The Concept of Aliya Goes Back to the Parsha
In Parshat Vayigash, we encounter the concept of Aliya-
going up to the Land of Israel-twice. Aliya was also mentioned in the last
pasuk of last week’s Parsha, Parshat Miketz.
At the end of Parshat Miketz (Breisheet 44:17), Yosef said
to his brothers: “It would be degrading for me to do such a thing (make all of
you slaves). The man (Binyamin) in whose hand the goblet was found, he shall be
my slave, and the rest of you ‘alu lishalom’, ‘go up’ in peace to your father.”
At the beginning of Parshat Vayigash, Yehuda approaches
Yosef and explains the story of why it is so important to let Binyamin go back
to his father. In 44:33 Yehuda actually offers to stay in
of Binyamin: “And now, let your servant remain as a slave to my master instead
of the lad. Let the lad ‘go up’ with his brothers.”
Once Yosef admits that he is really their brother he says
(45:9): “Hurry, ‘go up’ to my father and tell him: this is what your son, Yosef
says, God has made me master of all
delay.”
Geographically, when a person is in
person is in
are on a higher level then when they are in
expanded beyond
matter what country people are from, if they move to
literally going up.
Living in
we have the opportunity to see people who made Aliya from almost every country
in the world.
Visiting a
home is a true experience of Kibbutz Galuyot, ingathering of the exiles, where
one can meet senior citizens who were born in
a hundred years ago, Olim who just arrived from
those that came from countries throughout the world every year in between. Taking
time to hear their stories is fascinating. Even more fascinating is the fact
that they all seem to get along- a lesson that we could all learn from them!
