Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Kummunique - Issue 5, Parshat Noach 5766
Kummunique - Kumah's Shabbat and Holiday Bulletin
Issue 5, Parshat Noach 5766
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Shalom! We are proud to present another issue of Kummunique.
This issue is flooded with Aliyah and Eretz Yisrael inspiration - so enjoy!
In this issue you will find:
1. "Welcome back to your life! (and Moroccan Fish)" by Malkah Fleisher
2. "Ram Cheshvan" by Yishai Fleisher
3. "Aliyah: An Un-Orthodox Demand?"
4. "An Open Letter to American (Orthodox) Jewry" by Orit
5. "An Invitation To Return Home" by Eli Newman
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1. "Welcome back to your life!" by Malkah Fleisher
Thank goodness for all those holidays we just celebrated, and thank goodness that we're now back to our daily grinds, looking forward to only one sanctified day a week. Those of you who woke up somewhere in the Diaspora this morning are likely gearing up for serious overtime and groveling, promising The Man that you will make up all that work you failed so miserably to do, because of that nagging "Jewishness" you must continually profess. For those of you who woke up in the brisk air of a bright Jewish future, nursing your chocolate milk in a bag and chopping some tomatoes and cucumbers for breakfast, you're likely refreshed by a month's worth of holidays, ready to get back to work, where you will swap holiday anecdotes and revel in the knowledge that the company you and your colleagues work for paid you all half time for barely a stitch of work this whole month. Reason number 5,766 for making Aliyah.
This week is parshat Noach - insult, intrigue, and boats. In the story of the flood, we are reminded that justice can be harsh, and that G-d's kindness can be very gentle. Noach is saved, the world lives on, and fruitfulness and multiplication builds a new world. One creature, a symbol of fruitfulness itself, was said to have been saved from the annihilation brought by the flood - the fish. The fish is known to be part of its environment - it lives and breathes water. She is a metaphor for an ideal, a righteous Jewish life - breathing and living Torah everyday, all day, naturally. Though the State of Israel is far from the ideal nation-state we've envisioned, the Land of Israel is still the perfect place for raising ideal Jews, Jews who are a physical part of their environment, an environment which nurtures and loves them and IS them. Fish are especially blessed, Jews are especially blessed. Sounds like a good match. So in honor of the special Jews and the special fish, here's a great recipe from one of the great fallen exiles:
Malkah's Moroccan fish:
A kilo and a half of fish fillets (I like the really meaty fish, but don't use salmon)
4 potatoes, roasted and sliced
2 red or yellow peppers, sliced and sauteed
2 Tomatoes, quartered
Charmoula sauce:
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1/2 cup chopped parsley (or you can just use a cup of cilantro. If you really love cilantro, use more - why not?)
5 cloves garlic, chopped
5 Tablespoons lemon juice (you can reduce this if you're not a big lemon lover)
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp ground cumin (you can increase to a teaspoon if you'd like)
1/2 cup olive oil
pepper to taste
Preheat your oven to 425 Farenheit (aka: crank it up pretty hot). In a food processor, toss in all the ingredients for Charmoula sauce, and pulse a bit, until it's pretty well blended and the pieces are pretty small. If you don't have a food processor, just mince the greens and garlic, and mix with the other ingredients of the sauce. In a baking pan, lay roasted potato slices, peppers and tomatoes. Arrange the fish over the vegetables. Season with salt and pepper and top with the Charmoula sauce. Bake 10 to 15 minutes (covered is preferrable). Voila - a feast fit for an ark full of your favorite people.
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2. "Ram Cheshvan" by Yishai Fleisher
Happy New Month - Rosh Chodesh Sameach!!!
Usually people will tell you that this month, Cheshvan, is called Mar, bitter. Usually people will tell you that we have no holidays this month either.
However, if you flip Mar it becomes Ram, which means great. Indeed this month is great, and it does have holidays....
