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Thursday 2 Kislev 5787

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קטגוריה משנית

DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT

Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.

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Our parsha (10, 13) teaches that the mitzvot are for our benefit, "To keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes, which I command you this day, FOR YOUR GOOD", "לטוב לך". This is not uncommon, as elsewhere (Dvarim 6, 24) "לטוב לנו כל הימים", "for our benefit in all times". The prophets also teach that this is Hashem giving us sound advice (Yishayahu 25, 1), as the Rambam brings as well (Tmura 4, 13), "and most of the laws of the Torah are simply advice from Above, from the greatest Advisor". When the Tanach tells us many tens if not hundreds of times that Am Yisrael is supposed to be living in Eretz Yisrael, we may not always see the benefits, but can and should rely on Hashem that He knows not only how to solve our present problems but also to advance us forward. Only He can know all of the complex factors involved in such far-reaching decisions, and only He can solve a wide range of problems with one concrete suggestion: Aliya to ISRAEL, "והרושתם את הארץ וישבתם בה", "inherit=own=buy the Land & settle her" (Bamidbar 33, 53). May I suggest that this may be why our sages teach that this far-reaching move is "equated with all of the mitzvot combined" (Sifre Dvarim 12). I recently heard a panel of rabbis and orthodox leaders from the States discussing the problems they face and their respective solutions. They mentioned anti-Semitism, various forms of assimilation (intermarriage, adopting progressive and anti-Israel narratives, American values of gashmi'ut etc.), the high cost of Jewish education, the lack of first-rate rabbis and educators, etc. It's not ironic that the one single solution to all of the aforementioned challenges is making Aliya. In Israel we are not at the mercy of Mamdani and other political and local thugs; it's the best answer to assimilation for here we have the "home-court advantage" to set the tone and values of family, Judaism etc. and intermarriage is almost nil; here the cost of religious education is minimal (whereas the salary difference isn't what it used to be) and this is where Jewish yishuvim, youth movements and yeshivot, ulpanot and midrashot are thriving; the most idealistic and altruistic of young leadership has already made aliya & will continue to do so. I understand that Aliya is also a challenge, but in my opinion, it's nothing compared to all of the problems it SOLVES! All of the arrows are pointing here. Similarly, I saw recently a rabbi posed the question: why when Israel was in danger the Jews from America came to empathize, but today, when our brothers overseas face anti-Semitism, we in Israel don't to go to sympathize with them? The simple answer is that Israel is the Jewish Land and problems here belong to and should preoccupy all Jews in the world. Here we can't run away but must solve our challenges, but in America running away is probably the best solution. But in addition, despite the difficulties involved in Aliya, our brothers abroad, for whatever reason, consciously chose to stay in galut. We are more than willing to help welcome them with open arms, help their absorption in Israel, and share with them our experience and tips, but from experience, they usually give us the feeling that they are so entrenched in America, our suggesting Aliya just makes them feel guilty. Do they expect us to lie and console them that they should stay and fight the losing battle of the historically and religiously inevitable? More importantly, as we recently read in Eicha (1, 1) and now in the "7 Haftarot of comfort" (Yishaya ch. 40, and 24 et al) Eretz Yisrael is our beloved and referred to in the FEMININE, as our soulmate. How can one read the HAFTAROT of the next 2 months without getting excited that it's coming TRUE, and yearning to dance & join the return to Zion?! It's the most natural thing to want to live with your beloved (Land and Nation). The Divine presence of holiness is here, and it's the most natural thing in the world for a Jew to yearn for that G-dliness and pervasive holiness, as our parsha stresses, even in Israel's fruit (8, 8)! The altruistic ways of G-d are the norm here, in an all-encompassing life-style including service in the IDF, milu'im and Sherut Le'umi, aiding others in the shelters and with their children and grandchildren while husbands & fathers are away. As all mitzvot, living in Israel is not such a sacrifice but a PRIVILEGE & again: BENEFICIAL! Rather than feeling guilty or that you're missing out, just solve those problems by dancing & joining Am Yisrael, where little by little, most orthodox are realizing we are all supposed to be, "for our benefit" both individually and surely nationally and historically. Shabbat Shalom, Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)
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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.
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