How much of a downward moral and financial spiral in America do we need to witness? How much do we need to reinforce and build our current American Jewish institutions? We know we will all be in Israel very soon. It has to. And aliya happens in one of three ways: 1) by force 2) by choice, after Moshiach, or 3) by choice, prior to Moshiach. And, the grim reality now may cause us to think about any one of these three scenarios. Mistress America isn’t looking as attractive as she once was and it may be time to strengthen our true marriage: the Jewish people and Hashem in His Land of Israel.
We are familiar with forced aliya. Many Jews have had no choice but to make aliya to Israel over the past millennia, whether conditions were too hard to bear in Europe or the Middle East, or by simply expulsion. Most would agree that the least desirable way to make aliya (or anything else) is by force. In this familiar scenario, the Jew is oft left with nothing but the bag on his back and a figurative tail between his legs. And, while the consolation prize of a forced aliya is Israel herself, the process of being forced out of one’s current living space is a hard pill to swallow. Of course, one can cite the fruits of past similar aliyos–from the vast halachic-mystical literature out of Tzfas to the fruitful agricultural infrastructure of modern Israel. That said, moving to Israel by force can be painful.
The second form of aliya would occur after Moshiach comes. Two aspects are easy about adopting this approach, which many seem to follow. One, waiting it out in galus until Moshiach may be a safe bet with minimal risk of getting one’s hands dirty. Second, making the choice to move to Israel after the King of Israel declares himself is an obvious and easy choice. Hashem, the ultimate mediator, in this case, will allow the world to loudly proclaim that He is one and His name is One. He will divide the synagogues and her spoils equally. He will say “Miss America was sweet to you, but it’s time to move on.” Torah, Israel and Hashem will become easily unified. Making aliya to Israel is a “no-brainer” after the Moshiach is anointed, and Hashem’s presence is obviously imminent and transcendent. This is no true choice however. This common ‘wait it out’ approach has been crystalized in the status quo, more or less.
Yet, the third and final way to make aliya is by exercising one’s true free will, packing one’s bags now, knowing that Moshiach is coming today. He is not here yet, but about to come today, and as the Rambam states in his 12th principle of faith, “and even though he tarries, in spite of that, I will still wait expectantly for him each day that he will come.” Doesn’t our faith demand this approach? Yet, are our bags packed? Moving to Israel by choice is an admirable trait and action in the modern Orthodox, Zionist world, but it gets only a bit more than a farewell pat on the back. And even though chassidim and Temanim dried up the swamps of Petach Tikvah in 1878, the haredi world today may bristle at this muddy endeavor. Bnei Yisrael, American branch, is facing the truly free choice of putting down its collective iPhone and exercising her faith and optimism in the marriage between the Jewish People, Hashem and Israel.
Perhaps it may take a global pandemics, riots, wars and political chaos all to wake us up that our love affair with America may be coming to an end. The current generation may indeed be what the Rambam, based on the Talmud, called, “the face of a dog.” We may indeed be witnessing the time where morals and practices are culled from YouTube and “youth will shame the face of elders, and elders will stand before minors.” (Sotah 49b), G-d forbid. Sadly, millennia of holding on to our faith by the skin of our teeth led to our current cemented ossification, yet it may be quickly crumbling as the Beis Din shel Maalah is waking us up to the centrality of hilchos kilaim.
Yet, if we really concentrate on our Tehillim, which often echo David Hamelech’s praying in the forest, we may again realize that nature-based, smoking mountain Judaism are finally coming to a head. Torah is returning to her simple agricultural roots. The birds learned to pray again with us as the winds set the pace. We nearly hear the angels over each blade of grass that causes many to think, ”Of course, the open air davening in the Mishkan and the Beis Hamikdash is the way to go.” The spices of the Ketores must be planted and cultivated. Israel is on the verge of smelling like Gan Eden, as the proverbial barren Har just turned green with flowers and sprouts. The incense of the Mikdash is about to burn and heal us and the world. Perhaps, this is a call of opportunity from Hashem to re-write the communal kesubah and for us to freely choose Him and Israel–now.
Wait till Trump Hamelech comes back we Goin to bring back the best country in the world! MAGA
Kol ha kavod Doctor Rabbi! How though, can we reconcile aliyah during this time with the koach of Erev Rav which for all intents and purposes, is in control of Eretz Yisroel prior to Moshiach Tzidkeinu?