In 1166 Maimonides, the Rambam, visited the Holy Land and this is what he wrote:
"We left Acco for Jerusalem under perilous conditions. I entered into 'the great and holy house' (the site of the Holy Temple) and prayed there, on the sixth day of the month of Cheshvan. And on the first day of the week, the ninth day of the month of Cheshvan, I left Jerusalem for Hebron to kiss the graves of my forefathers in the Cave of Machpela. And on that very day I stood in the Cave and I prayed, praised be G-d for everything. And these two days, the sixth (when he prayed on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem) and the ninth of Mar-Heshvan I vowed to make as a special holiday and in which I will rejoice with prayer, food and drink. May the Lord help me to keep my vows.."
So the Rambam came to the Land and made Aliyah to the holy places, and it was in the 6th and the 9th of Cheshvan that he vowed to celebrate every year.
The 11th of Cheshvan is the Yartzeit of Rachel Emeinu, the matriarch Rachel. Rachel is closely associated with Aliyah because of this famous passage:
Yirmiyahu 31
15. Thus says G-d: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.
16. Thus says G-d: Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded, says G-d; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.
17. There is hope for your future, says G-d; and your children shall come again to their own border.
Rachel weeps for her children, waiting for them to come home. When we do come home, it is important for us to come to her, to Kever Rachel, and to say: "Eema, we have finally come home to you." It is for this reason that the 11th of Cheshvan is a good day for the creation of a new Jewish holiday: Aliyah Day.
Also, every Cheshvan we read Parshat Lech Lecha, the story of Abraham leaving his place of birth and being the first Jew to set foot on the Land of Israel:
Bereishit 12
1. Now G-d said to Abram, "Get out of your country, and from your relatives, and from your father's house, to the land that I will show you.
2. I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you, and make your name great. You will be a blessing.
3. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse those who curses you. In you will all of the families of the earth be blessed."
4. So Abram went, as G-d had spoken to him. Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed out of Haran.
5. Abram took Sarai his wife, Lot his brother's son, all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls who they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan. Into the land of Canaan they came.
6. Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. The Canaanite was then in the land.
7. G-d appeared to Abram, and said, "To your descendants I will give this land." He built an altar there to G-d, who appeared to him.
8. He left from there to the mountain on the east of Beit El, and pitched his tent, having Beit El on the west, and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to G-d, and called on the name of G-d.
Finally, this month is a personal holiday for me, for it was in this month that my wife and I came to Israel on the 7th of Cheshvan, and I too will celebrate this day with the help of G-d.
May G-d gather us from the four corners of the world and may we merit to make Aliyah and to Keep Making Aliyah.
May the words of King David come true for us:
Psalms 84
5. Blessed is the man whose strength is in you; Who have set their hearts on a pilgrimage.
6. Passing through the valley of Weeping, they make it a place of springs. Yes, the autumn rain covers it with blessings.
7. They go from strength to strength. Everyone of them appears before God in Zion.
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3. Aliyah: An Un-Orthodox Demand?
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=92027
Is Religious Zionism's emphasis on Aliyah is harmful to the U.S. singles community? An intense e-conversation on this charge is underway in the Jewish Orthodox blogosphere.
Entitled Is Religious Zionism Destructive For Orthodox Singles?, the discussion was initiated by a man who felt that a prospective soulmate's insistence on Aliyah [immigration to Israel] as a possible option was destructive. "I can't believe," he writes, "you [the woman whose profile on a singles' site included Aliyah as an important condition] would give up on our future, our potentially amazing compatibility, just because of that one line! Just because you have a love for the Holy Land, does it necessitate giving up on a possible soulmate because you are convinced that you must live in Israel?"
The man wrote that though he loves Israel, and feels "the siren song of its holiness, the heavy and intoxicating weight of our history embedded in every square foot of the land," he cannot consider Aliyah: "The notion of moving away from friends and family, our [Torah classes] and rabbis, from our hard fought and well established careers and livelihoods, from our community and [kindness projects] involvements, and most of all not being able to see our darling nephews and nieces grow and blossom, is counterproductive to the kind of lives we seek."
The posting elicited a wave of responses, largely opposed to his view. "Living in Israel is not [merely] a 'spiritual indulgence,'" one wrote. "It is essential to our survival as individuals and as a people... The way I see this, you are taking a long, hard and cold look at a mitzvah [Torah precept] that's unpleasant to you and you are not only declaring that you will not follow it, but you are sniping testily at those around you who strive honestly to do so."
