We Jews have a state and a flag, but the mindset of too many Israelis is still mired in golus, galut, the diaspora. As a people, we're still "slaves to Pharoah" though no longer in Egypt. That slave mentality has fully left us.
G-d has taken us physically out of Egypt and the more modern diaspora, Europe, the Americas, India, Africa etc. I just look at my neighbors here in Shiloh and I can see the miraculous ingathering of the millennium of exiles.
We have returned both physically and mentally/spiritually, but not all of our brethren are on the same level.
G-d created us with the power of free will. Yes, it's a power, a strength that can override logic and even G-d's rules and commandments. We human beings aren't angels; we aren't pawns in G-d's chess game with the devil. Some of us learn and accept G-d's will more quickly and others more slowly.
And the road to true independence seems very bumpy. I pray that our "seatbelts" hold us in place. Just like when our forefather Jacob prepared to meet his estranged brother Esau, he prepared in many ways, with military, prayers and gifts, we must always be prepared for every possible scenario and never, ever give up.
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Atzma'ut Sameach!
Have a Peaceful Shabbat and Joyful Independence Holiday
14 comments:
You write,
"We Jews have a state and a flag, but the mindset of too many Israelis is still mired in golus, galut, the diaspora. As a people, we're still "slaves to Pharoah" though no longer in Egypt. That slave mentality has fully left us."
I beg to differ. We ARE in galut! As long as Moshiach doesn't reveal himself, we REMAIN in galut. The exodus of Mitzrayim is NOT over. As we say in Hagadda, we invoke exodus of Mitzrayom every day of our lives. Mitzrayim stands for Metsarim - constraints. We need to leave behind new constraints continually until we finally get the real boost we need when we enter Moshiach times.
We are STILL in galut; Still involved in the process of leaving Mitzrayim. Geulah has yet to shine its warm rays upon us - may it be immediately!
We've taken an important step in settling the Land, but not all are participating. The more who settle in the HolyLand, the faster the Moshiach will be here.
Batya, you assert: "The more who settle in the HolyLand, the faster the Moshiach will be here."
That's an interesting claim. Have you got a source for this?
a "source?"
The Torah, basic mitzvot. We're told to settle the Land. We're told that we're punished if we don't Isn't that clear enough?
I hear you - but I'm not sure. Why if it were clear as you make it sound, many more would be packing their bags. And by not packing their bags, I'm sure you are not implicating them as transgressors.
ITV, the Ribbono Shel Olam only has so much patience, kiveyachol.
Besides reading the relevant verses throughout all of Tanach regarding our return to Eretz Yisrael, and the Rambam's and the Ramban's words of encouragement to all Jews to establish their homes in Eretz Yisrael (said over half a millennium ago when there were no free Birthright trips or jumbo jets to travel on).
Suggested contemporary reading: Eim Habanim Semeichah. It costs a small fortune in English but worth its weight in gold - and it's heavy! More readily available in Hebrew, if you can read it.
There's a famous medrash on Shemot 13:18, which Rashi brings down on the word "Vachamushim". Read it and ask yourself whether it applies to all Jews today, both in Israel and abroad.
Shy Guy:
About that midrash - you can find it explained and elaborated here:
http://hezbos.blogspot.com/2009/11/midrash-explained-future-foretold.html
That has to do with WANTING to go to Eretz Yisroel. Who doesn't WANT to go? Do you expect people to go and settle with the sort of governments we've had in Israel, where people - to them - are treated as HEFKER? A Ba'al HaBayit today cannot just pick up and go to Eretz Yisroel because he cannot trust the government, police, courts and media there. He has to think of his family. It's one thing to be young, single and carefree. But for families to move there in droves, the atmosphere generated by government there must become more amenable.
I wish extremely I could pick up and live in the Holy Land. Only the above-mentioned constraints, and more, like living on the "West" bank that hasn't even been annexed yet; And the Arab 5th column within that gets more respect than the maligned "settler"; etc. etc. which you're only too much aware of, I'm sure.
It's not for nothing that one of Moshiach's tasks will be to collect all the Jews from the diaspora!
ITV, I'll be lazy and just link to this article.
SG - Not only lazy, but you skirt the issues I made in defense of many Jews.
ITV, how does the article I linked to "skirt" the issues you brought up?
van, you're missing the forest for the trees. Doing mitzvot in galut is tree worship. Judaism's "forest" the big picture is living Judaism, mitzvot and all in the Land G-d gave us and ordered us, Lech Lecha, to go to and conquor with Joshua.
Shy, good job
At least, with multi-millions of Jewish brethren in diaspora, I am in good company.
ITV, that's a great Yetzer Harah you've got there!
van, some words of wisdom I was raised with:
If everyone's jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge, are you going to jump, too?
So you believe in following crowds rather than G-d...
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