Aliyah party ideas: 10 ways to celebrate arrival or an aliyaversary

Moving to Israel is a decision most people make once, and the first months go by in paperwork, ulpan classes and learning which day the city actually rests. An aliyah party marks it: on arrival, after the first year, or at the 5 or 10 year mark, the "aliyaversary". The hard part is the guest list. Your friends now come from three or four worlds that have never met, and the people who knew you longest are in another time zone.

Arrival party or aliyaversary

Arrival, in the first 1 to 3 months

The new friends are few and the energy is high. A small evening for 15 to 30 people, mostly ulpan classmates, neighbours and the first colleagues, works well.

The 1 year aliyaversary

By now there are Israeli friends, a workplace, maybe a partner's family. This is the year most people throw the bigger party, because there is finally a story to tell.

5 and 10 years

These are reflective. Fewer games, more toasts, and family from abroad often times a visit to be there in person.

10 aliyah party ideas

1. A two-country playlist

Alternate songs from home with the Israeli songs you learned this year. Ask guests for one song each with the invitation, and you will get both halves of the room on the dance floor.

2. A first year in Israel slideshow

40 to 60 photos, 5 seconds each, on the projector: the boxes, the first apartment, the ulpan class, the first Israeli wedding you were invited to. About 4 minutes, played after the food is out.

3. A toast from the oldest friend and the newest one

One friend who has known you 20 years, live on the screen or flown in. One friend you met 3 months ago. Two minutes each, and the room understands your whole story.

4. A cocktail named after your hometown

One drink on the menu named for the city you left, built around something you drank there. It starts conversations at the bar all evening.

5. Toasts in Hebrew and English

Give your first toast in Hebrew, however rough, then switch to English. Israeli friends love hearing the effort, and family abroad love hearing you.

6. Family abroad on a live call

A 10 to 15 minute call on the screen during the toasts. Parents and grandparents see the room full of your new friends, which is usually the thing they most want to know.

7. Recorded greetings from home

For friends who cannot make the live call, 20 to 30 seconds each on video, edited into 2 to 3 minutes. Play it right after the slideshow.

8. A map of where everyone came from

A printed world map at the entrance, and guests put a pin where they grew up. At an olim party it fills up fast.

9. The "words I learned" game

A card on each table with five Hebrew words or phrases you got wrong this year. Guests guess what you thought they meant.

10. Letters to your 10 year self

Guests write a short note to open at your 10 year aliyaversary. Collect them in a box at the end of the night.

Timing for the family on the call

Most of the city works Sunday to Thursday, so Thursday evening is the big night out, and Friday noon, shishi tzohorayim, is a popular party slot. Both need a little planning for a call home.

Thursday evening

A toast at 20:30 in Tel Aviv lands in the early afternoon on the US east coast and late morning on the west coast. Family can join from work.

Friday noon

A party from 13:00 to 17:00 puts a call at 14:00 here, which is early morning in the US. Better for family in the UK, France or South Africa, who are 0 to 2 hours behind.

What to send ahead

• The slideshow file, a week before
• The greetings video, edited
• The two-country playlist
• The hometown cocktail idea and its name
• Who gives which toast, and in which language
• The call link and the family's time zone
• A printed world map and pins

Ezra for an aliyah party

One group per event, most groups 20 to 50 guests

Ezra is a private event space in Tel Aviv that closes for one group per event. Most groups are 20 to 50 guests, up to 60, and groups of 15 to 30 get a different layout.

Projector, fold-out screen and two microphones

The slideshow, the live call and the toasts run on the room's projector, fold-out screen and two microphones, with a PA of two main speakers, a subwoofer, four monitors and a mixer. A DJ is possible.

A sharing menu and a full bar

A dairy-vegetarian sharing menu from the taboon oven, and a bar with cocktails, wine and beer, including the hometown cocktail.

An English-speaking team

The team answers in English and a proposal arrives within 24 hours. The formats are on event types at Ezra.

If the aliyaversary falls near a birthday, see the milestone birthday guide for olim.

The bottom line

A good aliyah party brings both of your lives into one room: a two-country playlist, a first-year slideshow, toasts from your oldest and newest friends, a hometown cocktail, and family abroad on a short live call. Most are 20 to 50 guests. Thursday evening suits a call to North America, Friday noon suits family in Europe. Book 3 to 6 weeks ahead.