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

 We are boarding now for the flight to Tel Aviv and are required to go through a second round of screening. This includes a wand scan over the body, several checks of the passport, and some kind of chemical test on the bags. Already my tension is back up to 7. Is this what Hershel Schachter means when he says the golus is over? Wouldn't there be no screening if the golus were over? Will this deranged men and the 100s like him continue to talk out of their asses, if you'll pardon my language?

 I'm at Newark airport now. The friendliness had diminished, mostly. The guys coming onto the plane to clean it don't say hello. The other passengers at the airport don't look at you, except maybe the ones from out of town. But some of the staff is helpful. Some are bossy, like the Asian lady at the TSA who barked, "Show me your checkin." That same lady in Korea would have said, "Please sir, may I ask to see your checkin ticket?" In Ohio she'd say, "Sir may I see your checkin ticket." But it's all way better than Israel where the security people stare you down like they want to kill you and then stab you with sarcastic remarks. But there's excitement in the air. It's a bigger airport with flights all over the world. You are near Manhattan  with all the celebrities and corporate headquarters, Broadway, Wall St, the Met. All that stuff. It's a tradeoff. I prefer friendly, and my life choices should reflect that, not just manda...

 read this tweet: Jesse Eisinger -20% of Israel’s workers supply 93% of all income-tax revenue -50% of Israelis pay no income tax at all. -The ultra-Orthodox go to schools that don’t teach math, science, English or civics. -Their pop doubles every 25 years My response: The usual Haredi bashing from a Zionist. And such a manipulation of facts. Haredim are 20% of Israel, not 80%. So if 20% supply the tax revenue then you have an imbalanced economy even among the Chilonim. Who are the 50% who pay no tax? Most are not Charedim. But you dished out your data to create a false impression that it's all their fault. And that is called Hasbara and hate speech. Zionists hate. That's what they do. They imagine enemies. Haredim are next in line after the Arabs. Do you still want to move to Israel? Will you now pay attention to how they treat the Arabs? Here’s more. Israelis taught the world to hate Arabs and Muslims. Now they are doing the same with Haredim.

  I sit here with a heavy heart because I am headed back to Israel. Certainly, I considered never returning. Maybe some day I will enjoy an Exodus finally. Maybe Hashem will have mercy on me and get me out of that place. The heart will get heavier when I get on that plane but now I'm still cheered up by being in Ohio where even the security people at the airport are pleasant. I don't know if in my entire life I have ever encountered nicer people than the  Ohioans I have met over the last three days. A few minutes ago I was walking along and a little kid said something to me. I figured he needed help with something. I said, "Yes, how can I help you?" He mumbled, "I was just saying hello." They teach the kids to be friendly. I said, "Oh hello."  I just bought a bottle of water and was called Sir at least five times.  This is reflected in how the society operates. Road signage is very clear as are instructions at banks, stores. The two go together. Co...

  I have arrived in Cleveland. Shall we shatter another 1,000 myths? What is your image of Cleveland? Is it based on rumors, fifth hand talk? I have been here now four times and have read their news daily for years. So let me give you some information. The airport is super up to date. It makes Ben Gurion look like a slum. But that is not the most important contrast. Most important are the people. They are so polite, so helpful but here’s the surprising part, they are friendly, they are folksy. It’s just like Texas actually. And they are sort of soft-spoken, non-aggressive. In other words, they are the polar opposite of Israelis. You know how Jabatinsky wanted to create the New Hebrew man, the opposite of the traditional Jew. Well Ohioans are the opposite of that, thank God. Downtown Cleveland is lovely. It has lots of pre-War architecture, stone buildings with complicated facades. It has tastefully done modern buildings. Nothing is overwhelming. And the streets and their signage ...

I just read what could be my third dozen article from a Modern Orthodox person about “the obligation” to live in Israel. They must all plagiarize one another because they are all exactly the same. The Ramban and the Rambam. Then arguments against Rav Moshe Feinstein’s pesak that it is not obligatory. Then Ovadia Yosef. Then Hershel Schachter who lives in New York. Tell me where did the Ramban live? And the answer is, in Spain. Where did the Rambam live? And the answer in Egypt. Thus apparently that living in Israel might be an obligation doesn’t make it an absolute obligation, unless we are to call them sinners. Ah so their excuses aren’t relevant anymore. Why is Israel safe now? Really? Then why is every youth in military uniform? Why does every apartment have a bomb shelter? Why does the PM tell us weekly that Iran is seconds away from building an atom bomb? Why does he talk again and again about “existential threats”? Why is the entire country so mad at the Charedim for not being in...

Yesterday was Monsey, today New York City. I don't know what New York I was remembering but the one I experienced today was incredible. I guess that's what living in Israel can do for you, make every other place seem like paradise. The city is beautiful. The architecture is astounding. I was at the New York public library. My goodness. There isn't two inches in Israel that looks like that. Comparing New York City to any city in Israel is like comparing a black stallion to an alley cat. And please accept my apology alley cats for using you in this way. You are far more pleasant to look at than any modern Israeli city. The infrastructure in New York is a miracle. It goes on and on and it mostly works. They have made such improvements in the trains. They are reasonably clean and punctual and the instructions over the loudspeakers and the arrival boards are really helpful. I found my away around so easily. But here's what amazed me more than anything. I don't know why, ...