A series of articles by Dov Gilor in the Jewish Press dating from the beginning of last December to now (13 articles so far and counting. Here is the beginning of the first article which describes Mr. Gilors reasons for compiling these stories:
Like many of those whose stories will be found in this series, I was hurt by the words of Stephen J. Savitsky, the new Orthodox Union president. Frankly, I believe that he spoke out of ignorance of religious Zionism in the USA. He most probably never belonged to Bnei Akiva, Mizrachi or even Young Judea, Habonim or Hashomer Hatzair. I am sure that he did not attend last year`s 70th Anniversary celebration of American Bnei Akiva, nor did he see the journal listing the accomplishments of so many Bnei Akiva olim.It is strange that the president of such a wonderful Jewish, religious organization can be so ignorant of American religious Zionism that he says:
“People are starting to go to Israel for the right reasons. Years ago, aliya was for people who were running away from something. They weren`t successful. They didn`t have a successful marriage. They weren`t role models. But today I see really successful people. Young people. Doctors, lawyers, business people, finance people, who are giving it up not to come here to starve. Not to schnorr from their parents.”This series is not meant to criticize the words spoken in ignorance. It is rather to enlighten the new OU president and to tell the stories of just a small cross-section of the successful, happily married people contributing rather than schnorring. They are real role models of those who came on aliyah to Israel 10, 20 or 30 years ago.
We are the people who came to Israel because we were Orthodox Jews who studied what Judaism demands of us, and who decided to join our destiny with our fellow Jews in Israel. We also knew that if we had not been successful in America, the harsh realities of Israel would not allow us to cope and succeed in Israel. Most of those who came and remained were educated, successful and contributors to Israel`s growth and viability. Schnorrers and those running away never remained in Israel.
This series is based on the dozens of responses to my e-mail request for Olim stories after Mr. Savitsky`s comments. I e-mailed my request to a few friends, but my request was sent around “at the speed of the internet” and I received responses from all over Israel. Each issue will feature some of the stories of what these olim did before they came, and what they and their children and grandchildren are doing today.
I have not yet had the chance to read through all of the articles in the series…but what I have read so far is heartfealt and genuine. May we all be zocheh to live our lives with the dedication described below.
- Part 1
- Part 2
- Part 3
- Part 4
- Part 5
- Part 6
- Part 7
- Part 8
- Part 9
- Part 10
- Part 11
- Part 12
- Part 13
- Part 14
- Part 15
- Part 16
- Part 17
- Part 18
- Part 19
April 18th, 2005 at 1:43
Thank you for posting the links to this series of articles! I felt so indignant when I first read Mr. Savitsky’s comments and, while it is so obvious that his comment was way off base, it is nice to see someone setting the record very straight. Those who came before us new olim had to overcome so many more obstacles and to give up so much more in order to live their dream and to do their part to build a strong homeland that they deserve nothing short of the highest respect.