Sallie Kochin Abelson, known as the creator of the Jewish trivia game Aliyah, died Dec. 23 at age 78, writes Gary Miles for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Ms. Abelson, who grew up in Havertown and who graduated Haverford High School in 1963, created Aliyah in 1978 to make Jewish education more exciting and accessible.
The idea came to her while looking for ways to connect with young Sunday School students in Ames, Iowa.
In the game, players start in the United States and advance by answering questions about Jewish history and culture. The first to reach Israel is the winner.
“I wanted to explain the traditions so people have a deeper understanding of Judaism,” Ms. Abelson told Tablet Magazine in 2021. “I hope they learned not just what we do but why we do things.”
People loved the game, and demand grew at schools, synagogues, and retail stores.
She marketed Aliyah in 14 states and opened a manufacturing plant in Iowa, employing more than 50 people.
Ms. Abelson sold 10,000 games over two decades.
She also founded the Contemporary Designs gift company, selling greeting cards, stickers, stationery, books, puzzles, pencils, T-shirts, and hundreds of other gift items.
Learn more about how Sallie Abelson developed the game Aliyah in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