Another person wrote, "I think you're off base. How is this different than any other extremely important goal a person may have in life which they are committed to?"
Shoshana, on the other hand, agreed with the original writer: "I feel that, in relation to dating, it is important to keep an open mind about many things rather than counting potential dates out because of certain aspects or disagreements in viewpoint."
Another reader wrote: "Your whole premise about marriage disregards one main motivating factor of marriage - Children! That beautiful woman wants to have her children grow up in Israel, in the Jewish land, speaking Hebrew, going up to Yerushalayim - living the dream! Teaneck-living is not for her offspring - she wants a FULL Jewish life for them... and she wants a husband who will give her that life... I have seen it over and over again - Olim [new immigrant] couples are beautiful. It's so exciting for singles with a common background and language to meet here in Israel, or to make Aliyah together. It's realizing a dream, overcoming odds, growing together through a joint endeavor... The Aliyah movement is going to get only bigger - this very conversation testifies to that new reality."
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4. "An Open Letter to American (Orthodox) Jewry" by Orit
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/article.php3?id=5679
First, I'd like to thank you, America, for being a wonderful host to me after the terrible Disengagement. It was nice to spend time with my family in sunny Los Angeles, relax with manicures and pedicures, and zone out to the latest TV shows. I was able to gather new strength, gain new perspectives, and clarify my mission to go back to Israel and change a country.
However, it was less fun to go to shul on the High Holidays at my folks' Modern Orthodox synagogue. Services were terribly boring. But what really annoyed me was that no one talked about Gush Katif. The sermons that I heard (or didn't fall asleep to) mentioned Katrina a lot, but rabbis were eerily silent on the topic of the Disengagement. I find this a little disturbing, because all throughout the holidays we pray for the joy and peace of Israel; yet, while thousands of Israelis are in a state of suffering, uncertainty and confusion, no one seems to care, even though the liturgy expresses otherwise.
It was also interesting that on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, when we're supposed to reflect rigorously on the state of our soul, no one really talked about the fate-altering Disengagement. This certainly should have been a hot topic on the Day of Atonement, but again, it was easily evaded, if it was even on anyone's minds. And still, we prayed - all day - for righteousness, honesty and peace of mind - personal and national.
But, in America at least, Judaism is not about the Jewish people anymore. Judaism is about having a nice life and wearing nice outfits to shul, where you can network with equally smart, successful and well-dressed people. It's about saying morning and evening prayers because it feels holy and idealistic, and, hey, everyone wants to feel good about themselves.
For many American Jews, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur seemed all about how to continue living a nice, suburban life. The Torah might as well be a Tony Robbins self-help book, because it outlines great techniques for living, sprinkled with a few historic traditions and ethical codes.
I realized, during my nice stay with you, that you say you care, but deep down, I don't think you really do. You say you love Israel and that you are Zionists, but I don't think you really are. You see, Judaism is not about nationalism to you. Judaism is not about a people living free, independent and strong in their homeland; it's about having a nice house, a good parnasa, and a way of life that's safe and comfortable.
That's why many of you (and there are exceptions), didn't really like talking about the Disengagement. That's why some of you were even happy that it occurred, and that America was appeased, because God forbid, your generous host - your real nation -- would be mad at you otherwise. As soon as you have to take a stand or interrupt your lifestyle, you retreat to your prayer books and everyday say words like:
"Blessed are You, HaShem, Who redeems Israel, Who gathers the dispersed of Israel, Who loves righteousness and judgment, Who breaks His enemies and humbles wanton sinners, Who builds Jerusalem, Who sprouts the rays of redemption, Who restores His Presence to Zion."
These are supposed to be your values, but are they? Do you mean these prayers? Do you want these blessings? No, you do not. Because if you did, you'd be taking a lot more risks for Israel than you are now. You'd seriously consider - and what a thought! - fulfilling the mitzvah of living in the country. You'd save some money, pick-up your family, and take part in realizing your prayers - the ingathering of the exiles, the building of Jerusalem, the restoration of Zion - no matter how difficult it will be.
