Page 26 - HaMizrachi #33 Sukkot 2021 USA

With Pope Francis, who is looking at
one of Rabbi Goldin’s books.

for three days. The first time we had “How do you continue
heavily subsidized trip to Israel – $500
close to 500 people sign up from all over
the country – from Iowa and Idaho! We to identify as a
even had a few Christians join the trips;
we had no idea who was joining. On
the second trip, over 600 people partic- Religious Zionist when
ipated. On each of these trips, we orga-
nized a rally for Israel in the Old City of you are living in a
Jerusalem. They were truly exceptional
events. I still meet people who tell me
it was their first time in Israel and how Diaspora of choice,
it changed their lives.
and all of us have

Throughout your career in America,
you’ve both witnessed and played an the opportunity to
important role in the development of
Orthodox Judaism in America. What
are your thoughts on the future of the live in Israel?”
Religious Zionist–Modern Orthodox
community in the United States?
The Religious Zionist community in the much more difficult to justify living and some not, for not living in Israel.
Diaspora faces a serious challenge. How in Lakewood, so they choose to focus But on the other hand, a Religious
do you continue to identify as a Reli- their attention elsewhere. But in our Zionist community in the Diaspora
gious Zionist when you are living in a Religious Zionist communities, where must not ignore the tension between
Diaspora of choice, and all of us have we constantly stress the importance its beliefs and reality; it should remain
the opportunity to live in Israel? It’s of Israel and Zionism, we can’t avoid uncomfortable to willingly choose
much easier to call myself a Religious this issue. to remain in exile. We should all say:
Zionist when I’m not allowed to enter “there are reasons for me to be here
Israel. This may be why the yeshiva How should we grapple with this in exile, but I recognize that Israel is
community usually shrugs its shoul- tension? On the one hand, we must my real home.” We have to be able to
ders at Zionism. If they focus too much acknowledge that Aliyah is not easy create communities that live with that
on the importance of Israel, it becomes and that there are reasons, some valid tension. People have to be able to live

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