- This topic has 9 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 7 hours, 37 minutes ago by .
-
Posts
-
I’ve often wondered why people almost completely ignore the Mitzva of living in EY. Its all over Torah. Its all over Davening. Its all over the Tefillos of Yomim Noraim. Its staring us straight in the face but we avert our gaze and pretend its not there. Why? What is so frightening about Geulah that we refuse to acknowledge it? The theme of Geula and the rebuilding of Yerushalyim is in so many modern-day songs that its almost ridiculous how its also ignored with the same intensity. Many will quote a certain Shitta that claims that we cannot return to Israel until Moshach comes. This is a daas Yochid and in diametric opposition to Rashi, Rambam, Rabeinu Bechayey, and many more Rishonim. What about EY today is so disturbing that many “Golus” Jews grab at this shitta with a passion? Many will say, Its secular, the Zionists are mushchosim, they persecute Lomdai Torah ,etc etc. (I’m not bringing any more of the myriad complaints people have so as not to speak slander about Hashem’s home) Therefore, the Mitzva of Yishuv EY is null and void? How come Israeli yeshiva boys dont have such extreme hashkofos? They aren’t consumed by hate for the state and don’t have deep hashkofos about what the early zionists did? It’s just not an issue. (Until they started arresting them)
In my opinion, like a childless couple who beg Hashem for children and the kids grow up very differently from the parents and the parents wonder Lanaar Hazeh Hispalati? Are these the children that we prayed for? After centuries of davening for tzion – EY is open to every Jew, just come. The state of israel practically begs Jews – especially from the West to come Home – because normal balanced Western Jews add so much to Israeli society. But there is but a trickle. Why?
I think the Jews of Developed countries are sure that there has been a mistake. Were the babies switched at birth? Are you sure this is my baby? It doesn’t look like us. How can it be ours? The Neviim describe the ultimate gift of redemption and a return to Tzion but this sure doesnt feel like a gift! This is hard, This is challenging this is uncomfortable and not what we ordered. There must be some mistake!! This cannot be. This is not what is says in the Novi!! Go away – we are waiting for the true redemption not this!! We will wait for the Geula to come as we imagined. היינו כחולמים??? Are you kidding? This is not such a pleasant dream!! Wait but how do we justify our rejection of this strange-looking transitional stage of the footsteps of moshiach? How do we ignore this weird hybrid of אור וחושך משמשים בערבוביה?
Well my friends – This is the Dissonance of Redemption!! We are in a transition stage. We are transitioning from Golus to Geulah, stage after stage and its a struggle because there are forces in this world who dont want this to happen and maybe this is the picture of the poor man on a donkey. One of the options for Moshiah to come. I’ve never ridden on a donkey but it doesnt seem very pleasant. I would say that its hot, its bumpy , its slow, the desert sand can blow into my eyes, I am exposed to the elements as well as dangerous hooligans along the way. My compass is unclear and I may stray from the path on my way to my preferred destination. And this Moshiach is also poor – This dosent make for such a good sales pitch. Is this the answer to 2000 years of tefillos? The picture is messy, uncomfortable, and just plain difficult. What do we do now?
We have 2 choices. The first is to either to roll up our sleeves, put on our working clothes and pitch in. Its hard, its messy, my nails are black, my hands are calloused, I’m exposed to the elements but The Tate’s home must be returned to its rightful owner and we , the children of Avraham Yitzchak and Yaakov have got to do the job – no matter what. There are squatters in our Father’s home , we must do all we can to restore its rightful owner.
Or we can j-u-s-t n-o-t s-e-e i-t! Its too hard to see, its too painful, its too disappointing. I choose to ignore it.
Unfortunately, there is a limit to how long it can be ignored.
We are nearing the time that we will have to deal with the Dissonance of Redemption, we will have to deal with our deepest disappointments. We will need to realize that we are in a process which will lead to the Ultimate Dream of redemption but we all need to pitch in. We all have a job to do. EY will never reach its zenith when its children are dispersed because – what do you know – you are the repairmen. And until the repairmen will arrive the fridge will leak, the washing machine will stain the clothes and the printer will smudge until the technicians arrive. We are waiting.I know, right? People like Rav Moshe Feinstein, Rav Ahron Kotler, Rav Yaakov Kaminetzky, the Chofetz Chaim, Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinski, Rav Shimon Shkop, Rav Yisrael Salanter, The Ben Ish Chai, The Rogatchover Gaon, the Alter of Slabodka, Rav Elchonon Wasserman, Rav Meir Shapiro, The Chasam Sofer, The Vilna Gaon, The Baal Shem Tov, The Noda B’Yehuda, The Pele Yoetz, The Rema, The Mechaber, The Rosh, The Rif, Rabbeinu Tam and even Rashi didn’t live in Eretz Yisroel.
You should have been around to correct them all.
Joe,
It’s not a good teretz, some of the names on your list tried immigrating to ארץ ישראל
Obviously the mitzvah isnt a מצוה חייבת rather one gets שכר if he does
Your unrelenting attempts at advocacy to ensure the rights of the frum community are not only commendable but outright awe-inspiring! Orthodox organizations stand by their communities, fighting any possible hindrance to their freedom of speech, religion, etc. The frequent large-scale Torah Events are exciting, inviting, highly professional, and a true Kiddush Hashem. Honestly, it is to be envied by other communities! The accomplishments are impressive as well. Bills passed, funds allocated to Jewish Education, lifting the heavy burden of Tuition, stepping in for someone who was discriminated against for Shabbos Observance, Lobbying on Capitol Hill, and developing real friendships with Politicians who appreciate our communities. I can go on and on and on and its all true. BUT. What if all the above doesn’t succeed? What if your friends in the government are unable to help despite their goodwill? What happens if anti-Semitism doesn’t like your advocacy and persists no matter what? What happens if the situation gets worse, as it already is? And the real QUESTION? What if G- D Forbid Golus America ends like 100% of the other goluses??? What do we do then? Is there a plan B? I don’t want to get descriptive. It’s not necessary. WE NEED PLAN B!!
