American immigrants to Israel at Ben-Gurion Airport. A bill designating the 10th day of the Hebrew month Nissan as “Aliyah Day” passed a preliminary reading in the Israeli Knesset. Photo: Sasson Tiram, courtesy of Nefesh B’Nefesh.

JNS.org – A bill designating the 10th day of the Hebrew month Nissan as “Aliyah Day” passed a preliminary reading in the Israeli Knesset on Wednesday.

The bill is intended to create a day dedicated to immigrants to Israel (olim) and their contributions to Jewish state. The day would be marked around the country in schools, the Israel Defense Forces, the President’s Residence, and the Knesset. Israeli Members of Knesset Robert Ilatov (Yisrael Beiteinu), Miki Zohar (Likud), and Avraham Neguise (Likud) proposed a number of bills intended for this purpose.

If the Aliyah Day bill passes second and third readings to become law, the legislation would increase public appreciation for the sacrifices of olim toward the Zionist dream, Ilatov said, the Jerusalem Post reported.