The ‘good life’ outside Israel not good

Choni Davidowitz

In last week’s edition of the Jewish Report there were many cases of anti-Zionist/Semitic sentiment mentioned and apparently much of the same opinions and criticisms are appearing in the non-Jewish press.

Our Jewish leaders seem to be doing their very best in countering this continuous barrage of hatred towards Israel, although sometimes it is very sad to find that they themselves criticise Israel. I refer to the (Minister of Higher Education Blade) Nzimande incident. No doubt this anti-Israel campaign has spilled over and has become more and more anti-Semitic. Anti-Semitic incidents all over the Diaspora have proved this to be true; South Africa is no exception.

All our efforts in combating this “new” anti-Semitism are not defending Jewry as such, but “defending” the exile. As my good friend from Cape Town, David Hersch, has stated: “maspic” (enough) with South Africa, and everything that goes with it. The “tsores” (worry) we get in exile is meant to chase us home to Israel.

Like me, he agrees that people like Terry Crawford-Browne, and Dr Iqbal Survé, will continue to harden their hearts against Israel and the Jewish people and serve no other purpose but to be G-d’s (evil) messengers to force Jews to come home to Israel.

Sadly our religious leaders, and certainly parents, do not realise that they are living in exile. It is so sad that throughout the long exile, Jews felt so comfortable wherever they found themselves, that it was only through massive persecution and violent anti-Semitism that they sought refuge in Israel.

Here in South Africa, far too many Jews, including the most observant, led by their rabbis, have abandoned the feeling that they are outside of Israel and living in exile. I believe that while this feeling of living in a non-Jewish land is forgotten, we are increasingly on a trajectory of assimilation.

Even now Jews no longer feel the primacy of Zion in their daily lives and are moving rapidly from their heritage as a unique Jewish nation in their own land. What a pity our rabbis are not internalising their daily prayers for the ingathering of our people and that we are part of a nation that yearns to return home.

The last Lubavitcher Rebbe said: “A Jew living outside of Israel should always feel deep pain and remorse that he is living in exile away from his Homeland.” (Likutei sichos; Vol 30 p234).

 Golden Acres, Johannesburg