tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post6412687048788356859..comments2024-03-29T06:05:20.562+03:00Comments on Life in Israel: Kosher StyleRafi G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00699851287106903971noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-47357241876899932062007-05-06T00:11:00.000+03:002007-05-06T00:11:00.000+03:00hello vous pouvez laisser vos messages sur jewish...hello <BR/>vous pouvez laisser vos messages sur <A HREF="http://www.jewisheritage.fr" REL="nofollow"> jewisheritage </A><BR/>a bientotmarcelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13720452733537296234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-3700956108179187382007-05-04T08:36:00.000+03:002007-05-04T08:36:00.000+03:00thanks elchonon. but it is hard to figure out wher...thanks elchonon. but it is hard to figure out where you are, from what you write (I know, but maybe a lot of the readers are having a tough time deciphering it).<BR/><BR/>Jack - that is a good point.Rafi G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00699851287106903971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-76679971667243544012007-05-04T07:41:00.000+03:002007-05-04T07:41:00.000+03:00Well heres my take,I moved to israel at 17, well I...Well heres my take,<BR/><BR/>I moved to israel at 17, well I actually moved to the shomron, I went straight from ben gurion to tapuach, as few monthes turned into a year and then 3 years... I made aliyah after 3 years.. its been 4 and a half years.<BR/><BR/>Now,<BR/>I am almost 22 ke'h, single and few bill's so its ok, I can pretty much navigate my way around the goverment crap.<BR/><BR/>I love eretz yisrael with all my heart and soul.. so I deal with what I dont like.<BR/><BR/>But to be honest, I fully 100% feel for all american's, and in the summer you Rafi will agree.<BR/><BR/>You will come to america, go to the kosher super and say "holy flying saucers! this food is sick, pathetic disgusting! I wouldent even feed my dog reisman's cookies!"<BR/><BR/>Right american gashmius eh ?? the vegtables and fruit here taste like pesticides and insectisides and wax! the bakery goods are probably what hamas uses as rockets.. and blech!<BR/><BR/>I want my shuk! and whatnot.. you look at the patheticness and say "busha! a nebach.."<BR/><BR/>But after 2 - 3 weeks.. you get into rhythem..at least for me, there is snapple, there are good 'ol rubashkin frank's, kmart and wallmart, marshalls and ross...<BR/><BR/>I buy stuff on ebay and get it 3 days later as opposed to in israel 3 monthes later if I ever find someone to shlep!<BR/><BR/>And its true, leaving your family is hard, both my grandmothers are here, both my grandfather's are buried here, and the whole extended mishpacha! I have brothers and sisters ke'h to be with.. a ima that gets on my case all day, my abba that drives me crazy...<BR/><BR/>And sometimes the slow paced society is good for a change.<BR/><BR/>Now, for me and you thats all nice but israel is home, not everyone else can just give up.elchononhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10888640978845262748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-12112503664726657802007-05-04T05:35:00.000+03:002007-05-04T05:35:00.000+03:00This is exactly what I was talking about in this ...This is exactly what I was talking about in <A HREF="http://wwwjackbenimble.blogspot.com/2007/05/orthodox-jewry-misguided-position-about.html" REL="nofollow"> this post</A> here.<BR/><BR/>We waste so much energy on trying to say who is the <I>best</I> Jew.Jack Steinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16625864271071630940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-4248549804918871562007-05-03T14:42:00.000+03:002007-05-03T14:42:00.000+03:00that's pretty weak. While making aliya might mean ...that's pretty weak. While making aliya might mean you love Hashem, people who live in chu"l also love Hashem. They just fail to perform the mitzva of yishuv ha'aretz. <BR/>Do you mean to tell me the Lubavitcher rebbe did not love Hashem? Reb Moshe? Reb Yaakov K? thousands and thousands of others? I do not buy it.Rafi G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00699851287106903971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-24530081294794011522007-05-03T14:37:00.000+03:002007-05-03T14:37:00.000+03:00Making Aliyah is loving Hashem - being closer to H...Making Aliyah is loving Hashem - being closer to Him. That's the whole kit-n-kaboodle.