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Every year that we are able to make the journey to Eretz Yisrael, we try to hit the famous Holy Places. The Kotel, (Western Wall) of course, the Prophet Samuel’s resting place and Kever Rachel (Mother Rachel’s grave), King David’s tomb, and a visit to a famous Makubal, a Rabbi of great reknown who, besides studying the Oral Law, also has completed and continues to study Kabbala (the mystical secrets of the Torah). Our third nephew, Moshe Dov (Gold) is now in the Army in battalion 401, the tank battalion. He looks handsome in his IDF uniform. He is learning to shoot from the tank’s cannon on Israel’s newest mobile fortress, the Merkava 4. G-d Bless him and protect him! On all of our many trips to Geula, a Chassidic section of Jerusalem and home to many Chassidic Sects as well as many other Charaidi Jews, we were approached by many beggars. One of them I recognized from other visits because he was not only an English speaker, but also hailed from Canton, Ohio. I asked him how he was. (I think he remembered me.) I asked him, "Have you been home lately?" He answered me a bit indignantly, "I am home. When are you going to come home?" I heard by the way, that this Kabtzan (personal fundraiser) gives much of what he raises to other people in even deeper need. But I found his answer, perhaps not original (I did walk into that one), still a very poignant and strong message. Israel is a land of miracles for many diverse reasons. The building goes on in the cities, the roads, the highways and tunnels surrounded on every side by Arab nations who want nothing less than her total destruction, G-d forbid. The people live normal lives at work and at home. Oftentimes I leave you with the message--Go, visit, kvell, enjoy--and I again do so. It is not a visit to a foreign land. It is a visit HOME! Rabbi Edward H. Garsek |
