In the spacious hall in North London, there was a business-like, yet warm atmosphere, reinforced by a sunny June day with rare clouds, reminiscent of Israeli weather.

Consultants — many of whom were repatriates themselves — answered everything: how to validate a diploma? Which schools to choose in Jerusalem? Is it easy to find a job in a startup? In finance? One of the speakers, an engineer from Haifa, shared how his British degree helped start a career in high-tech. A mother from Birmingham learned how to enroll her son in a school in Netanya, and a student from Leeds took down contacts for Hebrew courses. A family head from the suburbs of London, who came “just to look”, left with a relocation plan: “I thought it was too complicated. It turns out, it’s all feasible”.

The shadow of October 7, 2023, which took 1182 lives, and antisemitism poisoning campuses and streets, gave these conversations about repatriation an edge. A student from Manchester shared how bullying at the university pushed her to decide: her place is in Israel.

Among the guests were not only British Jews but also those who came to London from the USA, South Africa, and other countries, looking for a way home. This made Aliyah Day a crossroads of hopes, where new acquaintances and ideas were born in spontaneous conversations.

The concert of the famous Israeli singer Idan Raichel was the final link in this bridge — his voice and music intertwined thoughts of repatriation with the soul of Israel. “People came with questions and left with plans,” noted Marina Rosenberg Koritny, head of the WZO Department for the Promotion of Aliyah. Aliyah Day showed: repatriation is not just about visas and suitcases, it’s the courage to step onto the bridge leading home.