Rabbi Dov Lipman speaking recently  in the Five Towns
Rabbi Dov Lipman speaking recently
in the Five Towns
Former Knesset member Dov Lipman (Yesh Atid) has called on the American Orthodox community to change course regarding its attitude towards Aliyah.  Speaking to students at Yeshiva University on behalf of Nefesh B’Nefesh, Lipman said:
“I feel the need to be very blunt with you.  I don’t understand how Aliyah is not part of the standard education in our day schools. We are taught the Torah in which throughout the book of Deuteronomy Moses repeats over and over again ‘In the land that I God has given to you,’ and ‘When you enter the land that God has given to you as an inheritance.’  And here we are – living in a generation where God has made that gift available to us. Our inheritance from God. How are we rejecting that Divine gift by not even talking about Aliyah.  It’s not even on the radar screen. Isn’t this a rejection of the gift from God?”
Challenging the education system Lipman remarked, “Can you imagine if an Orthodox school did not teach about the Biblical commandment of Tzitzit? They would be outside the fold and considered not religious. And yet, somehow we do not teach the Biblical commandment of living in the land of Israel – which some commentaries like Nachmanides view as an obligation – and it is somehow acceptable.”
Commenting on the current US presidential elections Lipman said, “Israel takes no sides in US elections and I have no comment about any of the candidates or campaigns.  But I am saddened when I hear North American Jews asking which candidate will be better or worse for the Jews. That is an exile mentality when we have been subject to the whims of foreign governments. Today we have our own country. We have our own parliament.  We can debate it out in the Knesset and determine our own future.  Our ancestors would have given so much for the opportunity to live in a Jewish state and to be a part of a Jewish democracy. How can the incredible times in which we live and this miraculous opportunity be ignored?”
Lipman then turned to the Yeshiva University students and said: “You are young. You have your entire lives ahead of you. Every one of you should be exploring whether Aliyah is an option for you.  Nefesh B’Nefesh is available to answer all of your questions and help you through every step of the way. At the end of that process you may determine that you can’t make Aliyah and there are reasons not to make Aliyah. But at least you will have explored it and not outright rejected this Divine gift by totally ignoring it. And if you can’t make Aliyah then raise your children to make Aliyah and then join them in Israel after you retire. There is no greater retirement than retirement in Israel and joining your family there.”

Former MK Lipman who serves as director of the Department of Zionist Operations in the World Zionist Organization is speaking in New York, New Jersey and Los Angeles on behalf of Nefesh B’Nefesh in a presentation called “Behind the Scenes in the Knesset: My Life in Israel” in which Lipman is presenting the unique contribution which he believes North American Jews can make to the state of Israel.

 

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