In Parshat Metzora (Vayikra
14:33-34), we read : “God spoke to Moshe and Aharon saying: When you arrive in
the Land of C’naan that I gave you as a possession and I will place a Tzaraat affliction
upon a house in the Land of your possession.”
B’nai Yisrael have not even
arrived in the
already telling them that when they arrive they are going to have problems!
Making Aliya is not easy and it
is probably better to tell potential Olim (new immigrants) the realities of
what to expect (both good and bad) before they go so that they won’t be
disappointed upon arrival. Many Olim are disillusioned after having been told
that everything will work out perfectly. If they understand that things won’t
be perfect then they won’t become overly frustrated.
One of my students who is
literally loving every minute of being able to study in Israel had a difficult
day last week meeting with members of Israel’s Ministry of Interior. When she
left their offices, she was very upset. She walked into a bookstore and the
owner asked how she is enjoying being in
she is really happy but today she is having a difficult day. The man told her
not to be upset. After all, it is a privilege to be in
pay for that privilege by dealing with aggravation that comes up from time to
time.
His comments made her feel
better. After all, she is living in a part of Jerusalem where she can walk to
the Kotel whenever she wants to, she is studying with top teachers and having
an opportunity to tour the Land and grow spiritually so if there have to be
some hard days, in the end it is still worth the trade off in order to be able
to live in Israel.
