Matot: Both Within and Without Israel

In less than two weeks, I'll be flying off to Israel on a synagogue trip along with 29 members of our congregation. It's been four years since my last trip, and I'm very exciting to be going back. It truly is like no other place on earth; the food, culture, people, scenery, history - all of it is so unique to Israel, and you have to experience it for yourself to understand. I'm especially thrilled to be going with people who have never been before, and to vicariously see Israel for the first time through their eyes. It's going to be a wonderful trip, and I hope that this will only be the first of many Israel adventures together with members of Ohev Shalom.

But I will never be making aliyah. It might surprise you to hear me say that, because Jews often like to keep that door open. We may never seriously consider moving there, but we don't want to rule it out. You never know, right? Well, I've spent two full years in Israel, I've visited many times, and I have lots of family and friends there, and I can tell you

for certain that I am a solid Diaspora Jew. It has always amazed me how many people feel uncomfortable sharing my sentiment, at least publicly. What's wrong with knowing that I will never be an Israeli? For a healthy Israel to survive, there will always need to be a Diaspora community, just as the Diaspora has always needed, longed for, prayed for, and loved Israel. It is (ideally) a symbiotic relationship, and rather than working towards moving all Jews to Israel, we should be investing resources in improving relationship and understanding between these two essential components of the Jewish world.

This is not a new issue. The Diaspora itself isn't new, and neither are the tensions between Jews inside the Land and outside. In this week's reading, we are told that two tribes, Reuben and Gad (and half the tribe of Menashe), approached Moses to ask if they could stay outside Israel, and settle across the Jordan. Moses initially rejected their request, but then he acquiesced, provided they help their fellow countrymen conquer the land. They agreed, and the first Diaspora Jewish community was established. Ever since the beginning of our existence as a people, as a nation, we have had Jews living both within and without Israel... and the tensions between the two have existed just as long.

So what can we do? I doubt we can "solve" this 4,000-year old problem, but we can work on ourselves. Take pride in who you are, and where you live. You don't have to make excuses to anyone, and both communities are vital to the survival of the Jewish People. However, we also need to learn about one another. As Jews, we have a responsibility to know Israel, to spend time

there, to try to learn Hebrew, and to understand this amazing place where our story began. Your feet have to sink into the sand on an

Israeli beach, your forehead has to touch the stones of the Western Wall, and every one of your senses has to experience an Israeli shuk. Nothing you can ever learn or watch or eat in America will ever compare to actually being there.

It may surprise you that you'll not only learn to love Israel, you'll feel greater pride in your own community, and most importantly, it'll strengthen the bond between the two. No matter what anyone says, it is your land. Even if, like me, you are "just" a Reubenite...

Photos in this blog post:

1. CC image courtesy of ChrisYunker on Flickr

2. CC image courtesy of The Jewish Agency for Israel on Flickr

3. CC image courtesy of Andries3 on Flickr

4. CC image courtesy of JMRosenfeld on Flickr

5. CC image courtesy of Marion Doss on Flickr