Moving to Israel

A controversial and contentious topic that has gone back and forth between Israel and the U.S. for years has been in regards to Israel’s development throughout Judea and Samaria. It was therefore good news to many when Minister Benny Begin mentioned on Israeli television the other night that construction in Jewish communities throughout Judea and Samaria are not frozen and that even American officials know that Israel has only placed certain limitations on Jewish construction. He noted that apartments are being built and will continue to be built during the period of limitations and stressed that this period is only temporary.

The positive ramifications of this comes in many forms, not the least important of which is in the potential for more Jews to make the move to Israel. More construction means more Jewish communities and more Jewish communities, particularly the beautiful ones that I am sure will come out of the latest round of construction, will hopefully open the eyes of more of our brothers and sisters to make Israel their permanent homes.

Ari

In an act contrary (and some would say in defiance) to the policies of President Barack Obama, a group of Jewish students from the United States spent last week working in hilltop communities throughout Samaria. The significance of this should not be lost on all of us as Obama is pressuring Israel to cease all construction in Judea, Samaria and eastern Jerusalem, and the students are volunteering in some of the very Jewish villages which the U.S. is asking the Israeli government to demolish.

This is, in this author’s humble opinion, a tremendously positive event for Israel as many of the university students participating in the program voted for Barack Obama in the U.S. presidential campaign but “oppose his imperialist approach to the Middle East.” They are showing that, while they approved of is political policies in the run up to the election, they oppose the administration’s efforts to shrink the State of Israel and ethnically cleanse our people from the heart of our land. In addition, the have transformed their disappointment in Obama into action by volunteering in the very communities that he is trying to destroy.

We can only hope that the upper echelon of America, Israel’s closest ally and friend, is able to see such occurrences from the very people that voted for them and begins to understand that a united, strong Israel is in the best interest of the entire West and free world at large.

Ari

Times were that people moving to Israel were considered to be taking on a financial burden and sacrificing many of the luxuries of the Diaspora. Now it seems to be that people are continuing to make Aliyah, not just for spiritual and idealistic reasons but for financial gain as well - an unheard of concept not long ago.

Arutz Sheva reports how the Israeli economy has become a draw for North American immigrants in the face of the economic downturn abroad. In speaking on the subject Danny Oberman, executive vice president of operations at Nefesh B’Nefesh, describes some of the examples of economic advantages in living in Israel including a wider job market for recent university graduates, families with young children being able to find more affordable Jewish or college education in Israel than back in the U.S. and Canada, cheaper health insurance rates and more.

While the financial challenges of living in Israel still, and always will, exist, it’s good to see some of the financial incentives of making Aliyah catching up to the spiritual ones.

Looking forward to seeing you all here.

Ari

As promoting moving to Israel and making Aliyah is the primary purpose of this blog, I often try to point out some of the negative aspects of life outside of the Holy Land that make life so hard on the Jewish people. Unfortunately, there are often no shortage of examples to come up with and today is no exception.

It seems that Canada’s York University, celebrating its 50th anniversary, is allowing a pro-Arab group to stage a conference questioning Israel’s right to exist.  Several of the scheduled speakers were involved in Israel Apartheid Week activities and are active in the Israeli boycott movement.

The university is using the all too common mantra of “academic freedom” as defense of the event that promotes hatred and encourages the destruction of the Jewish State.

Although we seem to take it for granted that the west’s universities, supposedly the foremost intellectuals and some of the most powerful voices in the world, regularly sponsor and encourage such events, we should never forget exactly what is happening outside of Israel - where our best “friends” (U.S., Canada, etc.) are the proud hosts of these horrid functions.

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