Or maybe the flaws are in the prayers and the Diaspora Jews who penned them long ago, because it's easy to absolve all responsibility to HaShem and just say, "HaShem restores Zion, HaShem breaks His enemies, I don't have to do a thing!" But HaShem once said, through his prophet Isaiah, "Of what are your great many sacrifices to me? I am full of the burnt-offerings and the fat of fed beasts." Prayers are considered the modern-day substitute for animal sacrifices, and HaShem's sick of them. He doesn't want your new moon and Shabbat invocations - HaShem calls them "iniquity." He says that you can pray all you want, but he won't answer them.
HaShem wants us to do what's right and to seek justice - thus says Isaiah.
But Torah is not about doing what's right anymore, is it? It's about making enough money to send kids to Jewish day schools, so that one day, they could also have a big house and two cars in the same neighborhood and send their kids to the same school and shul, and so on and so forth, forever.
And when Israel is at war with her neighbors, and her people are dying, they'll continue to send their kids to Jewish day schools, and say the same prayers in the same shul, and maybe they'll send some money to Israel, but they'll be glad they are in their beloved America. When Judaism is too difficult, why put yourself on the line? Why risk your life or your lifestyle? Why shed blood? After all, it's only a religion.
And I wouldn't want you to risk your life for a religion. But it's not a religion we're talking about. It's about a nation - the Jewish nation and its people - me, you, your spouse, your kids, your parents. It's about fighting for what is right and pursing justice. But that doesn't seem to be too important these days.
So, farewell America. I had a good time. You're a good friend, you can be there for me in difficult times, but I have to catch a plane and start finding myself some justice.
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5. "An Invitation To Return Home" by Eli Newman
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 NBN had been available to the Jews of Eastern Europe in the early 20th century? Or the Jews of Spain in the Middle Ages?
What is NBN?
Are you serious? If you still haven't heard of Nefesh B' Nefesh, 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.
I can go on all day about NBN, but take a look at their site at www.nefeshbnefesh.org .
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 this week, let's try to understand it better this year. Shabbat Shalom and Shana Tovah!
Editor's note: I will be making Aliyah, B' Ezrat HaShem, on December 27, 2005 with the help of NBN. Hope to see you all at Home soon.
Issue 5, Parshat Noach 5766
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Shalom! We are proud to present another issue of Kummunique.
This issue is flooded with Aliyah and Eretz Yisrael inspiration - so enjoy!
In this issue you will find:
1. "Welcome back to your life! (and Moroccan Fish)" by Malkah Fleisher
2. "Ram Cheshvan" by Yishai Fleisher
3. "Aliyah: An Un-Orthodox Demand?"
4. "An Open Letter to American (Orthodox) Jewry" by Orit
5. "An Invitation To Return Home" by Eli Newman
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1. "Welcome back to your life!" by Malkah Fleisher
Thank goodness for all those holidays we just celebrated, and thank goodness that we're now back to our daily grinds, looking forward to only one sanctified day a week. Those of you who woke up somewhere in the Diaspora this morning are likely gearing up for serious overtime and groveling, promising The Man that you will make up all that work you failed so miserably to do, because of that nagging "Jewishness" you must continually profess. For those of you who woke up in the brisk air of a bright Jewish future, nursing your chocolate milk in a bag and chopping some tomatoes and cucumbers for breakfast, you're likely refreshed by a month's worth of holidays, ready to get back to work, where you will swap holiday anecdotes and revel in the knowledge that the company you and your colleagues work for paid you all half time for barely a stitch of work this whole month. Reason number 5,766 for making Aliyah.
This week is parshat Noach - insult, intrigue, and boats. In the story of the flood, we are reminded that justice can be harsh, and that G-d's kindness can be very gentle. Noach is saved, the world lives on, and fruitfulness and multiplication builds a new world. One creature, a symbol of fruitfulness itself, was said to have been saved from the annihilation brought by the flood - the fish. The fish is known to be part of its environment - it lives and breathes water. She is a metaphor for an ideal, a righteous Jewish life - breathing and living Torah everyday, all day, naturally. Though the State of Israel is far from the ideal nation-state we've envisioned, the Land of Israel is still the perfect place for raising ideal Jews, Jews who are a physical part of their environment, an environment which nurtures and loves them and IS them. Fish are especially blessed, Jews are especially blessed. Sounds like a good match. So in honor of the special Jews and the special fish, here's a great recipe from one of the great fallen exiles:
Malkah's Moroccan fish:
A kilo and a half of fish fillets (I like the really meaty fish, but don't use salmon)
4 potatoes, roasted and sliced
2 red or yellow peppers, sliced and sauteed
2 Tomatoes, quartered
Charmoula sauce:
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1/2 cup chopped parsley (or you can just use a cup of cilantro. If you really love cilantro, use more - why not?)
