The Demise of British Jewry

What are you waiting for, old chaps? How many boycotts do you need to see the writing on the wall? It’s time to come to Israel, now.
More young British Jews live alone, more couples live together without children and/or marriage, and more households contain both Jewish and non-Jewish members than ever before.

Let’s face it – the British hate the Jews. Except for a few righteous souls like Balfour, way back in the good old days, when the English Parliament still had a respect for the Bible and recognized that G-d gave the Land of Israel to the Jews, the British have constantly betrayed us. Remember the White Paper, when they refused to let Jews immigrate to Palestine, even though they were supposed to be here under a mandate to help us set up our own Jewish State? How many boatloads of refugees did they turn away at our shores? Wake up, old chaps. Don’t be fooled by their fight against the Nazis in World War Two. They did that to save their country, not to save the Jews. And their partnership with America in the war against Iraq was just to protect their oil interests, not to protect us.

Of course, the British hate us. Among other things, they want to be known as the people of the book, and it irks them that we are. True, they have Shakespeare and Dickens and Henry James, but we have the Bible, and nothing tops that. It was a devastating blow to the Englishman’s ego when the Americans proved to be smarter and more successful than the Brits, but when The Jews in the tiny State of Israel ousted the great British Empire, that was an unpardonable sin. Plus, as everyone knows, if it weren’t for the Jews, Scotland Yard wouldn’t have to worry so much about El Quaida. It isn’t just the British professors, and journalists, and doctors, and workers, and trade unions who hate us. They all hate us. So why is it, old chaps, that you still want to stay?

Jewish Immigrants to Palestine turned away by the British

But that isn’t the only reason to worry. A recently published survey reveals that British Jewry is dying. Among the findings:

“A higher proportion of British Jews than in almost any other religious or ethnic group live in single-person households. This, together with the large number of mixed Jewish- gentile households, compels a rethink of the nature of the Jewish community, according to the researchers.”

“More young British Jews live alone, more couples live together without children and/or marriage, and more households contain both Jewish and non-Jewish members than ever before. The picture is further complicated by the numbers of people who are divorced, separated or remarried.”

68% of those cohabiting had a partner who was not Jewish. This means that the Jewish family unit in England is disappearing and that inter-ethnic households are on the rise. Which means that the Jewish birthrate is swiftly declining, and if the trend continues, then El Quaida won’t have anything to do in England, and Scotland Yard can go back to catching dogs.

So, come to Israel, old chaps, while you still are Jews. We have a family dentist from London, and he is a wonderful fellow. And our family doctor from Manchester is brilliant, witty, dedicated to Torah, and a trustworthy physician to boot. If they made it, so can you.

Are Kosher Cruises Kosher?

Brothers and sisters in golus, until you come on Aliyah, the subject of today’s blog doesn’t apply to you. But don’t let it discourage you from coming. I can almost hear a reader hollering, “Hey, Harry, look at this. If we move to Israel, we won’t be able to leave!” That isn’t true. You can leave to visit family left behind in golus, and to attend to a wide range of mitzvot, but if you are dying to see the Great Wall of China, or play some golf in Scotland, then you had better do it now, because once you are a proud citizen of Israel, you won’t be able to take vacations of leisure outside of the Land, if you follow the halachah. The Creator of the universe formed heaven and earth, and He gave China to the Chinese, Africa to the Africans, and America to the Indians before the Americans came and slaughtered them all. Israel, He bequeathed to the Jews.

Sailing off to Galut

The question was raised regarding kosher vacations and cruises to all sorts of exotic destinations outside of Israel. If the halachah says otherwise, how can this be? Especially since trips like these are advertised prominently in dati newspapers and the Torah pamphlets handed out in synagogues on Shabbat?

Rabbi Zalman Nechemia Goldberg is a noted Torah scholar and a judge in the Great Rabbinic Court in Jerusalem. When asked what his opinion was regarding these advertisements, he answered:

“If the trips in question are pleasure trips to destinations outside of the Land of Israel, they are forbidden by the halachah. Furthermore, advertisements for these trips are a problem, since the Torah says, “Do not place a stumbling block in front of a blind man.”

Regarding the instances when leaving the Land of Israel is permitted, Rabbi Golberg writes: “I suggest that in this matter that we be very precise by stating the law direct from the source. In the Shulchan Aruch, section, 531:4, is states in the matter of leaving Israel for outside of the Land, ‘And one should not leave the Land of Israel to go outside of the Land for the purpose of a pleasure trip.’ Regarding this, the Mishna Berurah, in sub-section 14, states, ‘It is not permitted (to leave) except to do business or to see a friend, but just to take a trip, it is forbidden to leave the Land.’ These are clear rulings, and it is important that people should know. In a different place, the Gemara mentions two other instances where leaving the Land is permitted, to learn Torah, and to marry a woman. But just for the purpose of a tiyul (pleasure trip), there is no permission for this. This is completely forbidden. And concerning a kohen, this is an even severer prohibition, since it is written that the lands of the nation are a cause of impurity, in our time as well as the past.”

