5 ALIYOT PLUS ONE

Since the destruction of the 2nd Temple by the Romans in 70 C.E, Jews though small number, have continualy resided in the Holyland. An immense amount of evidence is available that confirms this fact, contrary to the claims of those that oppose Israel's r existence. Throughout the centuries small Jewish groups and individuals had attempted with varying degrees of success, to return to the land. It was however from 1882 onwards that the mass return of Jews began. These returns can be broken down into 5 Aliyot plus 1.

During the pre-state & early state period, Israel's landscape was characterized by Moshavot (agricultural settlements in which both the land & property were privately owned), Moshavim (a combination of both privately & collectively owned agricultural settlements) & Kibbutzim (agricultural settlements where everything was collectively owned). All three were an integral part of the Aliyot. Aliyah means ascent, & if someone should move from the highest point on earth (Mount Everest) to the lowest point on earth (The Dead Sea), it would still qualify as an Aliyah because the latter is located in the Holyland.

The FIRST Aliyah (1882-1903) : Comprised of religious families from Rumania & Russia plus a small group from Yemen. Toegether they totaled approxiamatley 25 000 to 30 000 souls. The motivating factors with respect to the eastern European's was the Russian pogroms of 1881 & 1882 coupled with political, national & spiritual aspirations which both the eastern European & Yemen communities shared. Most chose agriculture as the method of reclaiming the land. As a consequence moshavot emerged, examples being Zichron Yaakov, Rishon le Tzion, Rosh Pinah & Petah Tikva, all of which were established in 1882. Baron Edmond de Rothschild supported their aspirations & gave financial assistance to their cause.

The SECOND Aliya (1904-1913) : This group was predominantly made up of young, idealistic, non-religious young people who were influenced by the socialist ideals of the time & were strong supporters of Zionism. In addition to their ideals, they were motivated into action by two occurances. Firstly their opposition to the Uganda plan which proposed that Uganda instead of the Holyland be the location of the new Jewish state, and secondly, the 1903 Kishnev pogroms in Russia. They totalled approxiamately 25 000 people, half of whom returned to their former countries. Prominent figures of this aliyah were David ben Gurion, Israel's first prime minister, Rav Kook, the chief rabbi of pre-state Israel & the father of religious zionism, & a lady I so admire, Golda Meir, the fourth prime minister of Israel. This period saw the establishment of Degania, the first of many later kibbutzim. The Bezalel school of Art was initiated by Boris Schatz in 1906 with the aim of producing art inspired by Judaism & Jewish history, & in 1913 the the Technion was inaugerated & is today one of the leading technological instituitions in the world.

The THIRD Aliya (1919-1923) : Was essentially a continuation of the 2nd Aliya. Impetus was given to this aliyah as a result of the outcome of the Bolshevik revolution, the post war pogroms in the Ukraine, the rise of nationalism & the Balfour Declaration which was a public statement issued by the British government in 1917 announcing support for the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine. It was during this period that kibbutzim & moshavim emerged in numbers throughout the country. The first moshav being Nahalal designed by the world reknown architect Richard Kaufman. The hisdadrut, the General Organization of Workers in Israel was established as was the Haganah , the Jewish para-military organization.

THE FORTH Aliya (1924-1029) : Sometimes refered to as the " Grabski Aliyah" due to the economic sanctions imposed on the Jews of Poland by Grabski, the minister of finance at the time. This coupled with limitations on immigration to the U.S.A.which were introduced in 1924, caused many Polish Jews to make Aliyah. This community comprised predominantly of towns- people, hence most settled in towns and invested in workshops, factories, shops,small hotels & resturants. Because of the urban nature of the Aliyah it is also refered to as the Urban or Kiosk Aliyah.

THE FIFTH Aliyah ( 1929-1939 ) : Involved German, Austrian, Czech & Polish Jews. It began as a trickle but changed into a flood with Hitler's rise to power in 1933. There were many professionals amongst their ranks. Consequently 80% settled in towns and the remaining 20% were absorbed by moshavot, moshavim & kibbutzim. An Ottoman law of the period stated that should a structure be roofed it could not be dismantled. Taking advantage of this law, "52 Tower & Stockade" settlements were built to establish facts on the ground & in addition, help accommodate this new influx of people. These settlements were made up of pre-fabricated wooden components that were assembled on site. The components included fencing that encompassed an area of one dunam that surrounded a roofed guard tower & a number of sheds. In many cases these were assembled within a day, & over time evolved into fortified agricultural settlements.

ALIYAH BET(1934-1948) : Initialy focused on saving Jews from the Nazis but later concentrated their efforts to overcome restrictions imposed on Jewish aliyot. This in defiance of the 1939 white paper issued by the British that restricted Jewish immigration to a trickle. Aliyah Bet later evolved into the Mossad.

Ron Traub ( Tour Guide & Architect). Website : rontraub-tours.com Photo's : from the archives.