QUESTION:
With the rise of Anti-Semitism throughout the world, and with all the increasing Anti-Semitic attacks on Jews, especially with the Anti-Semitism that’s now in the American government, does all of this mean that Hashem wants Jews to move to Eretz Yisrael? How can a Jew living outside of Eretz Yisrael know if the time has come to move to Israel (Eretz Yisrael)? The atmosphere [in America] today is different than it used to be resembling the way things were like before the Holocaust [in Germany]. How should we view the rise of Anti-Semitism and how can we know if Hashem wants those living outside of Eretz Yisrael to move to Eretz Yisrael? We have all heard stories of people who were able to leave Europe before the Holocaust and they waited too long….
ANSWER:
The simple nature of a Jew’s soul (besides for the issue if there’s a mitzvah or not to live in Eretz Yisrael, and when this applies) is to yearn to dwell in the palace of the King and to live close to Him. Therefore, simply speaking, at all times the “initial thought” of a person is that he would like to live in Eretz Yisrael.
However, “upon second thought”, there are additional factors to consider. There were tzaddikim who were afraid to live in Eretz Yisrael, due to the immense holiness of Eretz Yisrael, similar to the fear of getting too close to the Aron (Ark) which would burn any unworthy carriers. Another reason was because they couldn’t abandon their “flock” – their leadership of communities who needed them, as well as other reasons related to benefitting the masses. As for all others, leaving their country to go live in Eretz Yisrael couldn’t be done, due to their responsibilities to earn livelihood, and also because they wouldn’t be able to find proper places of education for their sons and daughters properly by moving there. Sometimes a person cannot move to Eretz Yisrael due to the mitzvah of honoring parents, and sometimes a person cannot move there simply because of valid social or community reasons: a person would find it too hard to leave behind his friends or community. There are other reasons as well [not to move].
However, the recent events [of Anti-Semitism are like a bas kol, a “voice from Heaven”, to strongly awaken our “initial thought” [to want to live in Eretz Yisrael. But after considering this, a person should also think it over, with a calm state of mind and with a pursuit for the truth. Each individual should do this, and think about what is proper for him to do right now, and why.
QUESTION
There is a lot of confusion now in America (to say the least) with the uncertain election results, and there a lot of questions about what happened. Clearly Hashem has caused something extraordinary to happen here that is unprecedented. It has never happened before in America that elections happened and we don’t know who the next President will be. We can also notice how much evil and falsehood is lurking behind the scenes in our government, and we cannot really know all the details because we can’t trust the media who reports all the news to us. There is fear and uncertainty about the future of this country like never before, and it hasn’t been this way since 9/11. Many people feel that it’s time to make to Eretz Yisrael. However, our Gedolim aren’t telling us to move. Is it now the time to get up and leave America and head for Eretz Yisrael? Is it false now to have emunah and bitachon in Hashem that it will all work out for us here, or should we just strengthen our bitachon that Ain Od Milvado (there’s nothing other than Hashem), and we can wait for Mashiach to bring us to Eretz Yisrael?
ANSWER
It is appropriate now to make aliyah to Eretz Yisrael.
QUESTION
How can we deal with all of the darkness, confusion and lies that we live with in America at this time? Is Hashem trying to awaken American Jews to do teshuvah and to leave America and go to Eretz Yisrael? Or should we just await Hashem’s salvation and we should not be afraid at all?
ANSWER
Both [be awakened to do teshuvah, and also strengthen your bitachon that Hashem is taking care of you and don’t be afraid].
However, “upon second thought”, there are additional factors to consider. There were tzaddikim who were afraid to live in Eretz Yisrael, due to the immense holiness of Eretz Yisrael, similar to the fear of getting too close to the Aron (Ark) which would burn any unworthy carriers. Another reason was because they couldn’t abandon their “flock” – their leadership of communities who needed them, as well as other reasons related to benefitting the masses. As for all others, leaving their country to go live in Eretz Yisrael couldn’t be done, due to their responsibilities to earn livelihood, and also because they wouldn’t be able to find proper places of education for their sons and daughters properly by moving there. Sometimes a person cannot move to Eretz Yisrael due to the mitzvah of honoring parents, and sometimes a person cannot move there simply because of valid social or community reasons: a person would find it too hard to leave behind his friends or community. There are other reasons as well [not to move].
However, the recent events [of Anti-Semitism are like a bas kol, a “voice from Heaven”, to strongly awaken our “initial thought” [to want to live in Eretz Yisrael. But after considering this, a person should also think it over, with a calm state of mind and with a pursuit for the truth. Each individual should do this, and think about what is proper for him to do right now, and why.
QUESTION
There is a lot of confusion now in America (to say the least) with the uncertain election results, and there a lot of questions about what happened. Clearly Hashem has caused something extraordinary to happen here that is unprecedented. It has never happened before in America that elections happened and we don’t know who the next President will be. We can also notice how much evil and falsehood is lurking behind the scenes in our government, and we cannot really know all the details because we can’t trust the media who reports all the news to us. There is fear and uncertainty about the future of this country like never before, and it hasn’t been this way since 9/11. Many people feel that it’s time to make to Eretz Yisrael. However, our Gedolim aren’t telling us to move. Is it now the time to get up and leave America and head for Eretz Yisrael? Is it false now to have emunah and bitachon in Hashem that it will all work out for us here, or should we just strengthen our bitachon that Ain Od Milvado (there’s nothing other than Hashem), and we can wait for Mashiach to bring us to Eretz Yisrael?
ANSWER
It is appropriate now to make aliyah to Eretz Yisrael.
QUESTION
How can we deal with all of the darkness, confusion and lies that we live with in America at this time? Is Hashem trying to awaken American Jews to do teshuvah and to leave America and go to Eretz Yisrael? Or should we just await Hashem’s salvation and we should not be afraid at all?
ANSWER
Both [be awakened to do teshuvah, and also strengthen your bitachon that Hashem is taking care of you and don’t be afraid].
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