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Bracha upon making aliya
Question
Hi Rav Shvat! How are you? I’m Bezrat Hashem making Aliyah tomorrow:))) is there a bracha I can say or minhag I can do when I make Aliyah?
Answer
That's fantastic- Kol HaKavod!! It's the best and most historic and important decision you'll ever make!! You should definitely make a Shehechiyanu (as you are clearly happy) when you land or when you leave the plane (especially if u kiss the ground, at which time you should recite "כי רצו עבדיך את אבניה ואת עפרה יחננו", "For Your servants desired her stones and (even) love her dust", Tehilim 102, 15). Rav Kook said that there's no other specific bracha on this mitzva, and one explanation is that (Resp. Rashba I, 18 & 254) there is no bracha on mitzvot which are "b'di'eved" (e.g. like returning a lost object, paying back stolen money etc.). Accordingly, having been born outside of Israel was "against our will", and in aliya, we're just "straightening" something unfortunate to become natural: A natural Jew living in our natural Land, speaking our natural Language, observing our natural Torah! Similarly, R. B'chaye explains that there's no bracha on mitzvot which are logical (e.g. giving tzedakah, doing kindness), and here too, just like all of the nations, it's certainly logical for us too, to live in our national Land. All the best!!
With Love of Israel, Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)

Mezuzah Case
Rabbi David Sperling | Shevat 25, 5783

Why God tests us when He knows the future?
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Shevat 23, 5783

Kashering a dishwasher
Rabbi David Sperling | Cheshvan 23, 5778

Tiltul in a hotel on Shabbat II
Rabbi Chaim Tabasky | 11 Sivan 5766

Rabbi Ari Shvat
Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.

Delaying aliya for career and studies
Adar II 25, 5771

Evils Spirits & Ghosts
Adar II 25, 5771

Orla
Shevat 19, 5771

Bircat baalat habayit 2
Adar I 23, 5771

Kashering a dishwasher
Rabbi David Sperling | Cheshvan 23, 5778

Sitting for Tefillin
Rabbi David Sperling | Sivan 12, 5772

Sitting for Tefillin
Rabbi David Sperling | Sivan 12, 5772

Mezzuzah for Non Jew
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 18, 5773

Key to Jewish work ethic & success
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Adar 15, 5783

Negel Vaser for Babies
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Adar 24, 5783
