My thoughts on Aliyah

She had a great song with "try again", was a hot babe, and looked to have a promising acting career as well until her life was so tragically cut short.

Alright, kidding. I've been bombarded with all sorts of comments concerning my views on Israel. Some think I live there, which is fine because I don't want the people in my community here to know who I am. Others think I hate Israelis due to the "sweaty agressive obnoxious" comment. Twenny agrees but she doesn't count (though you are always welcome to express your view here).

I shan't delve into the same old halachic dispute again, the famous Rambam/Ramban/Megilat Sefer/Avney Nezer/Mitzvah Kiyumis debate. I think it's pretty academic, as is the Midrashic three oaths discussion.

What I do believe is that one can be a good Jew in the US. Daf Yomi on public transport, kosher food to the gills, shuls, yeshivas, etc. One can only be fufilled jew in Israel, the land of our forefathers, the center of our life, the location we pray towards. Not just the fact that there is thousands of years of history there, that there are commandments we can only perform there and not here, but mainly because this is the greatest Jewish enterprise, creating and building a modern Jewish state. And despite my previous comments, I think they've (we've?) been pretty succesful, all in all.

Aha, I hear you exclaim. So why don't I go live there? Well, I'm a sucker for the cash, it's all about the money, it's all about the dum dum diddi dee dum. Money money money, it's so funny, in a rich man's world. Show me the money! Money's too tight too mention. I've got a good life, in a good place, with a good job. Truth is, I struggle enough here trying to be a good Jew. I might trot out the old excuse that every Averah done in Israel is far worse (and trust me, I do my fair share of those). Ultimately, I don't have the balls.

I don't sense dissonance between me personally being a comfortable Jew here yet believing that Jews should make Aliyah. Similarly, I can believe that loshon hora is so wrong, damaging and dangerous, yet continue to spread lies and scandal wherever I roam. I'm human, all too human.

I hope that clears things up and gets the trolls of my back. Good night and G-d bless.

TRK