Reply To: Don’t build more galuyot.

Home Forums Rants Don’t build more galuyot. Reply To: Don’t build more galuyot.

#1262287
WinnieThePooh
Participant

From various comments here, it seems clear that there are various definitions of the term galus
1. literal, exiled from the Homeland, living anywhere but E”Y. This is not dependent on whether there is a beis hamikdash or not- for example, 10 hashevatim went into galus way before the churban bayis I.
2. Used as a general term to describe the overall tragedy that followed the destruction of the beis hamikdash, being persecuted by goyim, spiritual failures, hester panim, etc. This is not dependent on geographical location.
3. As Geordie used it, to refer to subjugation by a specific nation, which meant loss of political independence and loss of freedom to practice Torah. Again, this is independent of the Beis Hamikdash. According to chazal, we are in galus roma (with a contribution from Yishmael) now until Mashiach comes.
So while Jews living in E”Y are not in galus in the literal sense of definition 1, they are by definitions 2 and 3.