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An Invitation to Return
Home
by Eli
Newman
Nov 10, '05 / 8
Cheshvan 5766
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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 Nefesh B'Nefesh had been
available to the Jews of Eastern Europe in the early 20th
century? Or to the Jews of Spain in the Middle Ages?
What is Nefesh B'Nefesh?
Are you
serious? If you still haven't heard of Nefesh
B'Nefesh (NBN), 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.
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, let's try to understand it
better this year. |
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| Eli Newman |
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| Eli Newman will be making
Aliyah on December 27, 2005, with the help
of Nefesh
B'Nefesh. | | |
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