No more excuses – Israel needs you here, not there

Only by moving to Israel can you really participate in the Jewish struggle for self-determination and freedom. (Image source: Nefesh B’Nefesh) 

No more excuses – Israel needs you here, not there

No more excuses. Only by moving to Israel can you really participate in the Jewish struggle for self-determination and freedom.

By Steve Zeff

There is something about new-found evangelism and its concomitant zeal that tends to annoy people as opposed to positively influence them. I understand that.

Yet as an oleh chadash, I can’t help but feel my own sense of frustration as I spend time in chutz la’Aretz [outside of the Land of Israel] and hear so many opinions about what life in Israel is like, or should be like, and so on, every time I try to persuade Jews to move to Israel.

Others will use the excuse of not wanting to sever family connections or not wanting to lose out on business interests.

I am always reassured that if the proverbial hits the fan then of course we know that Jews have a home in Israel. It’s our global insurance plan.

Jews outside the land of Israel are every bit committed to the ideals of the Jewish state as anyone living there. In cities around the world they will wave the flag (behind massive police protection) to show their solidarity with Israel. They convince themselves that they are making a positive contribution to Israel’s image as they trade insults with literally hundreds of anti-Israel activists.

But wouldn’t it be better to come to Israel and participate in the Jewish struggle rather wasting time trying to convince the world?

Learn firsthand what life is like among Jews from every corner of the world. Are there tough days? Absolutely. Will you feel nonplussed and intimidated when anyone rattles off a sortie of Hebrew in your direction? Definitely. Will there be times when you think that there is too much month left at the end of the money? Guaranteed.

You will also know what it means to be part of a massive extended family that truly cares and is concerned for your wellbeing. Your life and the life of this amazing country will become enmeshed; you will laugh when Israel laughs and shed tears when she cries. You will share directly, not vicariously, in her triumphs and disappointments. There is no way to avoid that. You will live and breathe Israel.

Yesterday I went to a friend’s house where four young men were preparing for their giyus [army induction] into the IDF next week. Two of them are living here and are part of the Hesder program which combines advanced Talmudic studies with military service.

They understand too well that the protection of Israel comes from G-d, but requires the physical involvement of our soldiers to ensure success. The donning of military gear is as important to the success of a mission as the donning of tefillin. Both offer a form of divine protection.

The other two young men are chayalim bodedim, who have not yet made Aliyah but have left their host country to come home to their real one and serve in Israel’s armed forces. That is true mesires nefesh – self-sacrifice.

An Israeli mother once told me that when her son was born her first concern was to ensure that he was healthy and the second thought was “he’s going to have to serve in the army.” That’s the difference for me in a nutshell. When you sit on your deckchair, be it in Paris, Manchester or St Ives, and watch your little boy running around in his dress-up soldier suit, you can afford to laugh because it’s only make believe.

For those of us who live in Israel it’s a harsh reality.

So forgive me if I am abrupt and insensitive to all the good being done out there in Israel’s name and if I close my ears to your talk about how much Israel needs Jews in America or how electing a pro-Israel candidate in Britain is in our best interests.

We need you here. It’s called ‘skin in the game’ – incurring risk by being involved in achieving a goal – and anything else is chicken feed as far as I am concerned. If it’s important enough you’ll do it and if it’s not you’ll always find an excuse.

We are no longer in the desert of exile; it’s time we let the desert of chutz la’Aretz leave us.

Steve Zeff was born in Johannesburg South Africa and moved to Israel. He runs an international business from Ra’anana with offices also based in the UK and South Africa. Steve is passionate about cycling.