Aliyah (UK /ˌælɪˈɑː/, US /ˌɑːliˈɑː/; Hebrew: עֲלִיָּה aliyah, "ascent") is the immigration of Jews from the diaspora to the land of Israel (Eretz Yisrael). Also defined as "the act of going up" or as in progressing towards Jerusalem, Aliyah is one of the most basic tenets of Zionism. The opposite action, emigration from Israel, is referred to as yerida ("descent"). The concept of Aliyah (return) to the Holy Land was first developed in Jewish history during the Babylonian exile.