What does "aliyah" mean?
The calling up of someone to the bimah for the reading of the Torah.
Aliyah
/əliːˈjɑː/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The calling up of someone to the bimah for the reading of the Torah.
- Grammar: aliyah is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: immigration to israel, ingathering of exiles, reading aliyah, torah reading honor.
- Useful contrasts: diaspora, emigration, exclusion from Torah reading.
- Usage evidence: The dramatic rise in antisemitism this year has caused the number of Jews making aliyah to increase by 31%.
How to use "aliyah"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "aliyah" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "aliyah" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "aliyah" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "immigration to israel" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 The calling up of someone to the bimah for the reading of the Torah. Judaism, countable
- 2 Alternative letter-case form of aliyah. alt-of
- 3 (Judaism) immigration of Jews to Israel wordnet
- 4 A subsection of a parashah (weekly Torah reading) read by (or on behalf of) one person. Judaism, countable
- 5 (Judaism) the honor of being called up to the reading desk in the synagogue to read from the Torah wordnet
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 The immigration of Jews to Israel. uncountable
"In the past, Yemenite Jews did not have a Bar Mitzvah ceremony at all; they first encountered this ceremony when they made Aliyah to Israel."
- 7 One of the major waves of immigration of Jews to Israel. countable
Verb
- 1 To make aliyah, to immigrate to Israel. intransitive, rare
"Anti-Semitism is a method of fooling Jews into aliyahing to Israel, the homeland, the sanctuary, in the pretence they will be safe. In the last 50 years how many Jews have died in Israel as a result of anti Jewish attacks....and how many have died in the diaspora?"
Proper Noun
- 1 A female given name from Arabic of modern American usage, a variant of Aaliyah.
- 2 A female given name from Hebrew.
Synonyms
All synonyms immigration to israelingathering of exilesreading aliyahtorah reading honor
Antonyms
Example
"The dramatic rise in antisemitism this year has caused the number of Jews making aliyah to increase by 31%."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "aliyah"?
Common synonyms include: immigration to israel, ingathering of exiles, reading aliyah, torah reading honor.
How do you use "aliyah" in a sentence?
The dramatic rise in antisemitism this year has caused the number of Jews making aliyah to increase by 31%.
How do you pronounce "aliyah"?
Pronounced /əliːˈjɑː/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Hebrew עלייה / עֲלִיָּה (aliyá, “ascent”).
Etymology 2
Ultimately from Arabic عَالِيَة (ʕāliya).
Etymology 3
Ultimately from Hebrew עלייה \ עֲלִיָּה (aliyá, “ascent”)