The plan underway to reopen Eretz Yisrael in the aftermath of the omicron variant is no simple feat. It took the involvement of many groups, representatives, and behind-the-scenes meetings, all focused on showing that the State of Israel is home for Jewish people worldwide.
Earlier this week, the Religious Zionists of America-Mizrachi (RZA), the umbrella movement for religious Zionism in North America, took the lead in convening 350 Diaspora rabbis and community lay leaders to petition the Israeli government to reopen the country’s borders to their communities as expeditiously as possible; over 300 signed in under 36 hours and an addendum of another 100 signatories was later supplied. Shortly after the petition was delivered to the offices of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and President Isaac Herzog, an announcement was made regarding the reopening. As of January 9, Israel is once again allowing tourists in its borders.
The Mizrachi methodology is never to tell the Israeli government what to do, rather go about ideas in a social manner, pushing forward responsibly, discussing Israel as our land as well and how we are connected as a birthright. One method is explaining how we are a united family with Israel as our homeland. There is not a notion of one day being a citizen and the next not.
There was a collective voice concerned how the actions of Israel were flying in face of our feelings here in America, as the reality is that we celebrate Israel and its inner workings.
Rabbi Ari Rockoff, RZA executive vice president, reached out to me, as a delegate for the Orthodox Israel Coalition-RZA, as the petition took off. The work of the RZA led to the participation of Jewish communal leaders from more than 28 countries across the worldwide Mizrachi movement, including communities in Australia, Finland, Spain, the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico and the United States, among others. They span the various generations of Jewish communities from the college campus to the most established of religious institutions. The work began in America as the Mizrachi representatives began calling Rabbi Rockoff asking how they could assist, and soon moved to communities worldwide. Each country used the English template and translated it into the languages of their region—Hebrew, French and Spanish were predominant.
“I would get calls from regular Jewish families who were missing milestone family events. A bris here, a wedding there, or a bar mitzvah. It was a lot for many who could not reconcile missing a simcha,” explained Rabbi Rockoff. “Then I would hear from heads of schools and community rabbonim. It was quite obvious that there was a need, and we at Mizrachi heard the call.”
Rabbi Rockoff continued:“The petition was just one piece in an approach that included the delicate conversations of talking with government officials. The timing of our letter could not be better. We are extremely thankful to Israel’s leaders for taking our message to heart and reopening the country to our communities. We look forward to visiting Israel and strengthening the bonds between our communities.”
The letter, signed broadly from representatives of the Ashkenazic, Sephardic and Chabad communities, expressed recognition and understanding for Israel’s need to maintain safety precautions, while also warning about the impact that shuttering Israel’s borders would have on Diaspora Jewry’ relationship with the Jewish State for years to come. The letter brought home the notion that those in the Diaspora have a family connection to the Holy Land. It was designed to portray the family connections that Jews here have for Israel, and that we are not bound by ideological values.
Rabbi Jonathan Morgenstern, head rabbi of the Young Israel of Scarsdale, was an initial voice that had a strong impact. “I felt along with many Jewish Americans the actions of Israel were not what we had been davening for,” said Rabbi Morgenstern, who was privileged to visit Israel this past summer despite the mountain of paperwork required to enter. “We should always have a Jewish homeland to return to and not be told that at a certain point we cannot go back. It became a choice of a Jew living in Eretz Yisrael or America.”
“We represent communities that not only visit Israel but are the source of extremely significant support for our homeland,” the letter stated. “Many of our members move to Israel, all of our members advocate for Israel with their elected officials, it is the norm that our children study in Israel, and many go on aliyah and serve in the IDF…”
“The Israeli government cannot say that the Jews in America are so important only when it suits their political needs,” noted Rabbi Morgenstern, whose mother resides in Rechavia and whose son is learning in Yeshivat Reishit Yerushalayim. “I speak for myself and the feelings of many of my rabbinical colleagues when I state that our neshamos were hurting. We felt that our country was cutting us off; we should be able to return home if we so desire.”
