Two Minute Torah Podcast

Lekh Lekha 5771 by Naomi Freedman

Shalom, my name is Naomi Freedman, Aliyah Shlicha for the Conservative Movement in North America. Welcome to KOACH's Two-Minute Torah; a project of the College Department of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

The first and most famous call to make Aliyah was made, long before the passage of the Law of Return in 1950, and even before the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.  The first call for Aliyah came from God to Abram in the very first words of our Parasha:

ויאמר ה' אל אברם לך לך מארצך וממולדתך ומבית אביך אל הארץ אשר אראך"

This Aliyah that Abram and Sarai made was inspired by "pull" reasons, by the desire to go to a new land to start a new better life.  It is interesting that during the first 100 years of the Zionist Movement, Aliyah was initiated as much by "push" reasons, the need to leave an old land and the physical and financial problems of the old life. 

Today, unlike during the past century, we can say that most Aliyah is once again based on "pull" reasons.  It is Aliyah by choice.  The new immigrants are not running away from anti-Semitism or pogroms. They are running towards something good.  Israel now in its 62^nd year of existence, is very attractive.  It is a modern, beautiful, dynamic and successful state, and the new olim want to be part of it and want Israel to be part of their life's.

But even in this era of "pull", there are the same three challenges facing the olim as faced Abram. 

מארצך ממולדתך ומבית אביך

These people that choose to make Aliyah, leaveארצך – the houses, jobs and safe income, and start all over again physically and financially;

they leave מולדתך – the culture, humor, traditions and ways of doing things in the ‘old country' and learn new manners, new foods and a new language.

And they leaveבית אביך – their families and friends who, despite the presence of SKYPE, messenger and Facebook, are still thousands of miles far away.

We who believe in the importance and value of Aliyah – have to find ways to help the new olim overcome these challenges.

First of all, we should find ways to support the new olim physically and financially the aspect of מארצך , in order to provide help as they make the transition in a new land.  The Yellow Pages of the United Synagogue's Project Reconnect is an excellent way to create business and employment opportunities for new olim.

Secondly, we need to create a culture here במולדתך in the Diaspora in which Aliyah is not a secret but a norm, a positive value which, even if acted on only by a minority, is celebrated publicly by all.  We should continue to encourage our youth and students to go visit Israel, to do a long term program in Israel, and build as individuals and as a community ties towards Israel.

Finally, we need to help the newcomers create new family frameworks

בית אביך by linking the olim with fellow Masorti Jews in the Masorti communities in Israel, so that the olim become a strong bridge between Israel and the Diaspora.  This is the "soft landing" program that the Jewish Agency's Aliyah Department created for the Conservative Olim.

Three thousand years ago Abraham and Sarah, answered the call.  Let us, in our own way, do all we can to help and support all of our fellow American Jews who hear and respond to the same Lech Lecha!  

For more information about Aliyah in the Conservative Movement, contact Naomi Freedman at 212-533-2061 or naomif@jafi.org.  To hear what motivates Conservative Jews to make Aliyah, go to http://www.linktoisrael.org/link/you-tube-aliyah-videos.html.