Moving to Israel

There’s a wonderful and sobering article out this week in Arutz Sheva that I wanted to share with you. The article is written by Prof. Steven Plaut of the University of Haifa and runs in parallel with the anti-Semitic propaganda play, “My Name is Rachel,” currently playing theaters around the world.

Plaut makes the case that the plays subject, Rachel Corrie, serves as the Horst Wessel of the anti-Israel Left. Wessel was an idealistic young German active in the Bismarck Youth organization, a nationalist youth group in post-WWI Weimar Germany. At 19 years old he joined the Nazi Party and, like Corrie, wrote poems and music, and he played the oboe. In 1930 when he was 23, he got into a dispute with his landlady, whose husband was a communist party leader. Probably in response, on  January 14, 1930, Wessel was shot in the face by Albrecht Höhler, an active member of the local Communist Party. This is where Plaut draws the analogy as the Nazi Party decided that Wessel would make a brilliant martyr figure, and his tragic death could be exploited as political ammunition to promote the agenda of the party.

He goes on to say that Horst Wessel was obviously the Rachel Corrie of the anti-Jewish movement almost 80 years before Rachel Corrie played a similar role and I’ll quote him in his explanation: “In both cases, their “martyrdom” was in fact a pathetic death due in large part to their own stupidity.  In both cases the death of a naive young person involved in extremist politics was exploited by the pro-terrorism groups to which they belonged.  In both cases the “martyrs” were beatified by those seeking the murder and annihilation of Jews.”

I highly recommend reading the whole article as Plaut does a fantastic job of identifying the utter disdain of those behind these farcical martyr shows and properly condemns them to what they truly are: more anti-Semitic rubbish.

Ari

There was a great article by Yochanan Visser, a Dutch-language analyst for the Israel Facts Group (www.israelfacts.eu), a European media watchdog organization, published on Arutz Sheva today about the way the Dutch government funded news show NOS Journaal hushed up a Dutch anti-Semitic incident in the old city of Jerusalem on October 31. The article mentions that in the Netherlands the number of anti-Semitic incidents connected to events in Israel rose sharply this year.

Long time readers of this blog know that will I often cite these types of incidents as further reasons of the need for all Jews to move to Israel and this case is no exception. The Netherlands, as most places across the world, continue to express their hatred for us and their desire for to see us no longer living among them.

Ari

The status of the children of the foreign workers who have swamped Israel’s shores legally and illegally is only one aspect of a complex, growing problem exacerbated by the infiltration of fleeing refugees and illegal transients who find their way to our already beleaguered country. This is the crux of an article over at Arutz Sheva written by National Union Head, MK Yaakov -“Ketsele”- Katz, Chairman of the Knesset Committee for the Problem of Foreign Workers. He talks about how the problem is reaching crisis proportions and therefore was the subject of a heated meeting last week at the Knesset Committee that was created to deal with the issue.

Incredibly, there are about 100,000 non residents  who entered Israel on tourist visas and simply did not leave when their visas expired. This should be an issue that concerns both native Israelis and anyone thinking about moving to Israel as the dangers presented in the article argue. Katz also mentions some of the possible solutions being discussed that may not bode well for some of our media conscious brothers but, as he states, need to be considered and does not in any way negate the natural, humanitarian values of our people, but is simply a way to ensure that this country, earned with blood and tears, continues to be what it was created to be.

A piece definitely worth a read.

Ari

Always a popular and often controversial subject among people born and raised in Israel, as well as immigrants who choose to move to Israel, is the issue of army service in Israel.

One of the most common arguments/discussions in this area focuses on the requirements of the religious resident vs. their secular neighbors. Another frequently discussed issue is the matter of women serving in the IDF.  Rebbetzin Yehudit Shilat of Takana, a forum which fights sexual harassment, tackles both of those issues in an interview with Arutz Sheva where she states her belief that no woman, religiously observant or not, should be required to enlist in the military.

