It is a negative commandment not to dwell in the land of Egypt

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My Shabbes reading was The Concise Book of Mitzvoth, compiled by the Chafetz Chayim.

Concise explanations and interesting insights about the daily mitzvot. One of the explanations focused my attention for a longer time because concerns an issue with long range in our daily lives as Jews (p.271-272):

"It is a negative commandment not to dwell in the land of Egypt
as Scriptyure says, You shall henceforth return no more that way (D'varim 17:16). For business and trade, though, it is permitted, as there is no prohibition on anything but settling there.
Moreover, it is forbidden ever to go out of the Land of Israel to another land, except to study Torah or to take a wife, or to effect a rescue from the heathen; and so one may go abroad for commerce. But to leave in order to live abroad is forbidden, unless hunger has grown severe there. Whoever lives in the Land of Israel, his sins are forgiven. Even if a person has walked four cubits in it, he merits life in the world-to-come. So too, if one is buried there, all his sins are atoned for.
Let a man ever live in the Land of Israel, even in a city with a majority of hearthens, and let him not live in another land, even in a city with a majority of Jews. For whoever goes out to another country, it is as though he worhips in idolatry. And just as it is forbidden to go out from the Land of Israel to another country, so it is forbidden to leave Babylonia (the center of Talmudic learning) for othe rlands.
This is in effect at every time, for both man and woman".

Shavua Tov!

Eastern European Jews in travel books

I love to read travel books - and, in general, any kind of good books. When I was a small and inocent kid, I used to read tones of books about lonely places and far away cultures that I never thought I will be able to see with my own curious eyes. In most part of the case, I was given the chance to visit exotic and unique corners of the world. I hope my adventures will continue.

For documentary and other literary reasons, I spent recently a good hour reading Sir Satcheverell Sitwell's book A Journey to Romania. The book was published in 1938, following one month spent in this country, at the invitation of a local prince. In nice words, he describes carefully the landscape, the various ethnic groups living there - being very impressed, for example, about the freedom enjoyed there by some dissident Russian religious groups. Even though democracy was not the strong point of the country he was visiting, an encounter with the then king calmed down his references from the democratic world where he returned after his paid trip. With one single exception - maximum seven words where he mention an ideal theoretical situation where people are free, in comparison with a practical present where this freedom lacks - you will not find any political or sociological references.

Two times in his account, he inserts his observations about the local Jewish communities met during his trips. At the time of his writing, the Jews from the Romanian territories were facing anti-semitism, attacks and serious restrictions of their freedom to move and speech. But Sitwell, while hurrying up to visit some monasteries, observes disgusted the poor Jews from Bukovina. A couple of pages before, he was a bit unhappy with the high percentage of rich Jews from Bessarabian cities. In both cases, many of the Jews were originary from Podolia and Galicia and most part of them were killed during Shoah.  

But, probably, when you hurry up to visit the monasteries, the humanity of the other humans matters less.

The Tur on Germany (1329)

Rabbi Yaakov Baal Haturim (The Tur) was the thirs on of Rosh, born in Cologne, around 1275.
After suffering the Rindfleisch persecutions, he refugiated in Spain.
In 1329, he wrote regarding Germany:
"It is forbidden for a person to even traverse a place of mortal danger, let alone to live in the land of blood...Anyone who succeeds in bringin a person out from there (Germany) is considered as having saved a Jewish soul".

Kyrkyzstan, why not? But Israel...

I work on Sundays and for me this day of the week is one of the busiest - take into consideration also the difficuties of coping with the post-Shabbes readjustment. But still, I reserve always one hour or two for reading some travel, funny articles, as a source of inspiration for my lazy writing. 

Last Sunday, I've found this article about Jerusalem, in the New York Times. The author is enthusiastically expressing his feeling about keeping himself on the road - nice, I said, I love this too. And he outlined: "As a Jew, especially one who travels constantly, I was expected at least to have the Jewish state on my radar, if not to be planning a pilgrimage in the very near future." Even Iran or Montenegro are looking more appealing to him. And he goes on and on, mentioning again how secular he is, and visits Jerusalem and is happy to find human people with whom he can talk. Anyway, in order to keep himself on the line, he is first visiting some non-Jewish places and he's very happy to recommend it. (His message: You know, I am not as bad). I didn't find the piece an amazing article well written, but was not surprise at all by the words - and the medium. I've read previously many bad articles spotting overrated places, but as they don't pay too much for their contributions at the travel section (you may be happy with a $25 for freelancing staff), I'd kept the observations to myself. Plus, at the end, the author looks as changing his mind and this may be a good beginning. And, mission accomplished: he went to Jerusalam, maybe he will return and why not, he will decide to change his life.

Yesterday, David Harris replied to the piece in The Huffington Post, criticizing the content of the article and the choice of the author.

I do not want to defend anyone and actually I am reading daily so much crap and self-denial and misinterpretations that nothing may surprise me. What it is obvious in many of these positions is the lack of education and understanding of Judaism. Many people introducing themselves as "Secular" and "intellectuals" never had the opportunity to meet people with high education, able to share their knowledge and get people closer to the Torah. The fault is not only on one side.

I am reading right now another interesting book of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks about Jewish continuity. Shoah and the galut put at hard trial our belief and knowledge. We stop being Jews by choice or by the force of the events. But, it doesn't mean that resuming our position to criticize those who are different may absolve our responsibility. We should do our best to have them on our side, with their past, differences and points of view. 

10 Tevet

Latest news and interesting articles in a day when we should remember again why we are longing for the Beit Hamidrash. There were many extreme standpoints and positions lately, many lacking any balance as only seizing the opportunity to accuse.

Rav Ovadia Yossef accused the extreme behavior of the rioters from Beit Shemesh as Hillul Hashem

This is a nice article about love for Klal Yisroel written with a lot of chessed.

Modesty and 'Women Problem'.

This is the day of Asara BeTevet when we are discussing and thinking not only about the tragic events leading to the distruction of the Temple, but we also pray for all those whose burrial places are unknown. We are reminded again that we are part of the same community and all heading to the same direction

Where do we go?

Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef outlined in his weekly sermon: "We do not hate the secular people, but rather love them, we bring them closer." Yosef spoke out against extremism, stating that "there are haredim carrying out forbidden acts, that our Torah forbids, they must be denounced." There were other nuances and differences introduced lately as well. 

Neturei Karta is pushing harder, maybe too far, in my opinion. In a way, is very difficult to explain that people from the Sicarii and Neturei Karta are a little bit different in their ideology. Can you say they are a special category of Jews? It is not easy to explain without making distinctions...

On the other hand, the public opinion is hot enough for encouraging a mini-war of us against us. Hence, Bibi's warning. Please don't!