Jew in The City - Moving Out Of The City
Allison Josephs the founder of the popular orthodox blog, Jew in the City, published a review last week of Steven Spielberg's latest film, "The Fabelmans," which features a young Jewish boy who suffers from anti-semitism. Mrs. Josephs writes in her review,
"For many marginalized communities, there is a lack of economic and/or family stability. When Jews are not discriminated, as a whole, we can often rise up the ranks in society. When Jews are not murdered, as a whole, our families are often intact. And yet, there is a knowledge in many and a fear in some, that our safety only persists as long as our gentile neighbors deem it to continue.
If this sounds paranoid, as only .2% of the world’s population and the descendent of a people that has been expelled or exterminated in nearly every non-Jewish society we’ve ever lived in, being aware that nearly all societies eventually tire of their Jews is not hysterical, it’s historical. Pretending that this is not the case is either ignorant or willfully ignorant.
The one time and place that Jews need not rely on gentile hosts to allow them to exist is in Israel. In Israel, Jews are finally in a position to have our own land and to defend our own space. But the Jew as the powerful, physically strong one is very unknown to the world. It makes many people uncomfortable.
…
The Fabelmans effectively expressed the precarious nature in which a Jew exists in gentile society. And it also reminded me that I don’t want to live in a precarious way for the rest of my life."
With a healthy dose of Jewish chutzpah a commentator on the blog post wrote, "If you don’t want to live in a 'precarious way', make aliyah!"
Mrs. Josephs promptly responded, "That’s exactly what I was getting at and that’s the plan."
The full article can be read on the blog, Jew in the City, here.
Happiness Index
In happier news, this week, the UN published its regular report listing the happiest countries in the world. While Israel has always ranked impressively high on the list, coming in at 11th and then 9th in previous years, the report this year has Israel jumping up even a few more spots. Israel is now ranked as the 4th happiest country in the world.
אין שמחה אלא בישיבת ארץ ישראל. (אור החיים, כי תבוא)
There is no happiness other than dwelling in the land of Israel. (Ohr HaChaim, Ki Tavo)
The article about the happiness report can be read in HaModia, here.
Kedushas Ha'Aretz Newsletter
The organizers behind the Kedushas Ha'Aretz newsletter published an expanded edition in honor of the month of Nisan. The newsletter is filled with praises for Eretz Yisrael and encouragement for Jews who have not made their home here yet to take advantage of the opportunity that Hashem is offering them. The editor makes the comparison between the Jews who were given the opportunity to leave Mitzrayim to Jews today who are being given an opportunity to leave Chutz L'Aretz and return HOME.
Click the picture below to read the full newsletter.
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