‘Yishuv Eretz Yisrael’: An ultimate dream, aspiration and obligation

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As a child growing up in a modern orthodox pro-Zionist family, I can vividly recall how I would hear my parents talk about their yearning for Yishuv Eretz Yisrael , or Aliya  –  to move and settle in Israel.

Not unlike many families, this yearning never translated into an actual move to Israel, but was substituted by an unwavering and passionate commitment to supporting Israel through the giving of tzedaka, volunteering, the purchase of Israeli products, visits to our family living in Israel, Torah study, membership in pro-Israel and pro-Zionist organizations, participation at rallies, conferences and communal events in support of Israel, through one-year study programs in Israel and our individual and communal tfillot (even during years of relative calm) as well as the recitation of special tefillot and tehillim.

Throughout my youth, as many of my close cousins, relatives and friends made aliyah to Israel, over time, my yearning, burning desire and passion to follow suit only intensified.

After we married, we had children and I devoted my career to to the field of Jewish education and Jewish communal service which included the promotion and teaching about eretz yisrael, torat yisrael and achdut yisrael as well as the centrality of Israel through Jewish text study, teachings and advocacy.

Although I and my family have participated in countless communal and family trips to Israel, it never takes the place of packing our bags, getting on a plane and making Aliyah; nor does it quench our thirst to live and settle in Israel. In fact, every time we return home from a visit to Israel, the feeling of separation upon returning to the States becomes more difficult; and we once again continue to incessantly talk about the ultimate dream and aspiration of living in Israel.

Since the brutal horrifying massacre of October 7th, and the growing spread of antisemitic and anti-Israel vitriol throughout the world, I together with many friends, family and colleagues now view Aliyah through different lenses. The lenses of “escaping from” as opposed to “moving to”. As a result, many of us now view the challenge of Aliya from a totally different perspective. This perspective is not about fear, but rather about a new consciousness and need to secure our respective future in an environment which creates and supports a true sense of klal yisrael and achdut yisrael. It also compliments the continued comments by our friends and family, urging us “to return home before its too late.”

For many of us living in diaspora Jewish communities, making aliya to Israel is still very much alive in our hearts and souls. It represents a reality and challenge which we will never resolve until we actually fulfill the ultimate dream of moving to Israel.

As we know, for many of us living in diaspora Jewish communities, reality dictates that aliya may be extremely difficult for a number of reasons…..ranging from a lack of personal financing to afford living in Israel to professional employment insecurities and uncertainties; from the need to be close to immediate family to serving as caretakers for aging parents; and from health concerns to plain concern or fear of the unknown.

If moving or relocating ones home is ranked by many as one of the most stressful events besides for changing jobs, then just begin to imagine the stress levels in relocating or moving to another country.

More often than not, many folks who cannot make aliya for these and other considerations, end up experiencing guilt, disappointment, internal conflict and frustration. In fact, a close friend and colleague who is professionally involved with the Israeli Immigration and Absorption Ministry and the Aliya desk, claims that the number of people and families who apply but who do not make the move, seek significant counseling. This is especially the case or feeling of guilt when not being able to immigrate to our homeland during times of existential crisis.

As a close colleague recently shared with me, we in the diaspora live with a continuous would-have, could-have and should -have syndrome; and, many of us still dream, fantasize and imagine what it would mean to actually live in Israel.

All of these feeling and realities are normal, but for many of us, this challenge requires close examination, introspection and a level of closure  and context.

To live with continuous self-imposed guilt and feelings of disappointment about not being able to make aliya, can be counterproductive and it does not advance our individual or collective roles as a community deeply committed to Israel’s stability, safety or viability on the world stage.

As a result of this reality, a brief review of several sources which help shine light on the topic, are in order. The challenge of making aliya to Israel and our obligations  to live in Israel are numerous.

There are many poskim who feel that Yishuv Eretz Yisrael is a top priority, even in the face of difficulty, acrimony, challenge or hardship.

Driven for further clarity, several weeks ago, I spoke with a well respected Rav and Torah scholar about this challenge. I in fact asked him about our individual and collective obligations of Yishuv Eretz Yisrael.

His response was pretty straight forward. If you are able make Aliya, do it. But if its not possible, for whatever the reason, there are a variety of ways to fulfill this obligation and mitzvah. They include: supporting charities which benefit Israel, purchasing desperately needed products, material and supplies for Israel (especially during wartime), volunteering for Israeli-based organizations and institutions,  visiting Israel as frequently as possible (especially during chaggim), recited tefillot and tehillim for the welfare of Israel and the study of Torah which support and bolster our understanding about the centrality of Israel in our lives.

He also strongly suggested that if conditions warranted or present themselves in the future that we continue to aspire to move and settle in Israel.

These responses from a scholar and respected Rav were very reassuring, but they  nevertheless do not fully satisfy our heartfelt passion and yearning for aliyah. To be sure, there are many scholars who feel that in order to fulfill the mitzvah and obligation, one must actually live on the land of Eretz Yisrael ….no shortcuts, no compromises.

This is incredibly important when understanding the variety of mitzvot that are very specific to settling the actual “land” of Israel. Ergo, its not about climbing to the peak of massada, shopping on Ben Yehuda, swimming in the Dead Sea, eating falafel and shnitzel or touring the land in comfortable modern air conditioned buses. All of these trappings and experiences are important and beautiful. But more critical are the unconditional physical connections and bond to the actual land of Israel. Walking and settling on the same physical sand and earth which Avraham Yitzchak and Yaakov, Sarah, Rivka and Leah physically traversed throughout history is the ultimate goal.

Be it as it may, most scholars and poskim agree that the obligation and mitzvah of Aliya is a complex one and that one-size does not fit all.

The Mitzvah and Obligation of Aliyah: Some Final Thoughts

According to the Ramban (Nachmonides), the mitzvah in making Aliya is very difficult to fully understand and embrace.

The mitzvah of Yishuv Eretz Yirael or in making Aliyah, is considered to be a mitzvah “Kiyumis” not “Chiyuvis”.

Kiyumis is a mitzvah that is not obligatory, but rather if fulfilled or conducted is rewarded. An example is eating in a Sukkah after the first night of Sukkot.

Chiyuvis on the other hand is obligatory like putting on tefillin. It is not optional, but rather required.

Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l  and Rav Yosef Dov Solovetchik zt”l agree that the mitvah of aliya is voluntary or optional, not obligatory.

Whether or not these rulings change the manner in which we feel emotionally or psychologically regarding aliya, is a very sensitive and personal decision. But the one reality or consolation we learn from these sources is that the act of moving to Israel is indeed optional.

End Note

Making aliyah, as indicated, is a very sensitive and personal endeavor. As we mature as a community and as individuals, and as our emotional and visceral connections to Israel evolve during this changing period of existential Jewish survival, is a most difficult and personal challenge.

At the end of the day, we all support Israel in ways which resonate the most with each of us.

For some, its about making aliya; for others its about unconditional moral and physical support for Israel; yet for others, its a combination of both.

May HaShem continue to extend his protective shield over achienu bnai yisrael; may he bless our homeland with bracha, achdut and shalom; may he free the hostages from the vicious hands of Hamas captivity; may he protect our chayalim and chayalot who so bravely and heroically protect our people; may he return our displaced families to their homes in the north and south; and, may HaShem console the mourners of Zion and Yerushalayim.

b’shana haba’ah b’yerushalayim