Why make Aliya?
Why make Aliya Good question and one that has been asked over the millennia by Jews of every persuasion.
The answer is straight forward but rarely understood by those asking the question.
Why should the question be so difficult to comprehend, it would seem after some two thousand years of exile in the Galut we have managed to imprison ourselves in an Exile mentality, more and more confining and emptied of the Torah of Israel. In the end, the inactivity towards making Aliya eventually turned into apathy at best and outright opposition at worst.
The Diaspora was taking on a life of its own with Jews dispersed all over the world while the Exile was becoming the norm and the Dream of Zion was becoming a never-ending dream.
How did we end up here? Unfortunately, much of the blame rests at the feet of a stumbling leadership, which misleads the people to crisis and failures. Much of the Diaspora leadership demonstrates neither the ability to read the times we live in nor the imperative to make Aliya at all costs.
There was once an old man pursuing a group with the last of his strength, trying to catch up to them, sweating and breathing heavily. When asked why he was determined to follow them, he replied, “I am their leader…!” Now, as then, Jewish leadership fails to lead our people Home. Now more than ever we need leadership endowed with wisdom, fortitude and the courage to inform Diaspora Jews of the fatal danger that lies before them should they fail to eliminate the Diaspora and Return home to the Jewish State. The beginning of the end is here and the time to leave is now. Your brothers and sisters are waiting for you in the Promised Land.
It’s beyond belief that any Jew but in particular a religious Jew should live anywhere other than Israel any more than that Jew would contemplate not wearing Tefillin (Religious Phylactery). And there’s the Rub.
We must take great care to not fall into the trap of “selective Mitzvah observance”. To ignore the Mitzvah of Yishuv Eretz Israel is as if one decided I will not put on tefillin. Without the mitzvah of tefillin, a Jew is simply not behaving as a Jew should behave. If you believe this then you must ask yourself why you choose to ignore the Mitzvah of Yishuv Eretz Yisrael and are prepared to lean on fabricated or dubious proofs at best to avoid confronting this most important issue.
Amongst the religious who are comfortable holding this position, you will find Satmar and Munkatch Chasidim in the forefront of opposition towards those who would make Aliya and buildup the Land.
They would tell you that to build and settle the Land is to “force G-d’s hand;” they also suggest Jews sit back and do nothing while waiting for the Mashiach to descend from the sky and carry us to Eretz Israel on clouds. These teachings were enthusiastically promoted by the Rebbe of Muncacz, Rabbi Chaim Elazar Spira ztl and later by the Satmar Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum ztl.
I suggest you look into the Responsa Minchat Elazar, by the Rebbe of Munkatch should you want to read his reasons for opposing the mitzvah of Yishuv Eretz Israel today.
Unfortunately, these opinions are repeated in the Diaspora by the majority of Rabbis of nearly all backgrounds. While those same Rabbis remain silent on the subject of Yishuv Eretz Israel and it’s place amongst Torah Mitzvot. The Sifri states that dwelling in Eretz Israel is equivalent of all the Mitzvot of the Torah combined. (Sifri Deut 12:29).
Living in Eretz Israel is a mitzvah d’oraita, a mitzvah commanded by the Torah and its a mitzvah for all times and applies in every age. It begs the question once again. How could we as a nation have failed regarding this, mitzvah when ultimately it’s the greatest gift G-d gave us? So many of us have forgotten the Exile is a punishment, not a reward. If you think otherwise then the exile has warped your mind.
The exile was, is and for however long it persists a Chilul Hashem, while our return to Eretz Israel is a Kiddush Hashem. Rashi said, “Israel’s lowliness is a Chilul Hashem, in that the nations say of them, ‘These are the L-rd’s people, and they are gone forth out of His land’ (Ezek.36:20), yet He is unable to save them.”
The facts are the Torah makes it a duty for every Jew to make Aliya and there can be no effective revival of the mission of the Jewish people and of the message of the Torah outside the Land of Israel.
1948 declared the time has come to break free of the Exile and the Ghetto mentality that confines every Jew in the Diaspora from fulfilling its authentic mission being a Light unto the nations in Eretz Israel.
Why make Aliya? Simple It’s a commandement. When next laying tefillin you might want to think about that!
“Should you want further information on this subject or you require assistance making Aliya pleas leave a message and your email and we will get back to you within five working days”.
(To be continued…)
