Stay Put – For Now

Rabbi Arush recently spoke at length about Aliya in his recent Q&A session! Watch it right here:

So much has been said in my name about aliyah and one’s obligation to make aliyah, but according to the many letters I have received, quite a few people have misunderstood me, others have selectively quoted out of context, and yet others were very upset by my answers. It’s certainly not our intention to pour salt on people’s open wounds and to make them feel worse, G-d forbid, when they already feel bad because they simply are unable to make aliyah at this time. Let me explain:

If you’re a divorcee with joint custody and/or visitation rights of your children under the age of eighteen, and making aliyah means that you’ll lose connection with them, then delay aliyah for the time being.

If you take care of elderly parents, and at the moment you lack a suitable alternative for them, then delay aliyah for the meanwhile.

If you’re repaying debts, and by leaving your job or business at this point in time, you won’t be able to repay them, then stay put and postpone aliyah. But do your best to repay your debts as fast as possible so that you’ll eventually be able to make aliyah with a clean financial and spiritual slate. Unpaid debts are a big source of stern judgments, so it’s not a good idea to begin such an important new spiritual venture such as aliya when there are people who are upset with you because you owe them money. People with justified grievances can invoke harsh judgments if they’re not placated. So don’t use aliyah as an excuse to shirk debts and responsibilities.

If you are active in bringing souls closer to Hashem wherever you are, then keep on doing what you do. There is nothing greater at this point in time than outreach, spreading emuna in the world and bringing souls closer to Hashem.

First, know full well that even if you can’t make aliyah at this time, you have an obligation to start praying daily for Hashem to help you make aliyah as soon as feasible.

Second, there’s an important message for anyone who has his or her own good reason to delay aliyah for the time being – you have a job to do to spread emuna in your area.

Don’t get me wrong – the Land of Israel is the place for a Jew to be. Sooner or later, we will all be here. Yet, Hashem doesn’t want to leave anyone behind. Do you know what that means? If you are in London, New York, Toronto, Washington, LA, or elsewhere overseas, and your personal circumstance virtually won’t let you make aliyah in the foreseeable future, then be happy! As people of emuna, we know that Hashem put you in that circumstance for a specific purpose. Hashem has no problem at all in juggling your circumstance and removing your current obstacle that prevents you from making aliyah. So if you can’t make aliyah, you’re doing yourself a disservice by simply shrugging your shoulders and sweeping the issue under the rug.

From everything I’ve heard from the truly righteous individuals of our generation, time is running out. I’m not saying this to scare anyone, but any person with two eyes and two ears can see how the world is sitting on a powder keg. Despite the impression to the contrary, the Land of Israel is the best and safest place in the world for a Jew to be. The need and the obligation to make aliya is becoming more and more urgent, as many of the tzaddikim have reiterated more than once. Please don’t ignore their message.

But, if you can’t make aliyah for the time being, don’t be depressed or disappointed. Hashem has a job for you to do wherever you are right now. Start spreading emuna to everyone you know. Use you tithe money to invest in a stock of emuna books and CDs, and take whatever you can carry wherever you go. Invariably, Hashem will send you plenty of opportunities to reach out to people and bring them closer to Him. For example, if a business associate, a customer, or someone in the synagogue confides in you that they’re having marital problems, give them a copy of The Garden of Peace and Women’s Wisdom. With one book or CD, you’ll not only be saving a marriage, but you just might be saving a life as well. One emuna GEM could very well be the factor that prevents a despairing individual from taking his life into his own hands.

One thing is for sure – when you are engaged in outreach, you’re saving souls as well as bodies. You are Hashem’s emissary in your area. As Hashem’s emissary, you and your family will the enjoying the benefits of Hashem’s protection. And, when the time is right, you and your family will be ushered to the airport to get on the plane to Eretz Yisrael, so you can greet Mashiach Tzidkenu in our rebuilt Holy Temple, speedily ad in our days, amen!

Original publish date: 2012. This message only gets more and more urgent!