Not Kedai for most people--Moving to the secular state of israel (SSOI)

The OTD problem is much worse for olim in Israel than it is for anybody in America. Why? Because olim are immigrants and “Immigration is never good for the Jews.” I never met an American that just packed up and moved to a foreign country whose language he didn't speak, where he didn't have family or a job, that had a higher cost of living, that was many steps down culturally, socially, medically, and economically, that has a mandatory draft of three years, that is a much more stressful place to live. I know one or two that moved to Mexico, without children, where the cost of living is way lower, where people are accepting and friendly, where the pace of life is way slower, where they are not an ocean away from home. But Israel? It's across the sea. And the Torah tells us that you do not have to cross the sea. But Modern Orthodox rabbis, and that includes people like Yitzchok Berkowitz, convince innocent BTs that its their religious duty to move to Israel. And BTs are easily...

This morning my elderly neighbor entered the walkway at the same time as me. "Hello," I said, knowing that she is an English speaker. "Do you live in this building?" she responded. "No, I live in that one," I said. Pointing to a different building she said, "I live in that one. But I have lived in many places." She has told me before that she has been forced out of at least six apartments, like many of the people here in this land of housing shortages about which the government does nothing. Not mentioning her frequent relocating in Israel, she added, "I have lived in Florida and California." I said, "And you grew up Vermont*," something I knew from prior conversations. Here's the rest of the exchange: "That's a beautiful place," I said. "It's OK," she said. I paused, and then said, "You are not obligated to disparage where you come from." "It's OK, but it's not here,...