My Canadian cousin said Israel has to get its shit together for more people to make Aliyah. I responded that - given demographic trends and the fact that Israel is unfortunately a democracy where all citizens have voting rights no matter their level of service - Israel will only get its shit together when more people (who care about the internal existential threats) make Aliyah. So we are at a crossroads.
Aliyah is definitely easier for those willing to significantly downgrade their material needs and expectations, and we don’t regret it for a minute. But living amongst a rapidly increasing demographic whose triple threat lifestyle (avoidance of education, work and service, with reliance on taxpayer funded subsidies) will most certainly lead to the country’s destruction within two generations if nothing changes, does not endear those in chul to make such a sacrifice. If Israel cannot be bothered to save itself why should they.
I wrote my master's thesis on the Jews of Hellenistic Egypt. I could have written on the Jews of Babylon who did not return. Segal is full of...nonsense.
Trump and a worrying rise of antisemitism still cannot convince me to emigrate to a country surrounded by enemies and whose right wingers are probably more threatening to national stability than MAGA is to the U.S. despite the tumult here, Israelis are voting with their feet. If we are traitors, I wonder what Siegel thinks of them? The pure hatred must incandescent and blinding.
Moreover, if there is any obligation for Jews in the diaspora, it is to strengthen their own communities. Putting Jews in one place under one government, as history has shown, may not be ideal for Jewish survival, let alone Jewish flourishing.
My Canadian cousin said Israel has to get its shit together for more people to make Aliyah. I responded that - given demographic trends and the fact that Israel is unfortunately a democracy where all citizens have voting rights no matter their level of service - Israel will only get its shit together when more people (who care about the internal existential threats) make Aliyah. So we are at a crossroads.
Aliyah is definitely easier for those willing to significantly downgrade their material needs and expectations, and we don’t regret it for a minute. But living amongst a rapidly increasing demographic whose triple threat lifestyle (avoidance of education, work and service, with reliance on taxpayer funded subsidies) will most certainly lead to the country’s destruction within two generations if nothing changes, does not endear those in chul to make such a sacrifice. If Israel cannot be bothered to save itself why should they.
I wrote my master's thesis on the Jews of Hellenistic Egypt. I could have written on the Jews of Babylon who did not return. Segal is full of...nonsense.
Trump and a worrying rise of antisemitism still cannot convince me to emigrate to a country surrounded by enemies and whose right wingers are probably more threatening to national stability than MAGA is to the U.S. despite the tumult here, Israelis are voting with their feet. If we are traitors, I wonder what Siegel thinks of them? The pure hatred must incandescent and blinding.
Moreover, if there is any obligation for Jews in the diaspora, it is to strengthen their own communities. Putting Jews in one place under one government, as history has shown, may not be ideal for Jewish survival, let alone Jewish flourishing.