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-45685159557669705472007-05-03T11:21:00.000+03:002007-05-03T11:21:00.000+03:00anonymous - you make a good point about the hardsh...anonymous - you make a good point about the hardships being part of the expectations in fulfilling the mitzva, but the first part I will take umbrage with. The mitzva of bchol m'odecha is on the mitzva of loving Hashem. Not on the mitzva of making aliya.Rafi G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00699851287106903971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-44998375505747712932007-05-03T11:11:00.000+03:002007-05-03T11:11:00.000+03:00"There is no chiyuv to make oneself uncomfortable"..."There is no chiyuv to make oneself uncomfortable".<BR/><BR/>--Have you heard of "VeAhavta Et Hashem Elokecha Bechol Levavecha, Bechol Nafshecha, uVechol Meodecha" - "Love Hashem with all of your heart, with all of your soul, and all of your belongings"<BR/><BR/>Our rabbis say: "With all of your soul - even if your soul is taken" - meaning to say, G-d may even demand your life. Remember Rabbi Akiva? They flayed his skin off and he was happy to fulfill the mitzva of Mesirut Nefesh - giving his soul!!!<BR/><BR/>The question is simple - do you serve Hashem, or do you serve yourself?<BR/><BR/>Living in Israel is great, and the challenges that you face are simply ways to score points in the World to Come. Our Rabbis say: "Ownership of Eretz Yisrael is acquired through hardships." Basically, they knew it was hard, but they didn't think that was an excuse not to fulfill the Mitzva. Rather they saw the hardships as an opportunity to gain ownership of Eretz Yisrael.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-69153979407188459792007-05-03T10:58:00.000+03:002007-05-03T10:58:00.000+03:00BTW, Rav David Bar-Hayim (of qitniyoth fame) gives...BTW, Rav David Bar-Hayim (of qitniyoth fame) gives a couple on nice shiurim on the views of the Rambam, Ramban and other sources about the misswa (is it one?) of living in Erets Yisrael. See http://machonshilo.org/component/option,com_docman/task,cat_view/gid,63/Itemid,64/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-87295160825903211052007-05-03T09:29:00.000+03:002007-05-03T09:29:00.000+03:00ari - yes aliya today is much easier than ever bef...ari - yes aliya today is much easier than ever before. However, we find in the gemara that Jews lived in Israel while jews lived in Bavel. And there were messengers who were constantly travelling between bavel and Israel to relay messages between yeshivas and rosh yeshivas and stuff. Think of Ravin (ki asa ravin) and others. Travel does not sound like it was so uncommon.Rafi G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00699851287106903971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-58932751751347388732007-05-03T09:26:00.000+03:002007-05-03T09:26:00.000+03:00"As I wrote on my blog: Would Yishai suggest that ..."As I wrote on my blog: Would Yishai suggest that the Amoraim in the times of the Gemara were living a “Kosher Style” life?"<BR/><BR/>(at the risk of once again sounding like a hypocrite . . .)<BR/><BR/>making aliyah in the twenty-first century is a much easier processs than it has ever been in our history. i don't think it is fair to compare the contemporary situation with the one that prevailed in ancient bavel (or for that matter in medieval germany, 19th c. lithuania, etc.).<BR/><BR/>May 03, 2007 9:24 AMLion of Zionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10342299133387602141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-56173355995318604062007-05-03T09:24:00.000+03:002007-05-03T09:24:00.000+03:00This comment has been removed by the author.Lion of Zionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10342299133387602141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-9255046651181541602007-05-02T19:49:00.000+03:002007-05-02T19:49:00.000+03:00ps - "Where is your American sense of Manifest Des...ps - "Where is your American sense of Manifest Destiny which would tell you that with a nickel and a dream, you can accomplish anything you desire"<BR/><BR/>this was thrown out a long time ago. for every one of these success stories, there are tens of thousands of failures.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-21212756597652863932007-05-02T19:47:00.000+03:002007-05-02T19:47:00.000+03:00anon - reread the comments posted, then apologiz...anon - reread the comments posted, then apologize. we all have national pride, I stated explixitly, I kvell in my choice to stay in the states, and dream of the day I can move.