Rishon LeZion in 1898

Bilu Pioneers Laying the Foundations of First Aliyah Settlement

Bilu members from Rishon LeZion and Jerusalem met in 1898 in Rishon LeZion.

Acronym: Beit Ya’akov Lekhu Venelkha
Translation: “House of Jacob, come, let us walk.”
Biblical Source: Isaiah 2:5.

In the 1880s, amid persecution in the Russian Empire, young Jews founded the Bilu Movement (1882), advocating a return to the Land of Israel - years before political Zionism took shape.

A small group of pioneers arrived in Jaffa in 1882, launching what became the First Aliyah despite harsh conditions and little farming experience.

Though few in number, they laid the groundwork for modern Jewish settlement and became among the first socialist-Zionist pioneers shaping the future of Israel.

By 1884, they established Gedera, spoke Hebrew, and - despite hardships - set a lasting example for future generations, with some even living to witness Israel’s independence.

Source: Public Domain, Wikipedia.