tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8554337268732390744.post764159483639598176..comments2023-09-10T12:26:24.511+03:00Comments on Israeli by Day, American by Night: I Made Aliyah! Really?Israeli by Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03372641972664155753noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8554337268732390744.post-8660253954941128112009-05-15T01:49:00.000+03:002009-05-15T01:49:00.000+03:00Read some of your backlog and found this one. Just...Read some of your backlog and found this one. Just wanted you to know that I don't find your opinions so extreme and I really respect what you're doing as an American who toyed with the idea of making Aliyah but didn't.<br /><br />and I wish you'd have more of these discussions rather than less. I don't think you really need to hide it and I'm tired of people hiding from the discussions that matter the most (the controversial religious and political ones).Svayvtihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08300130283039371707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8554337268732390744.post-63376515955104136382008-05-20T02:09:00.000+03:002008-05-20T02:09:00.000+03:00ya ok whatever. like you, im not into these debate...ya ok whatever. like you, im not into these debates really.<BR/><BR/>ill go ahead and enjoy your other posts. <BR/><BR/>:)the sabrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07134516234799909775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8554337268732390744.post-32535720247434577932008-05-19T13:57:00.000+03:002008-05-19T13:57:00.000+03:00Yeah, I don't think you're really getting what I m...Yeah, I don't think you're really getting what I mean by the "point," or "goal" of something. Yes, you have to live Judaism day to day, but the end goal of Judaism is to have all the Jews living perfectly under Torah law in Israel. That's the end goal. That's all I'm saying. And it's not being selfish to go to the Land to live that way. That's called leading by example, and each man is given his way of leading - that's mine, if I were to have a way. <BR/><BR/>So yeah, you have to have the guys living in Sri Lanka to help wandering Jews figure out what Judaism means... but that's not the goal of Judaism.<BR/><BR/>Just a disagreement in terminology, I suppose.Israeli by Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03372641972664155753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8554337268732390744.post-60022333822861511402008-05-18T13:09:00.000+03:002008-05-18T13:09:00.000+03:00I understand what you are saying and you make a va...I understand what you are saying and you make a valid point, yet Judaism will only be perfect when all Jews follow it. <BR/>Otherwise, it's not complete. <BR/>G-d is not "complete" when there are those amongst us who defile His Name. (gosh I sound like a missionary)<BR/><BR/>So, yes-part of today's Judaism means getting others to live the full Judaism. <BR/><BR/>How do you expect Moshiach to come if you are only going to worry about yourself and your Judaism?the sabrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07134516234799909775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8554337268732390744.post-14674256616205761942008-05-08T14:25:00.000+03:002008-05-08T14:25:00.000+03:00You're talking about the tools of Judaism, not Jud...You're talking about the tools of Judaism, not Judaism itself. Judaism is not about the rabbi in Brazil helping Jews come back to Judaism! You see the circularity in that? That's the first step.<BR/><BR/>That's like saying the point of communism is to redistribute wealth. The point of communism is to make a utopian system whereby the redistribution of wealth occurs naturally, without any meditated interference.<BR/><BR/>Likewise, the point of Judaism is not to bring Jews back to Judaism! The point is not to help Jews realize their potential and accept mitzvot. The point is for us to be naturally following the mitzvot with true emunah IN Israel, every second awaiting Moshiach. Or even more, the point of Judaism is to have Moshiach - to live in that world.<BR/><BR/>Doing it in Israel is just the next step on the path to awaiting Moshiach. In the Kuzari, Rabbi HaLevi discusses this. The Kuzari asks him why he isn't living in Israel if that is the holiest place on earth, and HaLevi says You're right. We don't always do what we're supposed to do.<BR/><BR/>You're confusing practical day to day Judaism with the GOAL of Judaism.