According to Rabbi Rockoff, the significance of the initiative was the widespread support it received in the Jewish community. “Israel is such a treasured unifier in our community. Our call to ease travel restrictions for Diaspora Jews was welcomed from all corners of the Religious Zionist movement, which was absolutely heartwarming,” he added.
The letter acknowledged the understanding and need for rigorous testing protocols and vaccination standards for entry. It also highlighted how many of the communities represented have been at the forefront of vaccinations and are already used to following rigorous PCR testing protocols, masking when medically advised, and quarantine and isolation as prescribed by their local health officials in line with best practices worldwide.
It is the both the formal efforts of people like Knesset Member Dov Lipman, who deserves special acknowledgement for his actions; Rav Doron Perez, executive chairman of Mizrachi World Movement; Rabbi Warren Goldstein, chief rabbi of The Union of Orthodox Synagogues of South Africa; and organizations like National Council of Young Israel and Orthodox Israel Coalition; and the collection of voices from around the world who brought about the change.
Acknowledgement is awarded to local signers Rabbi Yosef Adler, Congregation Rinat Yisrael, Teaneck; Rabbi Shalom Baum, Congregation Keter Torah, Teaneck; Rabbi Nasanayl Braun, Congregation Brothers of Israel, Long Branch; Rabbi Ronald Schwarzberg, YU, Highland Park; Rabbi Daniel Cohen, Congregation Agudath Sholom, Stamford; Perry Davis, Lincoln Square Synagogue, New York; Margy-Ruth Davis, New York; Rabbi Jeremy Donath, Congregation Darchei Noam of Fair Lawn; Bina Faber, Congregation Rinat Yisrael, Teaneck; Michael Gutlove, Young Israel of Teaneck; Rabbi Joshua Hess, Young Israel of East Brunswick; Rabbi Joshua Kahn, YU HS for Boys; Alyssa Kirsch, Tanach, Teaneck; Rabbi Binyamin Krohn, Young Israel of Teaneck; Hart Levine, Beis Community, NY; Rick Magder, NY; Chaya B. Neugroschl, Ma’ayanot Yeshiva HS, Teaneck; Arthur J. Poleyeff, YU SSSB, Englewood; Rabbi Chaim Poupko, Congregation Ahavath Torah, Englewood; Rabbi Alvin Reinstein, Congregation Beth Aaron, Teaneck; Rabbi Shaul Robinson, Lincoln Square Synagogue, New York; Sarah Robinson, Manhattan Day School; Rabbi Zvi Room, Bialystoker Synagogue, New York; Rabbi Tomer Ronen, Yeshivat He’Atid, Teaneck; Rabbi Larry Rothwachs, Congregation Beth Aaron, Teaneck; Rabbi Eliezer Rubin, Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy, Livingston; Bracha Rutner, YU HS for Girls; Steve Savitsky, B’Nai Zion Foundation, New York; Rabbi Hershel Schachter, YU, New York; Rabbi Jacob J. Schacter, YU, Teaneck; Rabbi Avi Schwartz, OU-JLIC at Rutgers University, New Brunswick; Yaakov Serle, advertising director, The Jewish Link; Seymour Shapiro, RZA, Long Branch; Chana Shields, Amit, Teaneck; Rabbi Jordan Silvestri, Yeshiva of Flatbush, Teaneck; Malki Sinensky, Mizrachi Synagogue of the Lower East Side; Rachael Spero, Department of Education, New York; Rav Aryeh Stechler, Heichal HaTorah, Teaneck; Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz, Kehilath Jeshurun, New York; Ed Stelzer, Congregation Keter Torah, Teaneck; and Rabbi Eliezer Zwickler, Congregation AABJ&D, West Orange.
“Our Jewish soul is yearning to be in Eretz Yisrael and we cannot go,” concluded Rabbi Morgenstern with the words of “Hatikva.”
By Shabsie Saphirstein
