Is Aliyah Biblical?
"Aliyah" is the Hebrew word for “ascent,” coming from the same Hebrew root as the word “la-alot” (“to ascend”) or “ma-alot,” as in the “Psalms of Ascent” (Psalms 120- 134) which were recited by pilgrims on their way up to Jerusalem for the great feasts. Today, in modern Hebrew, Aliyah is used to refer to Jewish persons returning home to their Promised Land in Israel from the nations where they have been scattered. He or she is going “Up to Zion,” fulfilling the many prophecies in God’s Word. A typical prophecy is found in Amos 9:14:
And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.
Aliyah means the physical return of the Jews to their Land, the restoration of that Land and the rebuilding of the Jewish nation in the Land of Israel (Aretz Israel). When God repeats Himself and says something more than once, we want to take note, because it clearly concerns something of special importance to Him. God, in His Word, declared His intention to bring His people home from all the nations where they were scattered 64 TIMES!!!
The modern movement of Aliyah began in 1881, accelerated with the First Zionist Congress in 1897 and the Balfour Declaration of 1917.
WORLDWIDE MOVEMENT
" And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first....9 And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.’
This theme is stated 7 times in Scripture: Jeremiah 33:7-9; Ezekiel 20:40-42; Ezekiel 28:25-26; Ezekiel 36:22- 38; Ezekiel 37:21-28; Ezekiel 39:25-29; Zephaniah 3:19- 20; See also Zechariah 8:20-23. Potential when the nation of Israel was reborn in 1948 and Jerusalem was re-united under Jewish control in 1967.
Today, over 1/3 of all the world’s Jews live in Israel, more than any other country in the world. In spite of incredible opposition, challenges and difficulties, Israel is today a strong and prosperous country. Aliyah continues to this day. The 64 prophecies are being fulfilled before our very eyes.
WHY GALILEE?
Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. Prophet Ezekiel
The whole of Ezekiel 37 is clearly about Aliyah!
This picture of Aliyah takes place in “THE valley”--a specific valley. Could it be the Jordan Valley, Galilee?
Historically, many of the building blocks of the nation of Israel began in the Jordan Valley, including the kibbutz, the moshav, the Histadrut (the labor organization which represented 85% of the workers and owned 25% of the industry), the first health fund, the first department store, the largest bank, the largest construction company and much, much, more. Also, many Biblical events took place in the Jordan Valley, including Moses’ looking into the Promised Land; the entry of Joshua and the children of Israel into the Land. If so much happened here in Biblical times, and in a very real sense the modern physical restoration of the people and nation of Israel began here.