<BR/><BR/>"WOW! That's good. I'm sure they'll love that one when you get up to the pearly gates (you should live happily and healthily until 120!)."<BR/><BR/>this line you wrote simply takes your comment from a rebuke to a flame and belittles any point you were trying to make. whatever you are "sure of", be careful you just might be wrong!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-9438261802642199672007-05-02T19:44:00.000+03:002007-05-02T19:44:00.000+03:00yishai - thanks for the response, even if my poin...yishai - thanks for the response, even if my point about the shevatim is wrong, jews have always lived in CL. Ever hayarden, IMHO, I believe is a debated issue, if it's part of the chelek that is included in the mitzva of yishuv.<BR/>your point 3 is just being silly, you know I meant Jews and we know people can adjust anywhere. that wasn't the problem. <BR/>I accept your hochacha though, and do wish to one day be on your and Rafis level of living in EY.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-9098972118909180002007-05-02T19:30:00.000+03:002007-05-02T19:30:00.000+03:00"There is no chiyuv to make oneself uncomfortable"..."There is no chiyuv to make oneself uncomfortable".<BR/><BR/>WOW! That's good. I'm sure they'll love that one when you get up to the pearly gates (you should live happily and healthily until 120!).<BR/><BR/>It's interesting that our evil cousins have oodles of this little thing I like to call "mesirut nefesh", albeit for totally sinister and anti-divine purposes, while some of us gorge on bagels and Barney's and demand our right (and you so boldly claim that you DO have a right) to be posh. How 21st century.<BR/><BR/>Where is that Jewish dignity that would at least cause you to feel SHAME at not wanting what our ancestors would have crawled naked through deserts for? Where is your American sense of Manifest Destiny which would tell you that with a nickel and a dream, you can accomplish anything you desire (yes, even in that awful, thorny, Old Navy-less Israel)? <BR/><BR/>Have some pride, man!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-34346790041073876752007-05-02T19:15:00.000+03:002007-05-02T19:15:00.000+03:001. This discussion is about large portions of soci...1. This discussion is about large portions of society and not individuals. Clearly, those with medical reasons and serious problems were not the subject of this debate.<BR/>2. "How the heck do you expect Americans to just throw everything away and adjust" - Hashem does not expect Americans to make Aliyah. Hashem expects American JEWS to make Aliyah. Jews have an uncanny ability to adjust to their own homeland.<BR/>3. "The torah discusses reuven, gad, and chatzi menashe as wrong for not wanting to live in EY, but allows them to do so!" - Nice try, but Ever Hayarden, (TransJordan) is part of the Promised Land, and that is why the 2.5 tribes were allowed to stay there. I think the Biblical case you seek reference to is the case of the 10 Spys who rejected the Land of Israel due to "security concerns". They were killed by G-d, and the Jews who followed them all died out in the 40 year time-kill-tour of the Sinai.<BR/>4. I am not denigrating, disparaging, or broadbrushing American Orthodox Jewry which I was once part of - what I am doing is called Tochecha, rebuke, and it is a mitzva. If I sounded too harsh I truly apologize. I am trying to point out that to be a Jew is to follow Hashem's will. Hashem is calling the Jewish people back home. I am calling my brothers back home - when will you be my neighbor already? I miss you.Yishaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06615108446143782139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-30714290608822785112007-05-02T19:08:00.000+03:002007-05-02T19:08:00.000+03:00yishailest someone mistake and say I was too harsh...yishai<BR/><BR/>lest someone mistake and say I was too harsh, let me clarify.<BR/><BR/>I would love to live in EY. I hold my brother in the highest regard for making that choice and am jealous of his ability to do so and make it work. <BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, I choose not to. No one assumes you are unaware of the problems. But your mesiras nefesh is "chaval" if used to judge others and that is what you are doing. <BR/><BR/>as much as throughout history and the torah, we are tied to the Land, we also see that at ANY given point, Jews did not entirly live in the land. Jews have from day one, lived in Chutz la'aretz as well. So, beg, plead, emote all you want, DON'T JUDGE!