When asked whether advertisements promoting pleasure trips to the Diaspora should indicate that trips like these are forbidden by the halachah, Rabbi Goldberg answered: “In my opinion this would be a very worthwhile thing. This is the way it should be, and it would be wonderful if everyone acted in this manner. In my opinion, in these advertisements, the wording of this clarification should include the exact wording of the halachah from the source, as I quoted it. The matter in question, as it appears in the halachic sources, leaves no room for uncertainty.”

Warning! The Diaspora May Be Hazardous to Your Health

Planning Your Summer Vacation

Planning a summer vacation? Let’s say you have enough money to go to Israel, but for the same price you can get an extra few days in Honolulu or Paris. Where should you choose?

Vacation Time

Of course, if you are a Jew living in Israel, you don’t have this question at all. It is halachically forbidden to leave the Land of Israel simply to go on a pleasure jaunt overseas (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, 531:4). This is because the Land of Israel is holy, and the rest of the world is not. Leaving Israel adversely affects a Jew’s holiness and blemishes his worship of G-d. This is what King David meant when he said, “For they have driven me out this day from being joined to the inheritance of the L-rd, saying, Go and serve other gods” (Shmuel 1, 26:19). Certainly, King David wouldn’t engage in idol worship, but as the Talmud explains, “Any Jew who lives outside the Land of Israel is like someone who has no G-d” (Ketubot 110b). A Jew is only allowed to leave the Land of Israel to do a mitzvah. He can go to the Diaspora to visit family, find a wife, or go on a business trip to make a livelihood, but to remain there is forbidden. Once he has accomplished his mitzvah, he must return to Israel. But if his trip is just for a fun vacation, then the Diaspora is out.

But what about the strange breed of Jew that lives outside of the Land to begin with, like a fish out of water? Let’s say that due to the Roman conquest of ancient Israel, and the subsequent expulsion of the Jews, he was born in America. If he goes on a vacation to Paris or Hong Kong, he isn’t affecting his level of holiness, because his surroundings are impure to begin with wherever he is. According to Jewish Law, the Diaspora possesses the spiritual status of a grave. Some graves are known for their hot dogs, while others have the aromas of expensive perfumes. Some graves are surrounded by beautiful beaches, while others have buildings that reach up to the sky. But a grave is a grave whether it is New York or France. Whether a Jew visits Broadway or the Champs Elysses, it doesn’t make a difference. A land filled with idol worship is spiritually polluting whether the idol is worshipped in English or French. Sure, the Jew may have a grand time at the museums and theaters. And if he is religious and takes off his yarmulke for a few days, well, what’s the big sin in that? He can always wear a cap to hide the fact that he’s Jewish.

Like a Fish out of Water

However, if a Jew from America decides to vacation in Israel, then he is doing a mitzvah. Every four steps that he takes, he earns a place in the World to Come. In contrast, a Jew can walk all across Australia, and all we will get is sore feet. Plus by spending his vacation money in Israel, the American Jew is helping the Jewish People resettle the Land. In boosting the economy of Israel by paying for hotel rooms and renting cars, he is playing an active part in Redemption. The Israel Tourist Ministry reports that for every 100,000 tourists coming to visit Israel, the country gains 9 million dollars and 4,500 permanent places of employment. One of the questions a Jew is asked by the Celestial Court when he gets to Heaven is “Did you look forward to the Redemption?” By having spent a vacation in Israel, he can answer, yes, he took a part in the rebuilding of the Jewish People in their Land. Chances are that he will also pray in a few minyans in Israel, go to the Kotel, and learn some Torah on his sightseeing trips. Each of these things infuses a Jew in Israel with a dose of spiritual adrenaline and fills the world with light. And there is a good chance that he will have a great time here too. Maybe even better than if he had decided to vacation in Honolulu. Because chances are that for the first time in his life he will feel like a genuine Jew, and not like a stranger in someone else’s land. If he is crazy for beaches, well we have beaches too. And if he loves golf, there is even a golf course in the country. True, the cuisine may be more elegant in other places, but at least in Israel there is a pretty good chance that it’s kosher. And as far as Jewish kids go, after a vacation in Israel, they usually say that they had the best time of their lives. All in all, Israel can be pretty cool.

