aliyah
/ˈalɪjə
/noun (plural aliyoth /ˈalɪjəʊt/) Judaism
1 [mass noun] Immigration to Israel: students making aliyah...
- When we heard about the Foundation, whose goal was to assist North American Jews in making aliyah, we immediately applied.
- Some families plan for years before making aliyah.
- Almost two years after making aliyah, I gave birth to a perfectly healthy baby - but who weighed just over three pounds.
2The honour of being called upon to read from the Torah: I was called up for an aliyah...
- Why am I not insulted that Jewish religious law does not count me as part of a prayer-quorum, or allow me to be publicly called to the Torah for an aliyah?
- We broke through all the stereotypes, all the barriers, and we all experienced a real aliyah together.
- The first aliyah of any day's reading is customarily reserved for a kohein, the second for a Levite, and priority for subsequent aliyoth is given to people celebrating major life events, such as marriage or the birth of a child.
Origin
From Hebrew ‘ăliyyāh 'ascent'.