Israel celebrates its first ever Aliyah Day – let’s make it even more real!
The timing wasn’t intentional but there is a certain prescience to the fact that on the very day of this week’s contentious U.S. elections, Israel celebrated its first ever “Aliyah Day,” emphasizing unity and a shared sense of purpose.
The brand new holiday on the Israeli national calendar, instituted by the Knesset in June of this year, is meant to recognize the importance of aliyah to Israel, along with the crucial contributions new immigrants have made in the development of the Jewish State.
Throughout the country on Tuesday, November 8, schools held classes on immigration to Israel, the Knesset hosted special meetings, and ceremonies took place at the President’s Residence IDF headquarters and the offices of the Israel Police.
The day concluded with a gathering at Jerusalem’s International Convention Center with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Immigration and Absorption Minister Sofa Landver and Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky. The latter three are all immigrants themselves.
“Like me, hundreds of thousands of olim [immigrants] arrive in Israel every year because of the same sense of connection to the homeland,” Landver told The Jerusalem Post. “I am proud and excited that for the first time, a day to mark aliyah is being held in Israel.”
Shavei Israel in particular appreciates the institution of Aliyah Day.
Since the founding of the organization, we have been dedicated towards promoting a true international ingathering of the exiles. Our work with Jewish communities in India, China, Europe and the Americas has helped thousands of Jews reconnect with their heritage and their homeland.
And we’re not done yet.
Let’s make Aliyah Day real for even more Jews. At this very moment, 700 Bnei Menashe are waiting to make aliyah with your help. Visit this page to make your donation today.
Prime Minister Netanyahu summed up the significance of the day. Aliyah is “the basic purpose of the Jewish State and the realization of Biblical prophesies,” he said. “The Jewish people are returning to the Land of Israel and building in it the State of Israel. This is a great holiday for all Israeli citizens, new and old.”