Surveys reveal that only about 15% of Diaspora Jews have visited Israel. To me, that’s embarrassing. How can it be that G-d gave us back our homeland and so many Jews don’t come? You can say it is hard to move to a country far away, but what’s the big deal about coming for a visit? It certainly isn’t because of the money. Snorkeling in the Caribbean and enjoying a gondola ride along stinking, garbage-filled sewers costs about the same. If you sneak into their closets and pull out their suitcases, you are sure to find baggage tickets still attached to the handles, with airport stops in Puerto Rico and Venice. If Jews can visit Rome and the Vatican, why not Jerusalem?

Regarding the claim that visiting Israel is dangerous. This simply isn’t true. About two million tourists come to Israel each year. Over the last ten years, maybe a handful of them were the victims of terrorist killings. Statistically, there is more danger for a tourist in the mountains of South America, the highways of France, and the bars of Bangkok.

So this summer, when you are checking out your vacation options, be brave, be Jewish, and make the Holy Land number one on your list.

The Rebbe

Today, the third day of Tammuz, is the yahrtzeit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. Perhaps more than anyone in our time, he spread the light of Judaism to Jews all over the world. Chabad Houses are located in almost every country. Chabadniks have booths in airports from Paris to Hong Kong, eager to assist a wandering Jew put on a pair of Tefillin. Come Hanukah time, Chabad menorahs are lit in every city square. The picture of the Rebbe adorns the homes of millions of Jews, reminding them of the traditions of their Forefathers.

The Rebbe

I remember the first time I saw him, I was standing in the small prayer hall in the building next to 770 when the Rebbe entered to daven Mincha. A wave of holy energy emanated from him like a beam of light, sending me tumbling backwards into the wall. It was an amazing experience.   
I remember the first time I saw him, I was standing in the small prayer hall in the building next to 770 when the Rebbe entered to daven Mincha. A wave of holy energy emanated from him like a beam of light, sending me tumbling backwards into the wall. It was an amazing experience.
  

In addition to his towering Yiddishkeit, the Rebbe was a great supporter of Israel. Often he warned that the surrender of territories in the Land of Israel would bring danger to all the nation. And how right he was! After Oslo, Israeli buses and Jews were blown up all over the country. After the disengagement from Gush Katif, hundreds of deadly missiles rained down on Israel’s north. And we see today what has become of Gaza – a haven for terrorists that threatens us all.

The Rebbe’s great love for Eretz Yisrael finds expression in the life of the founder of Chabad, Rebbe Schneur Zalman of Liadi, author of the “Tanya,” one of our 10 recommended books. The Ba’al HaTanya, as he is known, was imprisoned in Russia when informers accused him of treason against the state. After a thorough investigation, he was set free. In a letter to the Rebbe of Berditchev, telling him of his release, he writes: “Hashem has arranged my release by virtue of th merit of the Holy Land and its inhabitants. This is what stood by our side and will always assist us in rescuing us from the oppressor and delivering us from distress.”

Rabbi Shlomo Yisachar Teichtal explains in his book, “Eim HaBanim Semeichah,” that the Land of Israel has the power to save us though G-d’s blessing to our Forefathers, as it says, “And I will remember My covenant with Yaacov, and also My covnant with Yitzhak, and also My covenant with Avraham I will remember, and I will remember the Land” (Vayikra, 26:42). This means that even should the merit of the Patriarchs run out, then Hashem will remember the Land of Israel and save us! From this we learn that the merit of the Land of Israel is even greater than the merit of our Forefathers.

Greater than the merit of the Forefathers

Another great teaching of the Rebbe was the importance of charity. Every weekday, he would hand out dollar bills to the long line of people who would come from all over the world for his blessing. On a simple level, he was teaching people to turn money into the doing of a mitzvah, rather than making its acquisition the goal of their lives. On a deeper level, the Tanya explains the great virtue of charity which is equal in weight to all of commandments. While other mitzvot are performed with the body and its different organs, the giving of charity is also performed by what the “Tanya” calls, the vitalizing soul. This is because, in the case of charity, a person “gives out of the toil of his hands, and since surely all the strength of his vitalizing soul is embodied in the execution of his work through which he earned his money, when he gives his money for charity, his whole viatl soul ascends to G-d.”

In the great merit of the Rebbe and the Torah teachings of all the Tzaddikim, and in the great merit of Eretz Yisrael and the mitzvah of charity, may the complete Redemption come speedily, in our time. Amen.

Potifar's Wife

Yosef was called "Tzaddik" because he overcame the temptations of Egypt’s reigning temptress, Potifar’s wife. This wasn’t a onetime victory, but a tortuous daily battle. Every day, she tried to seduce him in novel ways. Only his great fear of G-d, and his devotion to the holy ideals of his Forefathers, saved him. Today, Rosh Chodesh Tammuz, hundreds of Jews will be traveling to Yosef’s Tomb in Shechem to celebrate Yosef's memorial by reciting all-night supplications, called Tikun HaYesod, designed to rectify sexual transgression.
Rabbi Nachman taught that sexual temptation is the ultimate test that every Jew faces.