<BR/><BR/>The goal of a utopian government isn't to bring criminals to justice. The goal of a utopian government is to create an environment where criminals don't exist.Israeli by Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03372641972664155753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8554337268732390744.post-11090835443888893562008-04-24T08:50:00.000+03:002008-04-24T08:50:00.000+03:00Judaism, actually, means utilizing your position i...Judaism, actually, means utilizing your position in life, your surroundings, your talents, your personality etc as a way to make this world a place where Gd will feel comfortable. <BR/>Yes, that's why Hashem created this world--because He wanted a "dirah b'tachtonim". <BR/><BR/>It is not necessary to live in Israel in order to do this. <BR/><BR/>True, when Moshiach comes and we will all live in E'Y with the third mikdash, we will be enabled to fulfill all of the Torah as it was intended to be fulfilled. But now, we are not instructed to "drop" all other mitzvot in order to fulfill the one of living in Israel. Yes, it belongs to us Jews. Yes, it will be ours forever (regardless of what Olmert thinks). Yes, our ultimate goal is to be living there with Moshiach but hey! what about the thousands of Jews who don't even know they are Jewish? Are we to abandon them in our pursuit of settling in the Holy Land? The Rabbi who lives all the way in Argentina (and forsaking the chance to "greet moshiach first") so that he can lay tefillin on ten people every day, is to be looked up to.the sabrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07134516234799909775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8554337268732390744.post-14722364163204521642008-04-16T21:57:00.000+03:002008-04-16T21:57:00.000+03:00We'll have to agree to disagree since this is a re...We'll have to agree to disagree since this is a religious argument, so I'll just tell you my perspective.<BR/><BR/>Torah was given over to us as the blueprint for our lives and ways, and we can keep that anywhere. But, as you find in Ezekiel the charge is to keep Torah IN the Land of Israel, awaiting the coming of Moshiach -- Who will be coming into JERUSALEM. Only to Jerusalem. Judaism is living our lives according to Torah to the utmost, and living it that way in Israel so that we can greet the King Moshiach as He arrives. He isn't coming to Argentina, so even the greatest tzaddik is going to be a minute late in returning to the Land. That's why it's such a big deal to be buried on Mt. Olives. It's the Land, my friend.<BR/><BR/>Look at Breisheit 17:1-8. This is the COVENANT between G-d and Abraham, our Father, our Patriarch, the representation of the essential Jew. So, what does it say? It says, "Walk before Me adn be perfect," and if you do that I will give you a great nation, you'll be a "father of multitudes"... "My covenant...as an everlasting covenant, to be a G-d to you and to your offspring after you; and I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojourns - the whole of the land of Canaan - as an EVERLASTING possession; and I shall be a G-d to them." <BR/><BR/>What does that say? It says, you (Jews) keep the Torah, keep your end of the Covenant alive, and I will keep mine, which is increasing the fertility of your generations and giving you a land to dwell in.<BR/><BR/>Keep Torah -> Get Fertility and Power -> Dwell in Israel -> Yearn for Moshiach.<BR/><BR/>That's Judaism!Israeli by Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03372641972664155753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8554337268732390744.post-36425908863641632902008-04-16T09:48:00.000+03:002008-04-16T09:48:00.000+03:00"This is Judaism. The charge to live in Israel"nop..."This is Judaism. The charge to live in Israel"<BR/><BR/>nope.the sabrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07134516234799909775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8554337268732390744.post-73497636973491318172008-04-16T09:37:00.000+03:002008-04-16T09:37:00.000+03:00Eh, you know every blogger blogs in order to be st...Eh, you know every blogger blogs in order to be stalked. Just the inner wannabe celebrity in us all.<BR/><BR/>I'd be happy to argue your land-centric complaints, though you'd have to explain what you mean.Israeli by Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03372641972664155753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8554337268732390744.post-64954647473215235872008-04-16T09:16:00.000+03:002008-04-16T09:16:00.000+03:00Alright so i have some objections to some of what ...Alright so i have some objections to some of what you wrote, including but not limited to, your land-centric idea. But I'm not in the mood for arguments. :)<BR/><BR/>Also, I liked this line of yours - "If we forget how we became strong, we are only destined to spiral into weakness."<BR/><BR/>Aaaaaaaaaaaand, please let me know when my comments become stalkish (hey, i had to start from the beginning so I could know what's goin on...)the sabrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07134516234799909775noreply@blogger.com