העורך Editor

A precious gem from The English-language Kedushas Tzion forum:

Hi everyone.

I just saw this posted on a friend’s Whatsapp status. I’m trying to think of a proper response that would be short and to the point and that will effectively counter the above statement (this friend is a baal tshuva learning in Aish Hatorah, what makes it even more important to try to balance his outlook).

Anyone have suggestions for solid sources or arguments I can use?

(I couldn’t find this as text on Toras Avigdor.)

Avigdor Peretz:

WOW! So according to R’ Avigdor Miller, the gemara is specifically referring to times like our own, when Eretz Yisroel has, B”H, become once again the unquestionable center of Torah!

I don’t know anywhere else in the world where there are several globally recognized batei dinim, and their status is based entirely on the caliber of the dayanim. Not to mention a proliferation of yeshivos and kollelim of all stripes.

And not to mention tremendous and world-recognized talmidei chachomim, roshei yeshivos, admorim, mashgichim, darshonim and mashpi’im. And not to mention the countless other chachomim and tzadikim who are just off the radar, whom you can find in many unobtrusive corners around Eretz Yisroel.

So, if you have to live close to Hashem, close to real Jews, you’re better off being in one of at least tens of communities in Eretz Yisroel.

The point R’ Avigdor Miller zt”l made many years ago WAS JUST A FIGURE OF SPEECH. He in no way intended to have it used as an excuse to forsake such an opportunity where you can make progress in Torah, and to live in a place of Torah and kedushah.

I asked someone who moved from something like Boro Park or Williamsburg to Sanhedriya, Yerushalayim (after some of his married kids already settled in Eretz Yisroel) – what have you found here different? This is what he answered me: Back where I came from, there were about one in a thousand people who I could look up to as a role model. Here, it’s ONE IN TEN!

It follows that R’ Avigdor Miller would now conclude that today, Eretz Yisroel is the place for a real Jew to be.

Please keep in mind though, not to bring with you the negative influences of the not-real Jews (and sometimes worse) you might currently be living amongst.

See you here soon!

I recently quoted something which doesn’t stand firmly on its own. Problem is, I don’t have permission to add important background info from my correspondence with the author…

Berachos 9b:

ענני ה’ ענני אמר רבי אבהו למה אמר אליהו ענני שתי פעמים מלמד שאמר אליהו לפני הקדוש ברוך הוא רבונו של עולם ענני שתרד אש מן השמים ותאכל כל אשר על המזבח וענני שתסיח דעתם כדי שלא יאמרו מעשה כשפים הם שנאמר ואתה הסבות את לבם אחורנית.

החפץ חיים אמר לתלמידו בישיבת ראדין, ר׳ הירש לייב ליפל:

״אם חפצה נפשך בחסידות, בחר לך את חסידות ברסלב שבה שומרים על כל סעיף קטן בשולחן ערוך.״

וכבר הערתי במקו”א שלכן ברסלב היא בכלל לא “חסידות“, כי חסידות בימינו פירושה שיש ערך מרומם יותר מדקדוק הדין, רח”ל.