Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Why don't Jews come and make Aliyah to Eretz Yisrael
12:51 PM | 
Posted by
Rabbi Chaim Coffman |
Anonymous said...
What happens to a Jew still living in the diaspora? Why is it that they are not moving into the land that was given?
Rabbi Coffman responds: Many people will give different reasons as to why they don't live in the land of Israel. One reason may be because of the difficulty of making a living in Israel; another reason could be that they will learn Torah better in the Diaspora; others have elderly parents and they can't leave them.
There is a disagreement between the Rambam and the Ramban as to whether one of the 613 commandments is to live in the land of Israel or not. Many great rabbanim, the Vilna Gaon included, couldn't get to the land of Israel for various reasons.
There are many variables that make up the equation in such a difficult question. Education for kids is not a simple matter. If one's child is over the age of 10, a competent rabbinical authority must be chosen to deal with such a question.
Even with all these important factors, living in Israel is not an option for many because it is just easier to live in the Diaspora.
If one lives in a community with ample Torah schools, kosher amenities...etc. why would one want to live in the land of Israel?
Rav Mordechai Pogromansky, the Telzer ilui, when Rav Sternbuch told him that he wanted to go and live in Israel, Rav Pogramansky told him to be careful because when you live in the palace of the king, you have to raise yourself to a higher spiritual level because the king will demand more from you there.
It is physically harder in Israel and one has to get used to a European/Middle Eastern mentality, which for many Westerner's is very difficult to adapt.
While we would like all our brethren to come back to G-d's chosen land, many are just not able to come for reasons already mentioned and for some, they just have no interest to be there.
Rav Sternbuch's father used to say, better be a Jew in the Diaspora who desires to come and live in the land of Israel than a Jew in Israel who desires to live in the Diaspora
What happens to a Jew still living in the diaspora? Why is it that they are not moving into the land that was given?
Rabbi Coffman responds: Many people will give different reasons as to why they don't live in the land of Israel. One reason may be because of the difficulty of making a living in Israel; another reason could be that they will learn Torah better in the Diaspora; others have elderly parents and they can't leave them.
There is a disagreement between the Rambam and the Ramban as to whether one of the 613 commandments is to live in the land of Israel or not. Many great rabbanim, the Vilna Gaon included, couldn't get to the land of Israel for various reasons.
There are many variables that make up the equation in such a difficult question. Education for kids is not a simple matter. If one's child is over the age of 10, a competent rabbinical authority must be chosen to deal with such a question.
Even with all these important factors, living in Israel is not an option for many because it is just easier to live in the Diaspora.
If one lives in a community with ample Torah schools, kosher amenities...etc. why would one want to live in the land of Israel?
Rav Mordechai Pogromansky, the Telzer ilui, when Rav Sternbuch told him that he wanted to go and live in Israel, Rav Pogramansky told him to be careful because when you live in the palace of the king, you have to raise yourself to a higher spiritual level because the king will demand more from you there.
It is physically harder in Israel and one has to get used to a European/Middle Eastern mentality, which for many Westerner's is very difficult to adapt.
While we would like all our brethren to come back to G-d's chosen land, many are just not able to come for reasons already mentioned and for some, they just have no interest to be there.
Rav Sternbuch's father used to say, better be a Jew in the Diaspora who desires to come and live in the land of Israel than a Jew in Israel who desires to live in the Diaspora
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