Reply To: DO WE REALLY HAVE A GOOD EXCUSE TO LIVE IN CHUTZ LA'ARETZ?

I”ll add my two agurot.
I don’t know if it’s an obligation or a good idea or just plain permissible to make Aliyah.
But how could someone seriously say that it is assur? The issue is discussed by the nosei keilim on Even HaEzer siman 75, especially the Pitchei Tshuva – the opinion of R. Chaim in Tosafot that it is assur is a talmid toeh and is not considered a valid shita.
Lets look at some statistical projections – In a few short years a majority of the world’s Jews will be living in Israel – Eretz Yisrael. I think eveyone could agree that is a tremendous thing.
For about 50 years ahead – it is projected that they”ll be about 20 million Jews in the world of which 80% will be in Israel (that’s about 16 million). You don’t want your grandchildren to be part of this? What is going to be left of American Jewry by that point?
In terms of Torah and Mitzvot – in my experience, much further ahead here on this one. Simple example, I recite Birkat Kohanim (duchanin) every day. For just that, it was worth making aliyah 25 years ago.