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How do we see Israel, Aliyah , Religion and Politics, and how should we see Israel and Aliyah ?

How do we see Israel, Aliyah , Religion and Politics, and how should we see Israel and Aliyah ? .

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How do we see Israel, Aliyah , Religion and Politics, and how should we see Israel and Aliyah ?

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  1. How do we see Israel, Aliyah, Religion and Politics, and how should we see Israel and Aliyah? Back to basics! Going back to Biblical times we are told that Israel will be an inheritance for the us. We can see from psukim how eager our forefathers were to go where Hashem asked them to go.

  2. Microcosm • Tanach is a microcosm for Future Jewish history: • Eg, Strife between Yitzchak and Yishmael, and their reconcile (Jewish-Muslim conflict and our future reconcile), Yakov and Esav relationship: Jews-Edom (christianity). • Marriage between tribes had certain hiatuses and certain points, (despite major celebration when the tribes could marriage each other, we put certain artificial barriers on this among ourselves in the orthodox community ie. making it a condition to only marry among ones own group, be it Askenazi, spehardi etc). Sadly not all have learnt the lessons of the past to make for an easier and better future, by learning from the history of Tanach and followng it’s exmaple.

  3. The importance of being in Israel We can see examples of how important it is for us to be in Israel. Ramban in his commentary in some sense chastises the action of Avraham for leaving Israel due to the famine. Someone of his stature it seems, the Ramban feels should of stayed and demonstrated the level of emunah that G-d would provide. "His [Abraham's] leaving the land concerning which he had been commanded from the beginning (see Genesis 12:1), on account of the famine, was also a sin he committed, for in the famine God would redeem him from death.  It was because of this deed that the exile in the land of Egypt at the hand of Pharaoh was decreed for his children" (Ramban on Genesis 12:10). Of course there are others who do not explain this episode this way, but it shows the importance of being in Israel.

  4. Further examples • There are additional cases where it is permitted to temporarily leave the Land of Israel to engage in certain mitzvot, like visiting parents, raising funds for institutions in Israel, or promoting Aliyah[immigration to Israel]. Nevertheless, it is worthwhile to recall the example of our Sages, who when leaving the Land of Israel to do a mitzvah in the Diaspora, suddenly stopped at the border. Recalling their love for EretzYisrael, they tore their garments in mourning, cast their glances down to the ground, burst into tears, and cried out the verses, "You shall dispossess them," and,  "You shall dwell in their land." Immediately, they turned back and returned to their homes, saying, "Dwelling in the Land of Israel is equal in weight to all of the commandments of the Torah" (Sifre, Reah, 28. For an in-depth discussion of this subject, see the book, "ToratEretzYisrael ," Chapters 7-9). 

  5. Exit from Egypt • The is a Midrash that tells us that many did not listen to Moshe Rabbeinu when he came to deliver his message from Hashem. • Some of the Israelites lived quite comfortable as lackeys to the Egyptians. Giving this up was not something they wanted. The Midrash tells us that it was these people who died during the plague of darkness.

  6. Generational problem • From the writings of our sages, the level of devotion that we should have to the land that gives us is clear. Throughout the generations one of the major reasons we have not come back to our home is money and material comfort. • Our ability to integrate into host nations has been both vital, yet is one of our biggest weaknesses.

  7. It begins with integration which up to a point is ok, and can be beneficial. Some people chooses the road of assimilation, which is a tragedy. • Yet even those of us who cling onto our religion and are able to fuse true Judaism with the modernity of our hosts, a sadly large number seem to loose the yearning of returning to Israel for more than a visit.

  8. Jeremiah • We are told in Yirmiyahu 29:10 that the exile would last for 70 years, and then Hashem will return us to Israel. Given this promise how so many Jews decided to remain in Glaut is astounding. Hashem then indeed gave us the opportunity to return as and it seems we should have been partners in the sense of accepting the offer. Within 70 years we already lost our desire as a whole nation which we need to recoup.

  9. Interestingly (side bit) • This consequence of Exile also affects others, I saw a clip of a “palestinian” who has his job, home etc, in Jordan and when asked about if he wanted to “return” to what he calls “palestine” he answered along the lines of, not really, why would he, he has his life in Jordan etc.

  10. Nehemiah • Nehemiah we are told gave up the position as a royal courtier to return to Israel and help save the small settlement from demoralization. • We even know the midrash that Hagar proclaimed better to be a maidservant in the house of Avraham, than to be a princess in the house of phaero.

  11. religion • We can see it is clear from a Jewish perspective, living in chutzlaaretz is sub optimal, and the sources give strong backing and harsh statements against living sojourning outside. Whilst from a halachik perspective there is a discussion of what the chiuv is today, there is clear support for the position in strong terms that being outside of Israel should be nothing more than a temporary status.

  12. Politics • It has never been easier in terms of logistics and accessibility for us to return to Israel. Aside from the ease of transportation, visa vie the past, we as Jews are encouraged by Israel to return with incentives. Which other country opens it’s gates and even pays it’s people to return home?

  13. Zionism • Initial (secular) Zionism did not seem to be concerned with a religious bent to settling back in Israel. They wanted to have a place safe of persecution. Whilst the Zionists may not have been concerned technical halachik details, there seems to be religious overtones in terms of the connection with the Jewish people and Zion (Israel).

  14. The Uganda project • The British agreed to a Jewish settlement in East Africa and was brought to the 6th Zionist Congress in Basel on August 26th 1903.

  15. The Uganda project • In 1905 the Uganda project was finally rejected as in interim place to have Jewish settlement for Russian Jews in immediate danger. This was not Herzl's long term goal, as the destination ultimately wanted was Israel, but Uganda as well as other places where deemed unsuitable.

  16. Galvestone • Around 9300 Jews came to America (south west, particularly Texas) with the support of Jacob Schiff, an American Jewish banker, between 1907-1914 through the emigration bureau of the territorialist organization. The JTO failed at that time to bring a definite plan to settle Jews back to Israel, due to being unable to secure a definitive project, coupled with a lack of sensitivity towards historical and traditional sentiments of Jewish identity.

  17. None of this however over powered the dream of Jews returning on mass to Israel. • There were various forms of proto Zionist ideologies in the 1800’s , but by the time the mid 19th centaury took hold the early proponents of Zionism where coming to the fore. Rabbi YehudaShlomoAlkalay (1798-1878) and Rabbi Zevi Hirsch Kalischer (1795-1874), where among the first to purport the notion the settling Jews back into EretzYisrael would be a pre stage to the coming of Mashiach.

  18. Herzel • Theodor Herzel was the father of political zionism, and was born on may 2nd 1860. (died july 3rd 1904). • After the failure of the interim Uganda project, and other expeditions, the Zionist Congress finally committed itself to pursuing a Jewish homeland in Israel

  19. Fusion of Politics and Religion • Understanding and internalising the imperative for us as Jews to live in Israel, our homeland, something we have longed for, for over 2000 is finally in our reach. From a religious perspective the precedent to be there is clear. From a political, social, economic perspective thank G-d we have been given national autonomy to live in the our country (the only country) who when push comes to shove, will be there for us.

  20. Continued.... • Heading the messages of the past, and opening our eyes to today and what will be tomorrow, religious zionism is a fusion of providing a spiritual G-dly dimension to being in our Land, and our state. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xoTewcOodKM

  21. Sources • Tanach • ArtscrollHaggadah • http://vbm-torah.org/archive/intparsha71/13-71shemot.htm • http://www.jewishsexuality.com/leaving-the-land-of-israel • http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Zionism/Uganda.html • http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Zionism/ugandaplan. • Wikipedia

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