Last Updated on November 8, 2021
Moving to Israel or making Aliyah. What is Aliyah?
Hebrew: מהי עלייה לארץ ישראל
What is Aliyah? The word Aliyah literally means to “go up”. It also commonly refers to the process of immigration to Eretz Yisrael – The promised land of Israel.
The word “Aliyah” is also used in reference to Jewish prayer services, where a man is called and “goes up” to read and bless a portion of the Jewish law in the synagogue. We are not going to be discussing that aspect of Aliyah.
If you are reading this article, you are probably considering making Aliyah, moving or relocating to Israel, have just made aliyah to Israel, planning a visit, a pilot trip or are just interested in the culture and Israeli lifestyle.
No matter who you are and what your interest in Israel is, there are a number of aspects, concepts and terminology used when discussing Aliyah and living in Israel. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with these with our dictionary of common words and phrases with Hebrew, English and transliterations.
Aliyah is a long-term process and it is often used in conjunction with the Hebrew word “Klitah” absorption and acculturation. A successful Aliyah means that you have successfully been absorbed, and integrated into Israeli society and life-style. The Ministry of Aliyah and Integration (Heb: Misrad Haklitah) is the government body responsible for overseeing Aliyah in Israel.
When families decide to make Aliyah there is a lot to think about; housing, their children’s education, employment, healthcare, lifestyle changes and more. You can find guidance and information on all these topics under the ‘Aliyah & Relocation‘ section of this website as well as under ‘Lifestyle‘.
When you move to Israel, make Aliyah or relocate for work or study purposes, you will have to learn Hebrew. Your Klitah, integration and absorption will be so much easier when you can communicate with the locals. We’ve got Hebrew learning covered too. You can jump in right now and learn some really useful Hebrew terms
How to make Aliyah
The first step to making Aliyah to Israel is contacting the Jewish Agency, the Israel Embassy in your country, Nefesh B’Nefesh organization in the USA or UK, or anyone of the other Aliyah organizations or Jewish Federations in your home country and they will guide you and put you in touch with the right people.
If you’d like to connect with other like-minded English speakers who have made the big move, we invite you to join our Facebook groups: Anglo-List and Tel Aviv Anglos, where you are welcome to ask questions and can expect to get loads of advice.
Your journey only begins when you land in Israel. Your Aliyah will be filled with immense challenges and stressful times. There are many facets to life here and you will need to make adjustments to your lifestyle and expectations but time is on your side. One day you will wake up and say to yourself “I feel at peace with myself. I am finally home”.