5 cloves garlic, chopped
5 Tablespoons lemon juice (you can reduce this if you're not a big lemon lover)
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp ground cumin (you can increase to a teaspoon if you'd like)
1/2 cup olive oil
pepper to taste
Preheat your oven to 425 Farenheit (aka: crank it up pretty hot). In a food processor, toss in all the ingredients for Charmoula sauce, and pulse a bit, until it's pretty well blended and the pieces are pretty small. If you don't have a food processor, just mince the greens and garlic, and mix with the other ingredients of the sauce. In a baking pan, lay roasted potato slices, peppers and tomatoes. Arrange the fish over the vegetables. Season with salt and pepper and top with the Charmoula sauce. Bake 10 to 15 minutes (covered is preferrable). Voila - a feast fit for an ark full of your favorite people.
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2. "Ram Cheshvan" by Yishai Fleisher
Happy New Month - Rosh Chodesh Sameach!!!
Usually people will tell you that this month, Cheshvan, is called Mar, bitter. Usually people will tell you that we have no holidays this month either.
However, if you flip Mar it becomes Ram, which means great. Indeed this month is great, and it does have holidays....
In 1166 Maimonides, the Rambam, visited the Holy Land and this is what he wrote:
"We left Acco for Jerusalem under perilous conditions. I entered into 'the great and holy house' (the site of the Holy Temple) and prayed there, on the sixth day of the month of Cheshvan. And on the first day of the week, the ninth day of the month of Cheshvan, I left Jerusalem for Hebron to kiss the graves of my forefathers in the Cave of Machpela. And on that very day I stood in the Cave and I prayed, praised be G-d for everything. And these two days, the sixth (when he prayed on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem) and the ninth of Mar-Heshvan I vowed to make as a special holiday and in which I will rejoice with prayer, food and drink. May the Lord help me to keep my vows.."
So the Rambam came to the Land and made Aliyah to the holy places, and it was in the 6th and the 9th of Cheshvan that he vowed to celebrate every year.
The 11th of Cheshvan is the Yartzeit of Rachel Emeinu, the matriarch Rachel. Rachel is closely associated with Aliyah because of this famous passage:
Yirmiyahu 31
15. Thus says G-d: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.
16. Thus says G-d: Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded, says G-d; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.
17. There is hope for your future, says G-d; and your children shall come again to their own border.
Rachel weeps for her children, waiting for them to come home. When we do come home, it is important for us to come to her, to Kever Rachel, and to say: "Eema, we have finally come home to you." It is for this reason that the 11th of Cheshvan is a good day for the creation of a new Jewish holiday: Aliyah Day.
Also, every Cheshvan we read Parshat Lech Lecha, the story of Abraham leaving his place of birth and being the first Jew to set foot on the Land of Israel:
Bereishit 12
1. Now G-d said to Abram, "Get out of your country, and from your relatives, and from your father's house, to the land that I will show you.
2. I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you, and make your name great. You will be a blessing.
3. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse those who curses you. In you will all of the families of the earth be blessed."
4. So Abram went, as G-d had spoken to him. Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed out of Haran.
5. Abram took Sarai his wife, Lot his brother's son, all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls who they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan. Into the land of Canaan they came.
6. Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. The Canaanite was then in the land.
7. G-d appeared to Abram, and said, "To your descendants I will give this land." He built an altar there to G-d, who appeared to him.
8. He left from there to the mountain on the east of Beit El, and pitched his tent, having Beit El on the west, and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to G-d, and called on the name of G-d.
Finally, this month is a personal holiday for me, for it was in this month that my wife and I came to Israel on the 7th of Cheshvan, and I too will celebrate this day with the help of G-d.
