Shabbat Aliyah: Israeli communities that make aliyah possible come together to honor new olim
As 42 congregations across Israel celebrate Shabbat Aliyah, they honor both the journeys that brought olim here and the communal spirit those immigrants bring with them.
This Shabbat, communities throughout Israel will come together to honor those who made aliyah, or immigrated to the land of Israel. The observance, known as Shabbat Aliyah, coincides with the Torah portion Lech Lecha, read during the weekly Torah reading. While the day typically passes without much fanfare, Young Israel in Israel and the Mizrachi-Young Israel Shuls Network will mark this occasion.
Forty-two communities across the country will celebrate the day with various events, from communal kiddushes to seudas shlishit, all in honor of their new olim. These communities range from smaller Israeli towns to larger cities like Beit Shemesh, Gush Etzion, and Jerusalem.
At the Karmei Gat community of Karmei Zion, guests will share personal stories and historical perspectives on aliyah, from ancient times to the present day. Elementary school children will participate in an activity discussing Abraham's journey and their own experiences of aliyah. The community is also distributing prompt cards for Shabbat table conversations to bring the themes of aliyah and "Lech Lecha" into members' homes.
Rabbi Matanya Kaplan, rabbi of Mitzpe Netofa, explains that the strength and resilience of the families who have made the move to Israel are deeply felt in the community. Rabbi Yossi Goldin, director of Young Israel in Israel, emphasizes that olim bring idealism and a vision for the future to Israel, which may not be fully appreciated by those who have lived here all their lives.
While this year's Shabbat Aliyah celebrations primarily focus on English-speaking congregations, Rabbi Goldin hopes to include olim communities from other countries in future observances, making the Shabbat of Parashat Lech Lecha an annual aliyah celebration for Israeli communities.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
