Page 30 - HaMizrachi Rosh HaShana - Yom Kippur 5783 USA

I’m Worried –

But I’m Not Discouraged!

Roi
Abecassis
t is Friday night at the Mizrachi La Casa (“The I was privileged to participate in this extraordinary
Home”) community in Buenos Aires. Mizrachi La Casa experience this summer at the Renewed Religious Zionism
is a Religious Zionist community established six years Conference for community leaders in Latin America, led
Iago by a group of young businesspeople and idealists. by the WZO’s Center for Religious Affairs in the Diaspora
Though Shabbat begins at 5:30pm, the Friday night tefillot together with Religious Zionist shlichut organizations. It was
always begin at 8:00pm, in both summer and winter, for an unbelievably uplifting gathering.
many who are not yet fully observant must finish work But I’m worried.
before coming to shul. The great majority of the people are
ba’alei teshuva, on the path towards observance. I’m worried because the Latin American communities that
embrace Religious Zionism are shrinking. Many community
The shul fills through word of mouth. Rabbi David Sa’eed, members, and particularly the Religious Zionist leadership,
the shaliach of the World Zionist Organization, and his wife have emigrated to Israel, and the impact is devastating.
Sarah, the shlicha for World Bnei Akiva, who also serve as Schools are closing, communities are weakened, and there
the community’s Rabbi and Rabbanit, distribute a l’chaim is a lack of Religious Zionist leadership.
to all who enter. Rabbi David enthusiastically gives a hug to
everyone who comes, and they respond with a huge smile Don’t misunderstand me. I believe that every Jew’s place
and embrace. The entire congregation stands on their feet is in the Land of Israel, and I am delighted by every new
and begins a Kabbalat Shabbat full of melodies and joy. oleh. But if we continue this trend, we will bring 5% of the
community to Israel and unintentionally abandon the other
The climactic moment during the tefillah takes place 95%, most of whom are not active members of the Jewish
immediately after Mizmor l’David. Rabbi David gives a sign, community and do not participate in any kind of Zionist
and Rabbanit Sarah gathers everyone in the women’s activity.
section around her, and in one fell swoop, two circles – one Religious Zionism must not fly a single flag of “Aliyah! Aliyah!
of men and one of women – are formed. And then, arm in Aliyah!” and abandon the majority of the Jewish people who
arm, the people sing, over and over, with great intensity and are not yet ready to move to Israel. We must not abandon
devotion: “everywhere I go I am going to Eretz Yisrael.” these Jews to assimilation!
At the end of the tefillah, at close to 10:00pm, Rabbi David The Charedi community recognizes the problem of
calls forward all those who will be making Aliyah in the assimilation, and it is responding with alacrity. Fully
coming week – and the entire congregation breaks out mobilized, the Charedim have recruited many donors and
into spontaneous dancing, literally raising the olim upon have succeeded in reaching young, secular Jews all over
their shoulders and dancing until they can dance no more. the world, opening new educational institutions and

לארשי ץראל ךלוה ינא ךלוה ינאש םוקמ לכ

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