WHAT IS “PILGRIMAGE” IN HEBREW?
The English term “pilgrimage” is derived from the Latin word peregrinus, which means “stranger”. This underscores the extent to which a pilgrim is an outsider who travels a long distance to visit a religious site. In Hebrew, the word for pilgrimage conveys a very different idea. The term is aliyah le-regel (עליה לרגל), which literally means “ascent on foot”. What is the significance of this rather peculiar term?
REACHING SPIRITUAL HOLINESS
The answer is that in the days of the Bible, every festival season, Jews would walk hundreds of miles by foot (regel) from all over the Mediterranean Basin to reach the Land of Israel. But their journey was not over. They had to climb (aliyah) the steep uphill ascent to Jerusalem. There is another significant explanation to this term: Coming to Jerusalem for the festival involved a spiritual ascent (aliyah) toward holiness, reflecting the Jewish belief that God’s presence is most strongly felt in Jerusalem. When you finally arrive at the Temple, you are not a stranger; you are home.
LEARN BIBLICAL HEBREW AND HAVE A
CHANCE TO WIN A TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND
Dreaming of actually ascending to Jerusalem for yourself? If you yearn to deepen the study of the Bible, We have a special offer! Enroll in our Biblical Hebrew course during the month of September and you will be entered into our drawing for two roundtrip tickets to Israel!
