Skip to main content

They don't listen to their rabbis

"Returning to Aliyah today: All those who make Aliyah for the sake of uplifting themselves spiritually, for the sake of fulfilling a Mitzvah, for the sake of being part of Jewish history, and for the sake of living in the land of Kedushah, have no problem with facing the challenges of Aliyah, and certainly have no intention of leaving Eretz Yisrael."

The above passage is from the book the Halakhic Positions of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, Vol. VII. The editor Aharon Ziegler does not give a source for this statement. And that's a problem because the statement contradicts verifiable statements from Rabbi Soloveitchik on the subject.

"It is ridiculous to tell a young man, who does a good job, or has prepared or trained himself to do a good job [here in the U.S., that he must instead go to ארצ ישראל]. "Good job" means to spread Torah, or to lead an exemplary life which serves as an example to others through personal contact - there are many ways to convert and educate Jews. I am not giving up on American Jews. If I feel that in my town, or in my village, I will accomplish a lot, and when I come to Eretz Yisrael so I or my influence will be reduced to zero, my place is here, not there. Some who went to Eretz Yisrael achieved the same objectives they would have in the Diaspora. But only some! I know of many who fail. They don't admit it. It's nice on their part not to admit it." (Holzer, The Rav Thinking Aloud, pp. 242-3).

“If I feel, for reasons of language or for so many reasons, that in Eretz Yisrael my influence will be diminished, restricted, so my job is to stay here.” (Holzer, The Rav Thinking Aloud, p. 241.)

Professor Marc Shapiro said, "The thing about the Rav is, that he's a Zionist, but I hope I don't offend anyone when I say this, he's the most non-Zionist Zionist you can find. That is, who ever heard of a Zionist who never went to the State of Israel.  Whoever heard of a Zionist that everyone who told him I want to go on aliyah, he said don't, stay here." Letters from The Rav (Part 1) || Dr. Marc Shapiro - YouTube 29:00 

It is reasonable to propose that Rabbi Ziegler, who last time I checked lives in America, presented his own thought and made it seem as if he was citing Rabbi Soloveitchik. Americans have no idea how difficult Aliyah can be and how many times you have to leave because your children are being destroyed. This line "have no problem with facing the challenges of Aliyah" is ridiculous. It's a guilt trip, saying, if it doesn't work out it's because you weren't spiritual enough, not because it's a very expensive lunatic asylum. 

We see many cases of people not listening to their rabbis or even to their gadolim. But when a book misrepresents its subject, then you have entered dangerous territory. Zionism, particular with regard to the Aliyah craze, has that power over people unfortunately. 

I don't imagine that Ziegler intended to deceive. It's just that he has been so propagandized himself, that he assumes these notions to be true. 





Comments