ALIYAH - MOVING UP, RISE, ELEVATION

I will bring them back from Egypt

    and gather them from Assyria.

I will bring them to Gilead and Lebanon,

    and there will not be room enough for them.

Zechariah 10: 10 (NIV)

(1)

INTRODUCTION

We are called to ever rise up and go from one level of glory to the next. Aliyah is the Hebrew term for “elevation”, “going up”. It can also mean “ascent, rise”. Biblically, the term spoke of going to Jerusalem to observe the Feasts of the Lord. Also, it described Israel taking Jacob’s bones into the promised land. In the modern era, it speaks of one moving to Israel, or one being called to read the Torah in the synagogue. It can also talk about someone going to the synagogue to pray. 

But Aliyah is more than a mere geographical move, as you will see. What we need to seek is the moving toward God. 

HEBREW WORD ALIYAH

The journey of a believer is not a sprint but a marathon. We are all a work in progress. The deeper we go, the closer we get to the original image, or we could say, the more we rise. 

The Hebrew word “Aliyah” literally means ascent, rise, elevation, or going up. (2,3) In Judaism nowadays, it is usually connected to one of the three possible situations:

• Immigration to Israel 

• going to the synagogue to pray

• being called up to the Torah reading during services. (2, 3)

ALIYAH TO ISRAEL

The term aliyah, means going up to Israel, to Jerusalem to observe the Feasts of the Lord. It was used in Genesis when Israel brought Jacob’s bones from Egypt to the land of Israel. Moving to Israel is considered moving “up” for the jews, since it is the Holy Land in which the Holy Patriarchs and Matriarchs lived and the place where the Holy Temples were built. (2, 3, 5)

The Jews and Israel were scattered across he nations. many times they were exiled from their land of living, but in these last days they are being brought home as it was promised in Isaiah 11: 12, “He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; He will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” (Isaiah 11:12) (2, 3)

There were two returns prophesied to take place: the return of the jews, and then the return of all Israel (Isaiah 43:5-6). 

Israel is considered the best place to observe the torah and the moedim, and boy, have I realized that. (4)

ALIYAH TO THE TORAH

“The same way one is elevated when moving to Israel, one is also elevated each time one goes to the synagogue to pray.” (3)

When one is called to read in the synagogue, they ascend the bimah, the platform in the center of the room, from where the Torah scroll is read. He is “called up” to the Torah to ascend the platform, and also to receive a spiritual elevation and a greater responsibility and honor. (3, 4)

ALIYAH TO GOD

The concept of aliyah is also present within Christianity, as the whole purpose of God sending His Son into the world was so human beings in the bondage of sin can be “brought up” into the presence of God (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 8:21). 

Only through Jesus Christ can a person truly experience this spiritual aliyah (John 14:6). Only humble faith in His Son’s death and resurrection can elevate us in the eyes of God; a potential geographical move is simply an expression of the spiritual elevation (Acts 4:12; Titus 3:5; Romans 10:9–10). Without the spiritual elevation, a move to Israel is simply a geographical move. (4)

One could argue that moving to Israel could spark a spiritual elevation, though. And perhaps they would be correct. 

When Jesus returns, He will finalize the return and regather all of Israel back home. Not even one of His sheep will be lost. 

CONCLUSION

The Hebrew word Aliyah is a Hebrew concept of going up to Jerusalem to observe the moedim. In modern days, going up to Israel usually means geographically moving to Israel. Living in the Holy Land is considered an upgrade to the jews since it is the land where the Holy Patriarchs and Matriarchs lived. It is the best place for observing the moedim lovingly. 

Aliyah can also describe being called out to read the Torah in the synagogue or the action of going to pray to the synagogue. 

To us Christians, it also represents one being brought up out of sin into the presence of God. What matters most is the spiritual Aliyah to God, rather than simply moving to Israel. 

Application

Father, we pray that safe be the journey of all your exiles when returning home. You promised you would even dry up the Euphrates River so they would walk on dry ground. None of your words return back void to you, so we know and decree and declare it is already done. Yes, you shall regather them once more, and there will be enough room for them all. Amen.

SOURCES

1. Image created via canva.com

2. Nefesh B’Nefesh. What is Aliyah? Available at https://www.nbn.org.il/what-is-aliyah/ 

3. Yossi Lew. What Is "Aliyah"? Available at https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1584066/jewish/What-Is-Aliyah.htm

4. Got Questions. What is the Jewish aliyah? Available at https://www.gotquestions.org/Jewish-aliyah.html 

5. International Christian Embassy Jerusalem. Defining Aliyah. Available at https://www.icej.org/defining-aliyah/