Confessions of a Wannabe Olah

There’s a “fable” told about a man who was in a flood. The water was rising in his home and a motorboat came by and offered to take him to safety. The man said “No. G-d will save me.” The water continued to rise and a rowboat came and offered to take the man to safety. He said “No. G-d will save me.” The water rose further and the man was on the roof of his house. A helicopter came to rescue him and he said “No. G-d will save me.” The water rose further and the man drowned. He approached G-d and said “I put my faith in you. Why didn’t you save me?” G-d answered him with “What do you mean? I sent you a motorboat, a rowboat, and a helicopter.”

In Parshat Shlach, which we’re reading this week, we read about the 10 Meraglim who lost faith in themselves and in G-d’s promise. But some commentators say that they were afraid of losing G-d’s constant and immediate presence. They knew that once they reached the Promised Land, they would need to work and could not rely on the overt miracles like they had in the desert. 

Naturally, this parsha is often used by the Aliyah salespeople for their pitch. And I don’t disagree with the concept. Of course we belong in Eretz Yisrael. It’s our Homeland. And with the rise of Jew-hatred around the world, even in the US (the once Goldeneh Medineh), it’s actually safer for us Jews to be in Eretz Yisrael. 

I myself wish I could be there. I know that history is being made and I want to be a part of it. I’ve been to Eretz Yisrael before and I’ve felt that beauty and holiness in my bones. Not to mention that I have family and friends there. Some of those friends are waiting for me and my family to not only make Aliyah but to live near them. 

That said, the obstacles are there. 

I like to think that I’m not like the Meraglim. I’m not afraid of having to work in Eretz Yisrael. I’m a little nervous about the different culture but I can learn that. I’m even more nervous about having to get help with the adjustments to life in a different country. I just don’t plan to let that stop me and my family. But in our case, the obstacles are there and I don’t want to expect overt miracles because that’s not appropriate. I’m waiting for the “motorboat,” “rowboat,” and “helicopter.” 

Like so many other wannabe Olim, we don’t have a lot of money to start. Nefesh B’Nefesh advises paying off debts and saving enough money to live on until jobs come through. We have debts to pay and we don’t have a lot of money to even pay the moving expenses let alone to live on while we get jobs. We don’t own a home and while we have belongings that we can sell, it won’t make much of a dent. 

Like many other wannabe Olim, I have elderly parents who are reasonably well now but who are declining and need care. Other wannabe Olim have elderly parents or other relatives who need care. Many of those older adults can only travel with a lot of accommodations even if they want to come on Aliyah with us. And not all of them want to go through the hassles and stresses and strains of moving at all, even to Eretz Yisrael. 

There are other wannabe Olim who have other reasons for not making Aliyah right now that I can’t think of right now. 

While many of my friends and relatives in Eretz Yisrael, including even some Aliyah salespeople, are understanding, not all of the salespeople are. Some of them give advice like “live frugally” (which we’re already doing). Others dismiss the obstacles as nothing but excuses and I wish that they would put their proverbial money where their mouths are. Some are playing the “have faith in Hashem and you’ll see miracles” card. But that sounds like they’re advising the man in the fable to just have faith in Hashem without directing him to the motorboat, rowboat, or helicopter. Considering that relying on overt miracles is not appropriate, I find that advice to not be helpful at all. 

Would I appreciate a sudden miraculous deposit of money in our account so that we can pay off our debts and manage until we get jobs? Of course I would. Would I appreciate if my parents woke up tomorrow morning with no health issues and with the strength and vigor and desire to make Aliyah with us? Absolutely. But these would be very overt miracles and as Jews, we’re not supposed to rely on them. 

Would I appreciate a group of Jews brainstorming and coming up with ways to help us wannabe Olim to get around those obstacles? Absolutely. And that’s something I can hope for. If the Aliyah salespeople would come up with (legal and legitimate) resources to help, I would take them. Some people have advised what I call “the Nachshon ben Amminadav” approach, which is to just start the process and work towards Aliyah. In fact, my family and I have a file with Nefesh B’Nefesh and we’re trying to network and talk to different people and get help. But the obstacles are still there for now. And nearly everyone agrees that just packing up, getting passports, buying plane tickets, and coming over with no plan is ill-advised. 

We wannabe Olim are not like the Meraglim- we want to come Home. And we know that there are no easy answers but we’re waiting and watching for the “motorboat,” “rowboat,” and “helicopter” and we have no intention of saying no. Maybe if the salespeople would try to understand these things and not dismiss them, they might find the motorboat, rowboat, and helicopter and send them our way. 

May Hashem bring us all Home very soon. And if it’s by covert miracles such as the motorboat, rowboat, and helicopter, we’ll take that.