Let the Dr stick to medicine and leave hashkafa to the Rabbanim. While he’s calling for aliyah, the Rabbanim are threatening that all the frum will leave Israel because of the draft.
Sounds nice and all, but we have no way to earn a living in Israel. We would have to mooch off of Israeli society and tzedaka in order to have a roof over our heads and bread to eat over there.
the Israeli government is mooching off of everyone trying to make a living in Eretz Yisroel. They employ crippling taxation and Jews cannot “own” the land they buy, except for the Rothchild family who owns the City of Caesarea. They indoctrinate our children and want to mandate drafts for children. The corrupt judiciary is legislating away the rights of the people and the left is giving away our land to Arabs. We need to focus on ending the Malchus Ha Rasha there for the sake of our brothers and sisters there and in order to prepare the way for our own Aliyah, may it be soon! All this said though, even if it were all still the same, but we were united as a people, I would be the first one on a plane because we would merit the protection of the K”BH.
Its a Mitzvah to live EY, It is has Kedushah and those who live here have potential fot higher levels of ruchnius.
The horrible people in “control” cannot change thst, no matter how hard they try.
As far as parnasa…really. usually where there is a will, there is a way.
And those who takeh can’t come, a sigh, regret, and yearning would be appropriate
And if it is
Kudos on speaking out your mind publicly. It’s a refresher from other submitted letters. The point isn’t whether an individual can or cannot make Aliya. The point is to recognize where we belong as a nation and aspire to be there – like the Gr”a, the Chofetz Chaim, and many Gedolim throughout the generations. If you really want to live in eretz Yisroel but you’re an Ones I’m sure you’ll still get Schar for it.
The very fact there is a general apathy toward one of the central points in Torah and Ratzon Hashem is very unfortunate. For those who want to gain clarity on the topic there’s a great little Sefer that came out recently called Haaretz Asher Are’ka with Haskamos from Rav Asher Weiss and Rav Shlomo Feivel Schustal Shlit”a among others.
Just to quote Rav Avigdor Miller Zatz’l:
“If you were born here, you probably belong here”
Disgusting headline. Belittles the REAL gerush s’forad. I suggest the kind doctor read up on what that was, befores he pens letters to the public.
it is currently illegal to learn torah in a yeshiva in israel..
move to israel now ??
are you in denial ?
The zionists shmad against torah learning is not a selling point. I was in catskills over Shabbos and yidden are doing fine
Suggested reading “The Empty Wagon” by Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro
‘Zionism’s Journey from Identity Crisis to Identity Theft’. He goes into detail regarding the Gedolim’s stance at the establishment of the country at their warnings about the future of Eretz Yisroel before Moshiach’s time. He quotes the 3 Oaths from the Talmud about Galus: Not to rebel against the nations of the world, not to go up to Eretz Yisroel like a Chomah (en mass), and warned the nations not to oppress Israel too much. During Galus as individuals we are allowed to go up, but not en mass like a nation but rather wait for Moshiach to gather the exiles to Israel.
The Rambam also quotes these oaths in Igeres Teiman. Some consider it not Halacha but rather a warning that these actions will be unsuccessful. (Like Shevet Ephraim who left Mitzrayim before the right time).
The Gr”a, Chasam Sofer, Talmidei Bal Shem, never recommended local Balei Batim to make an aliya. Since an Aveira committed in E”Y is much worse than in Chu”l. On the other hand Tzadikim have much greater potential in E”Y than Chu”L
Dr. Glassman – are you making aliyah?
Klal yisroel has always lived by the guidance of our gedolei Torah. Torah is all we have since the churban. Dr, Glassman, with all due respect, we will have to shelf your opinion and continue listening to our gedolim.
We all know that when Moshiach comes, we will all move. And we all know that Moshiach is coming today. This is a simply a call to get ready to leave the midbar. We hear from many gedolim now who know that we are about to do so –as challenging as it is. And we all daven for this 3x a day if not more af al pi sheh…
No where does it say that Moshiach needs help to bring the Yidden to Israel. He needs us to prepare in a spiritual way like less Loshen Hora more learning davening etc.