Shilat responded to a proposed Knesset law that would make it more difficult for young women to escape IDF service by claiming to be religiously observant. She expressed support for the proposed measures to ensure that all women who choose not to serve due to “religious reasons” are actually religious, and are not merely using religion as an excuse to evade national service altogether.

Shilat also stresses that there are many ways in which women can contribute to Israel’s security without joining the military stating that “Security isn’t just about war and related matters, it’s also about social welfare, health, education – that’s also part of creating a secure society.”

Go check it out as the interview is a well done piece with an intelligent interviewee that will surely open you up to an interesting perspective of this long running issue.

Ari

The holiday of Sukkot has always been a sight to see throughout Israel (as well as a huge driving force for encouraging potential Olim to move to Israel) and this year is no exception. Check out this video - courtesy of Arutz Sheva - which provides live coverage of the scene in Hevron where thousands of Jews are streaming in for a full day of fun-filled family-friendly events celebrating the Sukkot holiday, including concerts, arts & crafts workshops and a joyous Simchat Beit HaSho’eva celebration (Simchat Beit HaSho’eva commemorates the water pouring ceremony that was performed in the Holy Temple, when the priests would draw the water from a well and pour it on to the altar).

Take some time watching the events in Hevron and let it be an inspiration for you to make your own move home.

Chag Sameach.

Ari

As a common topic among concerned Jews around the world has always been whether or not the President of the United States is “pro Israel” or not, Danny Gottlieb provided a great piece of insight the other day in an article over at Arutz Sheva entitled “Obama is Not the Problem.”

It is a great read regardless of one’s opinion of President Barack Obama as Gottlieb makes the case that we should be more concerned about our political situation here in Israel and stop spending so much time worrying about the pros and cons of the leaders of other nations (yes, even America) via their affinity - or lack thereof - of our people.

He hits the nail on the head when he says “The Knesset is our national and natural home for decisive political debate, not Washington. When we take our fate back into our hands by taking back the Knesset from those who currently sit within it, only then will we get the kind of government we need. And not by expecting miracles from the tall skinny fellow with the different name who sits in that big white house, so detached from us in every respect.”

Here’s hoping we all heed Gottlieb’s message.

Ari

As the times continue to be challenging throughout the world people are, thankfully, continuing to move to Israel. Another Aliyah flight arrived Tuesday bringing 238 North American Jews courtesy of Nefesh B’Nefesh.

Yishai Fleisher and Arutz Sheva have put together this fantastic photo essay of the happy event as you can truly feel magic as the large group of people arrived home. Check it out and let yourself be inspired to be on that next flight.

Ari

I mentioned last week how people have begun thinking about moving to Israel not only in return for the rich spiritual existence it provides but for, recently, for the financial benefits as well. Here’s more to strengthen that argument as Arutz Sheva reports on a recent interview of Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer with Fox News where Fischer says that Israel remains relatively free from severe damage in the worldwide financial crisis and stands to be one of the world’s safest places for investors.

“I feel much, much better that if there’s any [future] crisis, we are in a very strong position, much stronger than a year ago, because of our currency purchases,” Fischer told Fox.

The interview is filled with more optimistic statements about Israel’s financial situation and, while he was probably embellishing for the sake of the public at least a little, it’s clear that Israel has once again, with the help of G-d, shocked the world in remaining strong and vibrant through another world calamity - this time in the face of a world wide recession.

Ari

With all the troubles and concerns going on in the world today and with the relationship between the new governments of Israel and the U.S. still not on a stable footing, Arutz Sheva did a great job today to remind everyone that the issue of Jonathan Pollard must not get left behind. As the article says:

“Pollard, who has been in American prison since 1985, was not convicted of treason, but rather of one count of passing classified information to a friendly country – Israel. He is credited with having informed Israel of Iraq’s Scud missile plans, enabling Israel to prepare in advance of the dozens of Iraqi attacks in 1991.”

The article quotes activists  asking the government not to let up in its efforts to free Pollard while encouraging the public should do its share to show him solidarity by writing him letters.

We should always keep the issue of Jonathan Pollard in our minds and in our prayers and daven that his release should be, G-d willing, immediately forthcoming.

Ari