Page 42 - HaMizrachi Tisha bAv 5783 USA

“Israelis by Choice”

An Efrat Rabbi’s Message to his Community

in These Trying Times

Rabbi Rafi Kadosh

-d so strongly expresses His love Rav Yosef Dov HaLevi Soloveitchik zt”l
of converts in the Torah because used the notion of “My Beloved is Knock-
they chose, of free will, to become ing” as the allegory for Zionism. Almost
GJews; because they are Jews by 70 years have passed since then, and the
choice. No one ever asked me whether I Beloved continues to knock.
wanted to be a Jew or not; I was born a I sleep, but my heart is awake.
Jew, I never made a choice. In contrast, a Hark! My beloved is knocking:
non-Jew who chooses to embrace Judaism Open for me, my sister, my beloved, my dove,
and become a fully practicing Jew does
so completely by free will, solely by his my perfect one,
for my head is full of dew,
choice and his choice alone. He has the The Dee Family (PHOTO: TALIA KIRSHNER PHOTOGRAPHY)
option to continue to live life as is, but he my locks with the drops of the night… midst of the most important events of the
I have taken off my tunic; how can I put it on?
chooses otherwise.
I have bathed my feet; how can I soil them? last 2,000 years of Jewish history. Because
Just as there are Jews by choice, there (Shir HaShirim, chapter 5) here in Israel, we are writing the next
are “Israelis by choice.” Most Israelis today book of the Tanach together. They chose
were born in Israel. No one asked them When there is a “knock on the door in the to write the chapters of the beginning of
where they wished to be born and raised. middle of the night,” it is difficult to get the geulah, instead of staying there and
In contrast, there are Jews who were born out of bed to answer. It is warm, cozy, and writing the last chapters of the galut.
and raised in the Diaspora and choose to safe in bed. There are countless reasons to
become Israeli. They chose to marry their roll over and just go back to sleep. “When Faced with the difficult events of the last
destiny with the destiny of this nation. the L-rd returns the returnees to Zion, we shall several weeks, we must remember that
be like dreamers” (Tehillim, chapter 126). the trials and tribulations we are expe-
Many of these “Israelis by choice” came Surely the knock is meant for someone riencing now are those of the geulah. We
from strong, wonderful communities else – not for us. shall always prefer the major challenges
abroad. Communities with rich Jewish of the geulah over those of the galut. And
heritage, including established shuls, But there are those who heard the knock, from here, we call on all of our brothers
excellent Jewish educational institutions, and understood that it was meant for and sisters from everywhere in the galut:
a broad range of kosher dining establish- them. These are Israelis by choice. These Come and be “Israelis by choice.” We want
ments, mikvaot, an eruv and countless are Jews who chose to make Aliyah despite you here and we need you here. Listen to
yeshivot. Some of these places have reached the ease of simply continuing to live their the knock of the Beloved. It is intended
the pinnacle of Jewish life – one can order good and comfortable lives in the Dias- for you.
strictly kosher sushi on a cell phone app pora. They chose to make Aliyah because
that will arrive at your location within it is the right thing to do as a Jew.
minutes! Leo Dee and his wonderful wife Lucy hy”d,
However, during the musaf davening on the parents of Maia and Rina hy”d, made
Pesach, Jews both in Israel and abroad the decision to be Israelis by choice. They
said: “Because of our sins we were exiled could have stayed in England with their
from our Land.” Unfortunately, many beautiful family to live an easy comfort-
of our people have become extremely able life, be members of their lovely com-
entrenched in the exile, and have forgot- munity and send periodic donations to
ten the cause of this exile: “our sins.” Israeli causes. But they chose otherwise,
to make Aliyah to Israel and to live in Efrat
Some have even turned it into an ideal, Rabbi Rafi Kadosh
and are still there “gathering the sparks” – because they heard the knock of their is the Rav of Kehillat “Bracha V’Shalom”
in the Diaspora. But the majority of our Beloved and heeded the call. in Efrat, whose members are mostly
brethren abroad are simply not hearing They chose to come here to Israel, because “Israelis by choice.”
the knock on their door. As early as 1956, it is here and only here that we are in the

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