Given the promiscuous society we live in, we are all tested with temptations each day like Yosef, on the streets of our cities, in shopping centers, at the movies. Today, all of the seductions of Potifar’s wife have found their way into our offices and homes in the day to day temptations of our computers. Not only because of the easy accessibility of porn sites on the web. Google and Yahoo may seem harmless, but they are loaded with pitfalls and immodest photos that bring deadly harm to the holy Jewish soul.

Google Eyes - Internetitis

Anyone who navigates his way through a session at the computer without falling into its snares, has successfully overcome temptations equal to Potifar’s Wife and deserves the title of "Tzaddik," just like Yosef.

Potifar's Wife

Because Book Week in Israel always stretches into the next week as well, we are going to honor the memory of Yosef with some words about Rabbi Nachman’s "Tikun Clalli," one of our top ten recommended books. Rabbi Nachman’s Tikun is a rectification for sexual transgression, known as Tikun HaBrit, specifically the spilling of the sexual life force in vain, which can come about in many ways, including the abuse of Internet surfing. As our Sages have taught, "The eyes see, the heart desires, and the body completes the action" (Rashi on BaMidbar, 25:39)

If Rabbi Nachman thought it vital to the spiritual health of the Jewish People to compose his Tikun some two-hundred years ago when the majority of Jewish women in Russia attired themselves in modest dresses with sleeves to the wrist and hems to the heel, how much more so is the remedy needed today when everything is left shamelessly open for everyone to see on the streets of our cities and on our computers at home!

The Tikun Clalli is an arrangement of 10 Psalms, followed by a long and heartfelt confession that was written by Rabbi Nachman’s foremost student, Rabbi Natan. Millions of copies of the Tikun have been distributed in pamphlet form around the world in dozens of languages. It is recited daily by tens of thousands of Jews, not only Breslev Hasidim. Others recite it less frequently, following a sexual mistake. Rabbi Nachman taught that sexual temptation is the ultimate test that every Jew faces. Here are a few things that Rabbi Natan writes in the preface to the Tikun. May they help to strengthen us in our own daily battles and inspire us to emulate the great righteousness of Yosef:

"When the Rebbe revealed this teaching, he started by saying that the first remedy is to immerse in a mikvah, as soon as possible, preferably on the very same day that a person becomes impure. The Rebbe first disclosed the 10 Psalms to the Rabbi of Breslov and to my close friend, Rabbi Naftali of Nemirov. He said to them: ‘Three quarters of the world are caught in this trap. Now I am going to make you witnesses of my words. Know that these 10 Psalms are highly effective in the case of seminal pollution. In fact, they are a complete remedy, and they help very greatly. When a pollution occurs to a person who has been having thoughts and fantasies during the day, it indeed causes evil forces (kelipot) to be created, as is explained in the mystical literature. However, if one recites these 10 Psalms on the same day, it is certainly a very powerful remedy. If one can go to the mikvah and afterwards recite these Psalms, it is excellent. Even if he is unavoidably prevented from immersing, through sickness, for example, or because he is on a journey, happy is he, because they are a great and awesome remedy. If he says them with understanding and devotion, this is certainly very good. But even simply saying the words is very effective.’

"The Rebbe said, ‘When my days are ended and I leave the world, I will intercede for anyone who comes to my grave, recites these 10 Psalms, and gives to charity. No matter how grave his sins and transgressions, I will do everything in my power to save him and cleanse him. I will span the length and breadth of the creation for him. I will take a hold of his side locks and pull him out of hell.’

Rabbi Nachman's Tomb

"The Rebbe told us to: ‘Go out an spread the teaching of these 10 Psalms to all men. It may seem like an easy thing to say 10 Psalms, bit in practice it will prove to be very difficult.’

"The Rebbe warned us of the difficulties from the start. We have done all that we could to make the matter known to all those who seek to purify themselves. Everyone must now do as he sees fit. Listen if you want to, or ignore it of you wish.

"Rebbe Nachman was very insistent that one should not allow oneself to be worried in the slightest by this occurrence, especially now that the remedy of the 10 Psalms is available. Fear and depression are very damaging. By reciting the 10 Psalms on the same day as this occurrence, the sin is completely rectified and the person should have no worries at all. The Rebbe taught us that it is vital to always be joyous and not to become depressed about anything in the world, regardless what happens. If you are absolutely determined to let nothing worry you, in the end you will be worthy of overcoming everything and attaining peace. It is impossible to explain all this in print, but one who has sense will understand."

The 10 Psalms are: 16, 32, 41, 42, 59, 77, 90, 105, 137, 150 to be recited in that order. Books and booklets containing these Psalms and the confession that follows can be found at Jewish bookstores.