Rabbi Yonah Goodman
Rabbi Yonah GoodmanYoni Kempinski

Rabbi Yonah Goodman, Director of the Institute for Contemporary Religious Education at Orot Teachers College and former secretary-general of Bnei Akiva, spoke to Arutz Sheva on Monday about the challenges facing young religious Zionist emissaries being sent around the world.

Speaking at the sidelines of an event at Bar Ilan University meant to prepare the young emissaries, which was hosted by the Mizrachi World Movement and the World Zionist Organization, the rabbi spoke about the mission of the youths.

They are "planning to dedicate a year or two years of their life in order to deepen the ties between the Jews of the world and Eretz Yisrael (the land of Israel - ed.)," he said.

While noting the importance of respecting the challenges Jews abroad face in making the decision to make aliyah (immigration) to Israel, he noted that "sooner or later Am Yisrael (the Jewish nation) is going to be home."

In approaching Jews living in the exile the rabbi emphasized that what is needed is a "mutual meeting," rather than preaching to them the need to come to Israel.

He added that it is important for emissaries to view their task as being a part of an overall life mission of returning Jews to their homeland and strengthening Israel.

"Sooner or later Am Yisrael is going to be in Eretz Yisrael," he reiterated, but noted that one must respect each individual's pace of reaching Israel, and focus on education among Jewish communities in the exile.