I would like to make a suggestion based on a Possuk in yeshayahu פרק ד פסוק ג. Yes, I am suggesting preparing American Jewry for mass Aliyah, and I even have a plan. Send a delegation for a series of meetings with Government Ministers, Minister of Housing, Minister of Labor, Minister of Education, Minister of Aliyah. (Yes Israeli Ministers) Say to them, we are preparing our communities for mass Aliyah. We want our communities and their families to be able to live near one another and to retain our culture, our educational system etc. We need proper and adequate employment and social services. We need shuls, schools, yeshivos, seminaries, etc. Lay down the infrastructure NOW! Don’t wait till it’s too late! I don’t like to beg, but I hereby beg you – Do it NOW!
It can be done. There are large empty expanses of land – in Yerushalaim and close by, and in other places as well. – Tell the Minister of Housing – You allocate the land, we will bring the builders (not the kind who build in every possible meter leaving no space for greenery, etc) the prices will be government-regulated for 18 months, during which period of time only people from X community will be able to buy. After 18 months, anyone will be able to buy. Within these new neighborhoods, there will have to be lots allocated for shuls, schools, yeshivos AND playgrounds, beautiful green parks etc. The Rabbonim of the shuls will only be able to be from X community as so too the principals of the schools and the Roshei Yeshiva. Demand easier conditions for opening businesses, easier taxation – whatever! (Dont worry you won’t get all you ask for- but it’s a beginning.)
Aliyah has many challenges but when done together, it’s a whole different story.
I know that I’ll be hit in the face with all sorts of hashkafos that serve the purpose of easing guilt over staying put, but times have changed. We are on the threshold of worldwide changes that we cannot foresee their results. WE MUST HAVE A PLAN B!I agree and appreciate your depiction of the current confusing and paradoxical reality of mixture of ohr and choshech.
1. What is the source that we need to clean that mess thru yishuv EY ? Maybe its the other aveiros we are doing – sinas chinam, bitul torah, etc, so maybe more Kiruv, learning, ahavas yisrel, Lashon hara etc? Where is it stated we get out of the jail we were sentanced to by breaking the bars? Doesnt the Chofetz Chaim say sinas chinam=lashon hara and when we fix that we will be zoche to the real unmixed EY?
2. An aside but not sure how accurate this is “How come Israeli yeshiva boys dont have such extreme hashkofos? They aren’t consumed by hate for the state and don’t have deep hashkofos about what the early zionists did? It’s just not an issue. (Until they started arresting them)” Serously? Charedi Yeshiva boys are ambivilant the medina? IN Chu”l we are more busy being consumed with anti the state? This is news to me.
Eva LiMoshav Lo:
In addition to UJM’s point, which means that you should take your wonderment to your LOR to get what is therefore an obvious answer given that, you are also conflating two very different things: geulah and the subsequent return to E”Y with Mashiach versus the Zionist invasion of E”Y and the cataclysmic mess that resulted (which they knew would happen but didn’t care).Hashem told us that Eliyahu haNavi will come to announce the geulah. That hasn’t happened yet, as of this writing.
What has happened instead is, as Rav Elchonon Wasserman called it, “galus under the yevsektzia”, which is “the worst galus of all”.Chacham adif miNavi.
Evalim, you have a good point. I don’t want to argue with that. I just want to say that what may seem “normal” to you may not be so normal to others.
> They aren’t consumed by hate for the state and don’t have deep hashkofos about what the early zionists did? It’s just not an issue. (Until they started arresting them)
Seeing (maybe a small number) jumping on buildings, gas stations, unfinished buildings, while the rest of the crowd passing by; as well as overall idea of ignoring the needs and views of the rest of the society – as much as some want to celebrate this, as much others do not want to be a part of. We discussed both sides here in detail, so we don’t need to rehash, but this is just one part of calculation that come for some. As Chofetz Chaim himself felt that he did not want to be torn between two groups he would have to visit …
evalemoshiv is a pity to behold
he is convinced that he is the only one who sees the light …
all gdolei yisrael kdoshei elyon beki’m bechol hatorah be ‘iyun , yerei shamayim muflagim are in the dark …
only evalemoshiv knows better ….
is there a medicine for evalemoshiv’s illness ?
.
.ujm your post is either ignorance or leitzanus (though the tone sounds more like leitzonus)
i think before you answer you should check what the rabbeim that you brought down held in the sugya of mitvas yishuv eretz yisroel bec. there is a mitzva d’oraisa, the ques. is what happened to it?To the group
I’m going to take a surprising position and support Eval. In 1972 (I think), Rabbi Kahane spoke at the Bialystoker Shul on the LES. He railed into those who don’t make Aliyah. I was a teenager at the time. I felt he was right, but I didn’t want to go because I felt that I could have an easier and “better’ life in America. In retrospect, I think I was wrong. The Gemara says, “Rachmana Liba Boi.” Hashem wants our hearts. The fact that so many Jews who could have gone to Israel haven’t done so is not a good thing. I think we should apologize to Hashem if we’re in that group. I’ll just add one point, “For all of us who are now living in Chutz Laaretz, how many will leave our cushy lives and go to Israel when Moshiach comes?” Let’s discuss this point. Eval opened a very important subject.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.