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-27170895692773842212007-05-02T18:42:00.000+03:002007-05-02T18:42:00.000+03:00oopswhen i said "Rafi and our" i meant rafi and m...oops<BR/><BR/>when i said "Rafi and our" i meant rafi and my sil - she is here in the states. rafi lives in EY.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-58320880091029146842007-05-02T18:40:00.000+03:002007-05-02T18:40:00.000+03:00Yishai, motzi la'az on a general populace of Jews ...Yishai, <BR/><BR/>motzi la'az on a general populace of Jews is a dangerous endevor. To simply flick us away with a brush of the hand and say that we are too comfortable is speculation and generalization. Rafi and our sis-in-law is here in the states still. She has a chaishek to make aliyah with our brother and family. Her parents live there, she grew up there in EY. The reason she is still here is she has an illness that Israeli Doctors told her they couldn't handle on the level she'd get here in the states. So now, you have to apologize to all those who are here for medical reasons.<BR/><BR/>There are culture changes and shocks. Psychologically, that affects many people. The yeridah level ought to scare you enough that if Israelis cannot handle the sit in Israel, How the heck do you expect Americans to just throw everything away and adjust. how about the unemployment level, the socialized medicine program that can backfire, the constant wars and terrorist attacks? Do not be naive and tell me about drive by's in America as an excuse of similarity. The level of threat in Israel is much greater overall than here in the states!<BR/><BR/>The torah discusses reuven, gad, and chatzi menashe as wrong for not wanting to live in EY, but allows them to do so! If it were such a clear cut aveira, neither God nor moshe could have allowed them to make such a choice! <BR/><BR/>National pride is admirable. As Jews, we have a kesher to Israel and I support Israel of the US, even though I choose to live in the US. But, the fact is the mitzva is an "Asei", there are rabbonim who pasken there is no current mitzva, it's a "rishus" and there are many, acceptable reasons why someone cannot make aliyah. Even if the entire reason is comfort - so what! There is no chiyuv to make oneself uncomfortable. Throughout history there have been poor jews in Europe - according to your argument, why weren't they poor in EY? why didn't they pack up and move to EY? you are disparaging gedolim and baal habatim alike.<BR/><BR/><BR/>I would love to be able o adjust and live in EY. I choose not to right now and stand by my choice. You are simply broadbrushing all of us and denigrating our behavior without knowing or talking to or understaing the reasons.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-86048515267337321602007-05-02T16:05:00.000+03:002007-05-02T16:05:00.000+03:00Yishai - all your points are good and I agree with...Yishai - all your points are good and I agree with them. Again, I believe Aliya is a pre-requisite to Judaism. <BR/>And I appreciate that you clarified yourself in your second comment. The real problem is when people consider America the real country for Jews. When they say Lakewood (or any other city, this is just an example) is Ir HaKodesh, rather than saying for whatever reason they need to be there and their goal is to move to eretz yisrael.<BR/><BR/>But again, and as V commented I see, calling it Kosher Style is very harsh and I am sure it does not apply to a large percentage of American (or other countries) religious Jewry.Rafi G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00699851287106903971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-49650925150777084722007-05-02T15:57:00.000+03:002007-05-02T15:57:00.000+03:00I also discussed this post on my blog. Yishai,Whil...I also discussed this post on my blog. <BR/><BR/>Yishai,<BR/>While your points about aliyah are correct, and while many Jews (many many) do feel it is the final stop on the train (which is definitely wrong,) I don't see why that makes it Kosher Style, is if it is meaningless and only called Judaism in name only.<BR/><BR/>You even said yourself that there are many who cannot make aliyah at this point or there are people that tried and failed, which you understand. These people do not view it as the 'final stop' in America. Are they still Kosher Style?<BR/><BR/>As I wrote on my blog: Would Yishai suggest that the Amoraim in the times of the Gemara were living a “Kosher Style” life? <BR/><BR/>I understand what he said about the lack of desire to get closer to G-d and the idea of the 'final stop,' but I don't think it is similar to Kosher Style. I think calling it Kosher style is insulting and wrong.