Sitting at the Seder last year, surrounded by my family, I glanced outside upon the hills of Beit Shemesh and saw an Israeli flag waving in the air on one of the light poles. I had noticed the flag many times before, but that night it sparked a transcendent moment. Here we were, the dream of “Next year in the Land of Israel” finally realized. We were communicating the story of our people, back home in the Land of Israel.
Aliyah takes place in a single moment, when one lands at Ben Gurion airport. Getting settled in Israel takes longer. Aside from all the technical support, first from Nefesh B’nefesh and then from many kindhearted Israelis and Anglos already living here, I have found that moments of inspiration and inspirational people have refreshed my gratitude for the blessing of living in Eretz Yisrael in the modern State of Israel.
Upon moving to Israel last year, in the summer of 2022, I was warmly welcomed to the Ramat Shilo community of Ramat Beit Shemesh by Rabbi Yerachmiel Roness. Although a generation ahead of me, he too left a career in the rabbinate (in the Bronx, not Bergenfield) at about the same age as I did, and moved to Israel (in 1983) with older children as well. Over the past four decades, his family has integrated into Israeli society and professionally he successfully transitioned to various communal leadership roles, first as rabbi of the Jewish Agency’s absorption centers, supporting the spiritual needs of olim, and then as the executive director of the Aloh Naaleh organization, promoting and supporting aliyah.
I was encouraged to see someone who had taken a similar path as I and was blessed with a successful aliyah, personally and professionally. I was cheered by Rabbi Roness’ smile and soft-spoken words of support, as I felt he understood the transition I was going through. Moreover, in conversation, I was captivated by his passionate love for Eretz Yisrael and endless appreciation for living through the unfolding miracles of the modern State of Israel.
Many weeks, as I walk into shul on Shabbos, Rabbi Roness hands me a dvar Torah on the weekly parsha he wrote up years earlier for his Chizuk V’idud column in the OU’s Torah Tidbits Torah publication. (I guess you can take the rabbi out of the pulpit, but you can’t take the pulpit out of the rabbi.) Always with a connection to Israel, these divrei Torah reflect the author’s intense love for the Land of Israel, recognition of God’s guiding hand in history, and unabashed and heartfelt calls for world Jewry to move to Israel and join in building up the State of Israel. I am reminded of the Rambam in Sefer Hamitzvot (mitzvah three, to love God): one expresses love for Hashem, among other ways, by calling and encouraging others to serve and know Him, as did Avraham Avinu. Recontextualized, Rabbi Roness’ love for Israel expresses itself in his untiring efforts to broadcast it to all who are willing to hear. While his messages are direct and impassioned, his tone is loving and embracing.
The entire Jewish community can now enjoy these divrei Torah in his recently published book, Aloh Na’aleh: Eretz Yisrael and Aliyah in the Weekly Parshah. These divrei Torah—three for each parsha, selected from previous Torah Tidbit articles—honor Eretz Yisrael, from many different angles, and (spoiler alert) encourage aliyah.
A few months ago, I was invited to the wedding of Rabbi Roness’ granddaughter. She was marrying a hesder student, on break for two weeks from the IDF. The proud grandfather was called up to the chuppah to recite the bracha Sos tasis, beseeching God to gladden the barren Zion when her children are gathered within her in joy. All I could think was: How appropriate! Here is someone who has dedicated his life to Israel, aliyah and the Jewish people, welcoming a new couple prepared to build their home in Israel, committed to the Jewish people, its Torah and land.
This new sefer will no doubt continue his mission, helping to gladden Zion as the Jewish people continue to gather within her.
Rabbi Moshe Stavsky served as rav of Bais Medrash of Bergenfield and rebbe at the Ramaz Upper School for 11 years prior to making aliyah in the summer of 2022. He currently teaches at Netivei HaTorah in Beit Shemesh and serves as content creator for Lomdei.
