the Sabbath synagogue service of walking to the reading table and witnessing the reading of a portion of the Torah is "given an Aliyah", and a Jew who migrates to live in Israel "makes aliyah"; ascends. That's the sense in which the word is used to describe emigration to Israel. It really tells you a lot about how such a move is viewed ... so much more than just a physical relocation.

Answer 2

An aliya is, in Judaism, the calling up of someone to the bima - a raised platform in the synagogue - for the reading of the Torah.

Answer 3

"Aliyah" and "An Aliyah" are not the same thing. "Aliyah" means moving to Israel. "An Aliyah" means being called up to the Torah-reading in synagogue services.