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-35353331921187778392007-05-02T14:50:00.000+03:002007-05-02T14:50:00.000+03:00Also with regard to Rafi's comment: "Yishai's post...Also with regard to Rafi's comment: "Yishai's post, at least as I understood it, was not just critical of the side-stepping of people who do not consider aliya seriously. It was extremely critical and harsh even against those who do consider it but for whatever reason right now cannot."<BR/><BR/>Nothing could be farther from the truth. I am not critical of those who cannot make Aliyah now at all. I am only trying to disabuse the notion of those who think that America is the final stop on the train. Aliyah is a process - we at Kumah know this very well!Yishaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06615108446143782139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-27768618417882473182007-05-02T14:44:00.000+03:002007-05-02T14:44:00.000+03:00The notion that Israeli's make Yerida to the whole...The notion that Israeli's make Yerida to the whole world is simply incorrect. They make Yerida PRIMARILY to the US. One quarter of Yordim, 250,000, live between San Deigo and San Fransisco. Why do they go to America? America is a great country to live in for many reasons, but a major factor is that the US is a philo-Semetic country - and the Jews live very well, and very Jewishly. American Jewry has created an alternative to Israel. Brooklyn's Avenue J, Teaneck's Cedar Lane, Cederhurst's Central Ave, Crown Heights, Lakewood, and many others as well. Shuls are made from imported Jerusalem stone.<BR/><BR/>Simple psychology - why should any Jew choose Israel if you can be just as Jewish in the US? American Jews are comfortable in every way: economically, politically and religiously, while Israeli Jews face war, terror, and economic hardship. The simple answer for the hard luck Israeli is a Green Card. But, the potential Yored may ask himself, what about Zionism, Eretz Yisrael and all those values? A convenient answer awaits him: If the Frum Jew of Brooklyn can live in America, feel himself totally religious, and EVEN feel that he is actually supporting Israel - then why not join him? You see, the Orthodox are SEEN as the leaders of Jewry, the most connected to G-d. So if one is so connected to G-d, but chooses to live in the Exile, it must be OK after all, this very pious-looking Orthodox American knows much more about his Jewish obligations than I do, a poorly-versed secular Israeli.<BR/><BR/>Read through the Torah. Read through your Orthodox siddur. If you still believe that the Torah does not mandate a homeland for the Jewish people... then you need to either re-read, or start editing. To be an Orthodox Jew and to reject the centrality of Israel is to stare these holy words in the face and say "no".<BR/><BR/>The time has come for American Orthodoxy to feel uncomfortable about choosing the Galut. This is NOT about making myself feel higher than others. This is about what Hashem wants - which, by the way, is a discussion that is sorely lacking in this discourse.<BR/><BR/>Here is how Yehuda Halevi saw it. In his seminal work, the Kuzari, Halevi created a fictional discussion between a Jewish sage and the king of the Khazars. During their discussion, the king asked the sage about the Jewish connection to the land of Israel: “[Since the Jewish religion is so invested in the land and all of the religions based on Judaism have inherited this attachment], don’t you [Jews] fall short of your religious duty, by not endeavoring to going up the land and making it your home both in life and death? Since you say [in the blessing after reading the haftarah]: ‘Have mercy on Zion for it is the house of our life’ and you believe that God’s indwelling presence, the Shechina, will return there…it only makes sense that your souls should yearn to go up there in order to purify themselves…” (Kuzari 2:23)<BR/><BR/>The sage replied: “Your reproach is justified, King of the Khazars. This is the reason that the Divine promise in the time of the Second Temple was left unfulfilled: ‘Shout for joy, Fair Zion! For lo, I come, and I will dwell in your midst.’ For the Divine power was ready to prevail in Zion as it had in the first place, if the people had willingly returned. But only a small part of the people was willing to return, and the majority and the people of rank remained in Babylon, preferring dependence and slavery, because they were unwilling to leave their homes and easy circumstances…” (Ibid. 2:24)<BR/><BR/>Halevi views the fact that the redemption has not occurred as a result of the human failure to respond to the values that they purportedly believe in. Redemption will occur, according to Halevi, only when human beings live up to their obligations to God. The US is today's Bavel and American Jewry is choosing to stay put. Non-Aliyah is bad enough, but creating an alternative Israel and attracting Yerida?<BR/><BR/>By the way, it won't last. Assimilation will do its work. My cousin has married a goy. His kid is a goy. This is happening. My intention in writing all this is to send out a hand to all Jews and to welcome them in to Hashem's greatest gift to this generation -Eretz Yisrael. If you guys want to get hung up on the idea that I am being rude or arrogant - chaval! In your comments you say that I am not aware of the hardships of Israel or in some way don't understand American Jewry. Nothing could be farther from the truth - I am just like you - I am former American Jew with an American Law degree, I know the attraction of America. I have chosen to live my life as a full Jew and now as an Oleh, I deal with economic hardships, I serve in the army and have lost people. BUT, I thank Hashem every day for giving this generation, and me within it, the opportunity to do this Mitzva of Eretz Yisrael, to live this Jewish life, and move the redemption along.<BR/><BR/>BTW - do you know how living in Israel is like Tzitit??? They are both among the handful of Mitzvot which our Rabbis say are akin to keeping the whole Torah.Yishaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06615108446143782139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-40316534947100954112007-05-02T14:27:00.000+03:002007-05-02T14:27:00.000+03:00Malka - you clearly misunderstood me. In my opinio...Malka - you clearly misunderstood me. In my opinion aliya is a very important mitzva. However it is different from shabbos and most other mitzvos. If one does not keep shabbos, he is doing aveiros. Not keeping shabbos would mean he is not orthodox (though that is a generalization that I am sure is open to great debate - what is called keeping shabbos, how much makes you not ortho, etc..).<BR/>Not making aliya does not give you an aveira, just you have failed to fulfill a (very important) mitzva. Clearly there is a difference.<BR/>If one does not keep kosher, he is eating non-kosher food. If one does not make aliya, he is "simply" not fulfilling a mitzva, but not getting an aveira.<BR/><BR/>I agree 100% that the importance of aliya is great. It is more than a mitzva in my mind - it is a given. It is a pre-requisite to living a real Jewish life. However, the facts are that it is very difficult for many to do so. Yes, some people do not even consider it honestly. Some people brush it off and do not ascribe importance to it. They are wrong.<BR/><BR/>Another factor I might add, and might get jumped on for, is the Zionist factor. Many ultra-orthodox Jews are against the "idolatry" of zionism (to quote from many people) and the fact that the leadership here is so bad and even anti-religious in many people's eyes, makes them rationalize further their staying away.<BR/><BR/>Yishai's post, at least as I understood it, was not just critical of the side-stepping of people who do not consider aliya seriously. It was extremely critical and harsh even against those who do consider it but for whatever reason right now cannot.<BR/><BR/>Again, as I did earlier, I will compare it to what I myself have witnessed. In shul, someone can be talking the whole davening but when the prayer for the State of Israel is said, they stand and are quiet and criticize anyone who might talk. They take it out of proportion. They give it importance at a level it might not deserve (yes, the prayer is important, but more so than the rest of davening?).<BR/><BR/>Yes, aliya is important. To me it is even a pre-requisite for Jews to live a full Jewish life. But often many who make aliya consider everyone else sinners way out of proportion. People have issues that need to be dealt with. It is not always so easy.<BR/>I am not justifying anybody's existence out of Israel. I am simply saying not to judge them so harshly for not living here. Some people have it easier than others. Some people have less issues than others.Rafi G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00699851287106903971noreply@blogger.com