May G-d gather us from the four corners of the world and may we merit to make Aliyah and to Keep Making Aliyah.
May the words of King David come true for us:
Psalms 84
5. Blessed is the man whose strength is in you; Who have set their hearts on a pilgrimage.
6. Passing through the valley of Weeping, they make it a place of springs. Yes, the autumn rain covers it with blessings.
7. They go from strength to strength. Everyone of them appears before God in Zion.
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3. Aliyah: An Un-Orthodox Demand?
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=92027
Is Religious Zionism's emphasis on Aliyah is harmful to the U.S. singles community? An intense e-conversation on this charge is underway in the Jewish Orthodox blogosphere.
Entitled Is Religious Zionism Destructive For Orthodox Singles?, the discussion was initiated by a man who felt that a prospective soulmate's insistence on Aliyah [immigration to Israel] as a possible option was destructive. "I can't believe," he writes, "you [the woman whose profile on a singles' site included Aliyah as an important condition] would give up on our future, our potentially amazing compatibility, just because of that one line! Just because you have a love for the Holy Land, does it necessitate giving up on a possible soulmate because you are convinced that you must live in Israel?"
The man wrote that though he loves Israel, and feels "the siren song of its holiness, the heavy and intoxicating weight of our history embedded in every square foot of the land," he cannot consider Aliyah: "The notion of moving away from friends and family, our [Torah classes] and rabbis, from our hard fought and well established careers and livelihoods, from our community and [kindness projects] involvements, and most of all not being able to see our darling nephews and nieces grow and blossom, is counterproductive to the kind of lives we seek."
The posting elicited a wave of responses, largely opposed to his view. "Living in Israel is not [merely] a 'spiritual indulgence,'" one wrote. "It is essential to our survival as individuals and as a people... The way I see this, you are taking a long, hard and cold look at a mitzvah [Torah precept] that's unpleasant to you and you are not only declaring that you will not follow it, but you are sniping testily at those around you who strive honestly to do so."
Another person wrote, "I think you're off base. How is this different than any other extremely important goal a person may have in life which they are committed to?"
Shoshana, on the other hand, agreed with the original writer: "I feel that, in relation to dating, it is important to keep an open mind about many things rather than counting potential dates out because of certain aspects or disagreements in viewpoint."
Another reader wrote: "Your whole premise about marriage disregards one main motivating factor of marriage - Children! That beautiful woman wants to have her children grow up in Israel, in the Jewish land, speaking Hebrew, going up to Yerushalayim - living the dream! Teaneck-living is not for her offspring - she wants a FULL Jewish life for them... and she wants a husband who will give her that life... I have seen it over and over again - Olim [new immigrant] couples are beautiful. It's so exciting for singles with a common background and language to meet here in Israel, or to make Aliyah together. It's realizing a dream, overcoming odds, growing together through a joint endeavor... The Aliyah movement is going to get only bigger - this very conversation testifies to that new reality."
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4. "An Open Letter to American (Orthodox) Jewry" by Orit
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/article.php3?id=5679
First, I'd like to thank you, America, for being a wonderful host to me after the terrible Disengagement. It was nice to spend time with my family in sunny Los Angeles, relax with manicures and pedicures, and zone out to the latest TV shows. I was able to gather new strength, gain new perspectives, and clarify my mission to go back to Israel and change a country.
However, it was less fun to go to shul on the High Holidays at my folks' Modern Orthodox synagogue. Services were terribly boring. But what really annoyed me was that no one talked about Gush Katif. The sermons that I heard (or didn't fall asleep to) mentioned Katrina a lot, but rabbis were eerily silent on the topic of the Disengagement. I find this a little disturbing, because all throughout the holidays we pray for the joy and peace of Israel; yet, while thousands of Israelis are in a state of suffering, uncertainty and confusion, no one seems to care, even though the liturgy expresses otherwise.
It was also interesting that on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, when we're supposed to reflect rigorously on the state of our soul, no one really talked about the fate-altering Disengagement. This certainly should have been a hot topic on the Day of Atonement, but again, it was easily evaded, if it was even on anyone's minds. And still, we prayed - all day - for righteousness, honesty and peace of mind - personal and national.
