David Derovan wrote,
"Why isn't making Aliyah and educating your children in Israel an option?
"Now, this is not a frivolous statement and it is not an unrealistic statement."
It certainly is for some, but most certainly not for all Jews living outside of Israel. And what I am going to write has nothing to do with money, language or the other issues that must be considered when considering making Aliyah.
Many years ago I asked Rabbi Dovid Kronglass, ZT"L, who was the Mashgiach of Yeshivas Ner Yisroel, about moving to Eretz Yisroel. After all, I said, Orthodox Jews are interested in doing mitzvahs, and one can certainly do more mitzvahs in Israel. He responded by pointing out that the mitzvahs that one can do in Israel are only of rabbinical origin at this time. Furthermore, he went on, one has to keep in mind the following.
The land of Israel has a special Kedushah (holiness). Therefore, if one does a mitzvah there, one gets more reward than if one does the exact same mitzvah here. However, if one does something wrong, G-D forbid, in Israel, it is much worse than if one does the same wrong here. "You just don't go to Israel," he told me. "You have to be on the right spiritual level before you go."
I must say that I have never heard of anyone taking this into consideration before he or she went to Israel for a visit or to live.
Professor Yitzchok Levine (Retired)
Stevens Institute of Technology
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/09/2016 12:52AM by mlb.
