Question: For those of us who still live in the diaspora and feel antisemitism rising around us in the present situation – how can we know when is the right time to flee and make aliyah? Should we go before we feel ready, just to feel safer, or should we wait until we feel ready to make it? Sometimes waiting until we are ready, feels like being in 1939’s Europe and seeing the last ships depart without us… Answer: Firstly, please allow me to admire your candidness! Thank G-d, davka because today we have a Jewish State, incidents like those who missed the last boat out of Europe should not be happening again. On the other hand, those who wait will obviously be missing out on other things. For example certain countries, including democracies (like South Africa, at certain points), have allowed Jews to leave but without their money (for obvious economic reasons, from their standpoint). The longer you wait, the more difficulties you will inevitably face in finding work in your field, more affordable housing etc. As you get older, it becomes more difficult to make changes, e.g. you get accustomed to a higher standard of living, friends, jobs etc.. Also your parents get older and more dependent upon you, your children get older, and will also be less flexible in accompanying you to the Promised Land (they’ll probably follow your example and will also want to “feel ready”, but their “ready” time is much different than your’s, and so it may be with your spouse, as well!). In short, today there are also types of “missing the boat”
I hate to break it to you, but you will never really feel totally “ready”. That’s why my Haredi cousins in Boro Park wait passively for that super-natural Mashiach, waiting childishly for that black and white situation where we’ll all “live happily ever after”. The problem is that if they are literally waiting for that type of Mashiach that they dream about, they may very well be waiting forever, and will almost definitely “miss the boat”!
The question is rather, why remain in a country where a Jew feels uncomfortable or apologetic? In liberal areas, you have the right to protest (against anti-Semitism), but the problem is that anti-Semites, who are more vocal, virulent, and hostile, do as well, and you can’t win (like in the demonstrations yesterday in LA). You must weigh “feeling ready” for aliya as opposed to “feeling vulnerable” and “uncomfortable”, for those are the alternative feelings. I imagine, especially women, will not be physically attacked, but why harbor that frustrated feeling so often, upon seeing the news, overhearing conversations, passing campuses etc. when you can feel at home.
Feeling “at home” means being yourself, feeling pleasant, feeling the security of being surrounded by Jews (Jews are your family!). If you already don’t feel that way in America, I guess that’s your answer. Yes, in Israel we have enemies, but any mature person (even Israeli politicians!!) realizes the advantages of national unity, standing together against our common enemies, and destining our own fate.
Yes, relocating takes “guts” and includes the fear of the unknown, so like Torah and Olam Haba, also “Eretz Yisrael is acquired through difficulty” (Brachot 5a). BTW, so does marriage, starting a new job, and even jumping into a swimming pool, but that doesn’t deter us from these great things, for we know the gain is worth the pain, and life is about moving forward.
Some would say: move to Florida (where the atmosphere is apparently less anti-Semitic, although the headache of moving is similar), but the Torah suggests (and obligates): move to Israel, G-d’s Holy Land!
Baruch Hashem, our loving Father gives us free will, but like any parent, doesn’t want us to misuse it. Accordingly, the G-d of History gives us many positive reasons for making aliya (e.g. see: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/282978), as well as hints and negative reasons why not to stay in galut. We hope He won’t need to “bang us over the head” as was the case in Europe and the Sepharadic countries, and that we Anglos will come willingly asap, thus enjoying all of the aforementioned advantages of not “pushing off” that great dream of Aliya.
See Aliya (as Jews always did) as a zechut/privilege, not just a necessity: “ובאו ציון ברינה!” (Yishayahu 51, 11)! Children of Israel, our Father wants us home, where we will really feel at home.
With Love of Israel, Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)