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Iyar 1, 5768, 5/6/2008
Happy Barbecue, Friends
The Torah states again and again and again that G-d wants the Jews to live in Israel. So how can it be that some Jews think the very opposite, believing they are following the Torah by living in gentile lands, and that Medinat Yisrael is the worst exile ever?
This is especially puzzling since the Talmud teaches that whoever lives in the Diaspora is like someone who has no G-d, as the Torah verse says: “I am Hashem your G-d, Who took you out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, to be your G-d,” meaning that in the Land of Israel, Hashem is our G-d, and not when we live outside of it (Ketubot 110B).
We have already explained this startling statement in a previous blog, but since it is so overwhelming in its import, we will take the time to explain it again by reminding readers of what the Ramban teaches at the end of the Torah portion that we recently read, “Achre Mot.”
In explaining the uniqueness of Eretz Yisrael, the Ramban describes how G-d assigned celestial ministers (angels) to rule over all of the countries in the world, excluding Israel, where G-d alone reigns. In the Land of Israel, a Jew’s connection to G-d is direct. Thus the Land of Israel is known as the Holy Land. In contrast, outside of the Land of Israel, a Jew can only reach G-d through the intermediary angel that rules over that land. In effect, when a Jew prays in the Diaspora, his prayer goes up to the national angel of America, or the national angel of Japan. This is what the Talmud means when it states that a Jew who lives in the Diaspora is like someone who has no G-d.
This is the reason that praying feels flat and hollow in the Diaspora, and why the Jewish Holidays feel empty of meaning there, as the Ramban states: “For the principle meaning of the commandments are for those Jews who reside in the Land of Israel” (Ramban on the Torah, Vayikra, 18:25). The performance of the commandments in the Diaspora, he explains, is merely like practice, “so we don’t forget how to do them when we return to Eretz Yisrael” (ibid). In essence, the practice of Judaism outside the Land is like an exercise bicycle to keep us in shape until we come back to Israel. The bicycle will help to keep your body in decent condition, but it won’t take you anywhere.
These interfering angels not only adversely affect the Diaspora’s Jew’s performance of Judaism, they also affects his thoughts. The foreign angels appointed over the countries in the Diaspora determine the cultures, languages, and beliefs of the people living there. These foreign ideas and values seep into the brain through a process of cultural osmosis. For the nations of the world, this is the way things are supposed to be. But when it happens to a Jew who is living in a foreign land, if he is not connected to the Land of Israel through his prayerful yearnings for Zion, through his occupation with the secrets of Torah, or through fervent activities on behalf of the settlement in Israel, then his brain can become lobotomized, as if it has been soaked in a jar of formaldehyde for years.
His intellectual faculties can become so confused that he comes to believe that living in a foreign land is a mitzvah, even though the Torah plainly states the very opposite time and time again.
We don’t ignore the fact that there are many problems in Israel. After all, we live in a world of tikun. It is our job to make things better. But after 2000 years of Egyptian zevel, and Babylonian zevel, and Greek and Roman zevel, and Moslem zevel, and Christian zevel, and German zevel, and Soviet zevel, and Turkish, British, and American zevel, thank G-d that today, with the establishment of the State of Israel, the zevel we have to contend with is our own.
This year on Israel Independence Day, I have decided to print out the talkbacks of the scorners who discourage Jews from living in Israel, and use them to light the coals of our holiday barbecue. That way, by helping to cook our hamburgers, chicken wings, and marshmallows, they will have a part in the festive celebration. Let that be their tikun for all of the negatives things they have written this year about the mitzvah of living in Israel. Let it be like a sacrificial offering of thanksgiving for them, thanking G-d for having granted us our own Jewish State in our eternal Jewish homeland, after an exile of nearly two thousand years.
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Nissan 30, 5768, 5/5/2008
Guest Blogger - Rob, usa
I am better suited for writing technical articles on my companies web site explaining the functions of modern motor vehicle systems and related technologies. In fact I have spent most of my adult life in study of the chemistry, engineering, mathematics, computer science, electronics, metallurgy behind this technology. I and others consider myself an expert in this field. I am much better at re-engineering an electrical circuit for better performance and reliability than I would ever be at explaining why Aliyah is important, But I will give it a shot.
I am not an expert in Torah, in fact, I became interested and aroused after my grandmother, who was an orthodox Jew, passed away. I will spare you the details of my family history as I am sure others have far more interesting and amazing stories. When I hear people who say Aliyah is suicide, and accuse the faithful Jews of Israel of doing nothing, I find it offensive and demeaning to those who first and foremost, pioneered the modern state of Israel, and those who choose to obey the mitzvah. As I stated, I am not an expert but I do not recall Hashem telling us to wait until those who are already in the land, "fix all the problems there" before we have to obey His command, common sense would indicate otherwise.
I have read long eloquent Talk back's explaining all the reasons for not making Aliyah, some of the reasons actually make sense when looked at from a secular, humanistic view. yes rockets continue to fall on towns in the Negev, security forces are to be withdrawn from the so called settlement area's, leaving the jewish who live there without protection, but I am not in any way discouraged or seriously alarmed by these reports, Why?, because every Jew I have met from the land of Israel has an inner peace and optimism that could only come from living in the land. I have neither of these things in my life, sure, I can make as much money equal to the amount of effort put forth, but money does not bring peace. I live in a nice place in the foothills of a western mountain range, very beautiful country, but it somehow does not even compare in my mind, to a picture of any town in Israel where Jews are living.
To call me a fool, or tell me it is suicide to make Aliyah, and to not drag others down with me when they do not know my motivation and dedication to my ideology, and my fellow Jews, is a very presumptuous and arrogant, and in itself foolish. This is a personal decision, an agreement to follow Hashem and obey his laws, something that is very difficult in the Diaspora. I have to ask myself, am I responsible in part for holding up redemption?.what purpose do I personally serve living outside of the land?. These are honest questions that only I can give a satisfactory answer. These are questions every Jew living in galut should be asking themselves, listening to the voice of Hashem, and not to those who have decided Aliyah is suicide for one reason or other.
It has been a long time hope to live in the land of Israel. all these years of spinning my wheels, looking for something that is not here, I have finally realized where completeness lies. To preempt those who would counter my opinion, I have been shot at by hostiles and returned fire in like, fought with authorities, challenged superiors , protested both in non violent and semi non violent fashion, and lived as a law abiding, taxpaying citizen as well. I am up to any challenge life in Israel has to offer. Rob, usa
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Nissan 29, 5768, 5/4/2008
The Greatest Exile of All
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Hollywood to the Holy Land
by Tzvi Fishman
Tzvi Fishman was awarded the Israel Ministry of Education Prize for Jewish Creativity and Culture
Before making Aliyah to Israel in 1984, Tzvi Fishman was a successful Hollywood screenwriter. He has co-authored 4 books with Rabbi David Samson, based on the teachings of Rabbis A. Y. Kook and T. Y. Kook.
His other books include: The Kuzari For Young Readers and Tuvia in the Promised Land. His most recent book, Secret of the Brit, can be found at JewishSexuality.com, along with an abbreviated online version. |
