If there's ever been a time to think seriously about making aliyah, that time is now.
Our people have been praying to the Almighty throughout the centuries for the Final Redemption. Our sages have instructed us that in the End of Days, preceding the Final Redemption, our people will have begun returning home in considerable numbers. This process is already well underway.
Right now, the majority of the global Jewish population still resides outside of Israel, but not by much. Every Jewish soul that relocates to Israel counts for two in this calculation; one towards increasing Israel's Jewish population, and one towards decreasing the number of Jews residing outside of Israel.
Religious or Political?
Whichever school of thought you're coming from, the Jewish Homeland is, was and will be in the Land of Israel. Not the United States, not the United Kingdom and certainly not Uganda. Still, after so many generations of wandering, "Next Year in Jerusalem" has lost meaning for some of us. Why stand and wave a flag at a pro-Israel rally in Washington, London or Toronto, when you can be contributing daily by living in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa or Netanya?
It baffles me to hear Jews in the Diaspora complaining about Israel trading land for promises of peace with the Palestinians. I'm not a fan of these policies either, only because I don't believe they will be successful. However, as long as I'm not living in Israel, paying taxes in Israel, serving in the IDF, celebrating holidays on holy land or voting in Israel, who am I to complain?
G-d has shifted history for us such that we now have the option of going home without considerable difficulty, compared with the previous generations, who faced much peril on their road to Jerusalem.
Imagine if Nefesh B'Nefesh had been available to the Jews of Eastern Europe in the early 20th century? Or to the Jews of Spain in the Middle Ages?
What is Nefesh B'Nefesh?
Are you serious? If you still haven't heard of Nefesh B'Nefesh (NBN), I'd be honored and delighted to tell you a little bit about them.
NBN is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing Jews home. They've been at it for a few years so far. They help in so many ways. NBN has entire departments devoted to helping new olim find jobs and communities to live in. They also provide financial assistance to eligible applicants to help them get started.
Big Picture
We've been all over the world throughout our history. Often from one exile into the next. The only place left to go is home. North America is currently home to the majority of our people. Next is Israel, followed by England and France. When the majority of our people have settled in Israel, interesting things are sure to happen. In a political sense, most likely, and in a religious sense, most certainly.
What are you waiting for? Moshiach? It's coming. The Rambam said so. I believe him.
Seasonal Sentimentality
Following the holiday of Sukkot, let's keep in mind the differences between all that is temporary and all that is permanent. In starting to read the Torah again, let's try to understand it better this year.
Our people have been praying to the Almighty throughout the centuries for the Final Redemption. Our sages have instructed us that in the End of Days, preceding the Final Redemption, our people will have begun returning home in considerable numbers. This process is already well underway.
Right now, the majority of the global Jewish population still resides outside of Israel, but not by much. Every Jewish soul that relocates to Israel counts for two in this calculation; one towards increasing Israel's Jewish population, and one towards decreasing the number of Jews residing outside of Israel.
Religious or Political?
Whichever school of thought you're coming from, the Jewish Homeland is, was and will be in the Land of Israel. Not the United States, not the United Kingdom and certainly not Uganda. Still, after so many generations of wandering, "Next Year in Jerusalem" has lost meaning for some of us. Why stand and wave a flag at a pro-Israel rally in Washington, London or Toronto, when you can be contributing daily by living in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa or Netanya?
It baffles me to hear Jews in the Diaspora complaining about Israel trading land for promises of peace with the Palestinians. I'm not a fan of these policies either, only because I don't believe they will be successful. However, as long as I'm not living in Israel, paying taxes in Israel, serving in the IDF, celebrating holidays on holy land or voting in Israel, who am I to complain?
G-d has shifted history for us such that we now have the option of going home without considerable difficulty, compared with the previous generations, who faced much peril on their road to Jerusalem.
Imagine if Nefesh B'Nefesh had been available to the Jews of Eastern Europe in the early 20th century? Or to the Jews of Spain in the Middle Ages?
What is Nefesh B'Nefesh?
Are you serious? If you still haven't heard of Nefesh B'Nefesh (NBN), I'd be honored and delighted to tell you a little bit about them.
NBN is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing Jews home. They've been at it for a few years so far. They help in so many ways. NBN has entire departments devoted to helping new olim find jobs and communities to live in. They also provide financial assistance to eligible applicants to help them get started.
Big Picture
We've been all over the world throughout our history. Often from one exile into the next. The only place left to go is home. North America is currently home to the majority of our people. Next is Israel, followed by England and France. When the majority of our people have settled in Israel, interesting things are sure to happen. In a political sense, most likely, and in a religious sense, most certainly.
What are you waiting for? Moshiach? It's coming. The Rambam said so. I believe him.
Seasonal Sentimentality
Following the holiday of Sukkot, let's keep in mind the differences between all that is temporary and all that is permanent. In starting to read the Torah again, let's try to understand it better this year.