Making a Living in Israel

I am a professional film producer based in NY who is looking to make aliyah.  My only reservation in moving to Israel is the lack of a job.  How can someone like myself who was very successful in the business (and never compromised his Yiddishkeit) make a living in Israel?  I am not looking to make millions, just a living wage to support a family of six.  Do you have any suggestions?

Answer:

The issue of aliyah and making a living is a legitimate concern. The Zohar says that our forefather, Avraham, searched for the place in the world where he could get as close as possible to G-d. This burning desire of Avraham was the catalyst that brought G-d to command him, “Get thee forth to the Land that I will show you.” Rashi explains that the double language, “Lech lecha,” was to reassure Avraham that the move was for his ultimate good and that it would bring him and his descendents great spiritual and material blessing. After all, it is no small challenge and test of faith to give up your country of birth, social standing, and livelihood to move to another land. And indeed, at first, things did not go easily for Avraham. There was a famine in the land! But, eventually, Avraham became a very rich man.

This uncertainty, challenge, and difficulty is common to all olim. The word canaan, as in the land of Canaan, also has the meaning of humbleness and poverty. The lowering of one’s status is part of the immigration process, helping to break impure traits of pride and ego which prevent a person from getting closer to G-d. Aliyah means to go up, and therefore, the first and foremost goal of each new immigrant to Israel should be spiritual - to get closer to G-d. When a person holds fast to this goal, clinging to it at all times, even through periods of difficulty and change, G-d’s blessing flows in its wake.  

In practical terms, when you first make aliyah, you indeed may not be able to make a living as a film producer. You may have to get to know the right people first, learn the language, etc. You may have to make videos of bar mitzvahs and weddings to have some income coming in before you make the bigger, professional films that you are accustomed to making. And it may turn out that you won’t be able to find a niche in the film business here, and you may have to change your profession. But always remember, “Is G-d’s hand too short that He cannot provide for you and your family?” Just like He provided for us in the Wilderness, He provides for us still today, each person according to what is best for his needs. Does a shepherd not provide for his sheep? Remember, “The L-rd is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.” These reassuring words of King David should be your mantra during your passage and time of transition.

Hopefully, other readers will have some words of advice.

May you remain strong in your holy decision, and may Hashem bless you and your family in the great adventure ahead.   

Down with the Hooligans

I have question regarding the proper attitude toward Medinat Yisrael, in light of the Oslo Agreement, the disengagement from Gush Katif, Amona, and the expulsion from the Peace House in Hevron.

I know that Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Kook taught that the statehood of Israel is holy, but for a long time now the government in Israel has been turning against Jews who don't conform to its secular agenda. Certainly, surrendering pieces of the land of Israel to the enemy isn’t holy behavior. It seems to me that by looking at the State of Israel as holy, this paralyzes us from taking the necessary steps to bring about the drastic changes needed to put things back on their proper Torah course.

Answer:

As we have written in many blogs, there is a positive commandment of the Torah for the Jewish People to conquer and dwell in the Land of Israel. This commandment is repeated time and again in the Torah. The settlement of the Land of Israel is the foundation for all of the Torah. As the Ramban explains, the commandments were given to be performed in the Land of Israel. The Torah can only be observed in all of its fullness in the Land of Israel. So important is this mitzvah, our Sages have said that it is equal in weight to all of the commandments in the Torah.

Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Kook explained that conquering and dwelling in the Land of Israel means establishing a national state to impose Jewish sovereignty over the land. We are commanded to establish a Jewish State in the Land of Israel. Thus, Medinat Yisrael is holy in its being the vehicle which enables the Jewish People to perform this all-encompassing mitzvah.

But here a distinction must be made. Yes, Jewish statehood over the Land of Israel is a holy mitzvah. Nevertheless, governments may arise within the State that flagrantly transgress the Torah. While these governments may be corrupt and work in opposition to the true goals of the Jewish People as set down by Hashem in the Torah, they do not nullify the holiness of the State, which continues to enable the Jewish People to dwell in the Land of Israel.

A few examples may help shed light on his important distinction. Let’s say that a man erects a succah. On the second day of the holiday of Succot, hooligans show up and take over his succah. They kick him out and open a gambling hall in the succah. Now even though the succah is being used for evil purposes, gamblers can still sit in it and recite the blessing over dwelling in a succah. The succah retains its holiness even though it is being used in a sinful way.

Similarly, when the Greeks took over the Temple in Jerusalem and set up idols in the sanctuary, the Temple did not lose its holy standing. As soon as the Maccabees regained control, Temple services could continue as before.

In a similar way, the fact that hooligans have taken over the political leadership in Israel does not nullify the intrinsic holiness of the Jewish State. It is the political leaders and their governments who are corrupt. Not the State. For instance, if all of the religious in Israel would unite into one large political party that would attract a large block of voters, and if all of the faithful readers of INN would make aliyah, the tables could be overturned in swift fashion, and a Torah government could be established to replace the band of hooligans who have presently hijacked the State.

For our part, we must do all we can to bring about this turnaround by opposing the hooligans at every turn, without giving in to weariness or despair. This isn’t a simple task for the faithful readers of INN have a hundred excuses for not making aliyah, and the religious parties have a hundred excuses for not joining together. In the meantime, the hooligans continue to damage and destroy. But just like the Hellenists of old, their downfall will come, and Hashem’s promise to the Jewish People will be fulfilled, “For Torah will go forth from Zion and the word of G-d from Jerusalem.”

Eyewitness Report

It's been a sad day for the Jews. Around noon, with ongoing negotiations between the settlers and Defense Department, and talk of a possible compromise, lots of people started leaving the Peace House for a rest and to make preparations for Shabbat. Outside, the mood was calm. There was even a pick-up basketball game with a tire for a hoop. Journalists were everywhere. I went down to the Cave of the Patriarchs to pray. As I was returning to the Peace House, the bad guys were already on the way. They took the house by surprise. We were caught off guard. There were lots of screams, noise grenades, gas bombs. The army and police did a quick, professional job. First they took over the roof and worked their way downstairs. Resistance was minimal. Barak's gorillas didn't hesitate to beat kids with their clubs and drag people away handcuffed and bleeding. Clusters of girls screamed and cried as the wounded were rushed to ambulances. Soldiers kept us forcefully away from the building. My arm was twisted in a very unpleasant fashion. But it could have been worse. Not every soldier acted like an ape. Arabs on rooftops started to pelt us with rocks and cement blocks. Youths scattered into adjacent Arab neighborhoods to express their rage. Here are some photos. We'll have more to say about the meaning of this sad day in another blog.

Basketball just before evacuation

Women's Section

Media all over the place

Last Kaddish

Surrounding building

Soldiers take the roof

One of the many wounded

Arabs throw rocks on us

Rescue car smashed

Soldiers beat youth

balagan!

We shall return!