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The term "aliyah"
(plural: aliyot) refers to the return, or immigration, of Jews to
Eretz Yisrael (the land of Israel), either before Israel was granted
statehood--when it was often referred to as "Palestine"--or after,
when it became the State of Israel in 1948.
Aliyah, as it is
conceived within the ideology of Zionism, is part of Israel's "Law
of Return," which states that any Jew (and some others) may legally
immigrate to and settle in Israel, and that they may be granted
automatic Israeli citizenship. When a Jew does this, one says that
they are "making aliyah."
For many
religious Jews, making aliyah is a return to the "Promised Land,"
which, as stated in the Bible, is the land promised to the
Jewish people, or rather to those who are the descendants of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who were the Hebrew patriarchs.
Please read some
first-hand accounts as told to the Museum and others, by those who
were able to leave the Europe for the promise of a new life where
one could work hard and succeed; where they could live a life free
from religious persecution and strife--in the Holy Land of Eretz Israel.
Please choose from the stories below....
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