But, in America at least, Judaism is not about the Jewish people anymore. Judaism is about having a nice life and wearing nice outfits to shul, where you can network with equally smart, successful and well-dressed people. It's about saying morning and evening prayers because it feels holy and idealistic, and, hey, everyone wants to feel good about themselves.
For many American Jews, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur seemed all about how to continue living a nice, suburban life. The Torah might as well be a Tony Robbins self-help book, because it outlines great techniques for living, sprinkled with a few historic traditions and ethical codes.
I realized, during my nice stay with you, that you say you care, but deep down, I don't think you really do. You say you love Israel and that you are Zionists, but I don't think you really are. You see, Judaism is not about nationalism to you. Judaism is not about a people living free, independent and strong in their homeland; it's about having a nice house, a good parnasa, and a way of life that's safe and comfortable.
That's why many of you (and there are exceptions), didn't really like talking about the Disengagement. That's why some of you were even happy that it occurred, and that America was appeased, because God forbid, your generous host - your real nation -- would be mad at you otherwise. As soon as you have to take a stand or interrupt your lifestyle, you retreat to your prayer books and everyday say words like:
"Blessed are You, HaShem, Who redeems Israel, Who gathers the dispersed of Israel, Who loves righteousness and judgment, Who breaks His enemies and humbles wanton sinners, Who builds Jerusalem, Who sprouts the rays of redemption, Who restores His Presence to Zion."
These are supposed to be your values, but are they? Do you mean these prayers? Do you want these blessings? No, you do not. Because if you did, you'd be taking a lot more risks for Israel than you are now. You'd seriously consider - and what a thought! - fulfilling the mitzvah of living in the country. You'd save some money, pick-up your family, and take part in realizing your prayers - the ingathering of the exiles, the building of Jerusalem, the restoration of Zion - no matter how difficult it will be.
Or maybe the flaws are in the prayers and the Diaspora Jews who penned them long ago, because it's easy to absolve all responsibility to HaShem and just say, "HaShem restores Zion, HaShem breaks His enemies, I don't have to do a thing!" But HaShem once said, through his prophet Isaiah, "Of what are your great many sacrifices to me? I am full of the burnt-offerings and the fat of fed beasts." Prayers are considered the modern-day substitute for animal sacrifices, and HaShem's sick of them. He doesn't want your new moon and Shabbat invocations - HaShem calls them "iniquity." He says that you can pray all you want, but he won't answer them.
HaShem wants us to do what's right and to seek justice - thus says Isaiah.
But Torah is not about doing what's right anymore, is it? It's about making enough money to send kids to Jewish day schools, so that one day, they could also have a big house and two cars in the same neighborhood and send their kids to the same school and shul, and so on and so forth, forever.
And when Israel is at war with her neighbors, and her people are dying, they'll continue to send their kids to Jewish day schools, and say the same prayers in the same shul, and maybe they'll send some money to Israel, but they'll be glad they are in their beloved America. When Judaism is too difficult, why put yourself on the line? Why risk your life or your lifestyle? Why shed blood? After all, it's only a religion.
And I wouldn't want you to risk your life for a religion. But it's not a religion we're talking about. It's about a nation - the Jewish nation and its people - me, you, your spouse, your kids, your parents. It's about fighting for what is right and pursing justice. But that doesn't seem to be too important these days.
So, farewell America. I had a good time. You're a good friend, you can be there for me in difficult times, but I have to catch a plane and start finding myself some justice.
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5. "An Invitation To Return Home" by Eli Newman
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 NBN had been available to the Jews of Eastern Europe in the early 20th century? Or the Jews of Spain in the Middle Ages?
What is NBN?
Are you serious? If you still haven't heard of Nefesh B' Nefesh, 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.
I can go on all day about NBN, but take a look at their site at www.nefeshbnefesh.org .
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 this week, let's try to understand it better this year. Shabbat Shalom and Shana Tovah!
Editor's note: I will be making Aliyah, B' Ezrat HaShem, on December 27, 2005 with the help of NBN. Hope to see you all at Home soon.
// posted by Pinchas @ 1:09 AM 
