Leaving Mitzrayim in the 21st Century
16 Nisan 5775
It was so much harder for our ancestors. But, it still might take some of us 40 years of wandering in the desert before we finally make it home. When we do, we will notice immediately that what we left behind in 'Egypt' is not nearly as fulfilling or as intrinsically worthwhile as what we have found in our only true homeland.
Here are some samples of some of the trade-offs...
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| Attractions |
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| Currency |
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| Transportation |
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| Fast Food |
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| Drink |
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| Clothes |
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| Leisure Time |
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| Shopping |
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| Family Life |
Maybe you can think of others. Feel free to add them to the comments.
Moadim l'simcha!
Leisure Time images need to be flipped. In the States leisure time is the Movies and TV. In Israel it is Torah. What about the ultra large Supermarket vs. Israeli Macholet.
ReplyDeleteRight you are, Mr. Butterfield. I fixed it. Yes! The makolet is excellent. Added that one in. Thanks!
DeleteGreat, however, the 'movies' belongs on the left!
ReplyDeleteThanks for pointing that out. How did I miss that?
DeleteIt's funny. I loved driving and frequently drove cross-country in the US, even over a thousand miles at a time. Once, I put the kids in the car (a 1990 Aerostar van) and we left Cheyenne, Wyoming headed for Denver about 9 am. We turned onto Interstate 70 with the intent of crossing the Rocky Mountains and arriving in Grand Juction in the late afternoon, just to see what was there. Once we arrived, I just kept going since we had never seen Utah and we drove til well after dark arriving late in Provo and found a motel.The next morning, I took the kids to see the Great Salt Lake in Salt Lake City and re-entered Wyoming from the west. It took all day to cross the state and arrive back home in Cheyenne. I liked driving, but I hated the expense and upkeep of a car. When I got to Jerusalem, I found there was no place left to go. I had reached my final destination and had no more need of cars or driving.I've never owned or driven a car in nineteen years in Israel.
ReplyDeleteI was reminded of this when I went to find a picture of a contemporary car and I didn't know what to look for. I no longer know the names and makes and models of cars. Finally, I just googled "family car" and this is what it showed me. I never lived anyplace that had actual public transportation until I came to Israel.
Funny thing is, this was quite awhile before I had any notion of making aliyah, but when we did make aliyah from Denver, LAX was the closest airport serviced by El Al. My last sight of the US was flying that same route over the Rockies to Salt Lake City and then on to Los Angeles where we had to turn around, fly back the same way again to get to New York and on to Tel Aviv - a 20 hr trip as I recall!
DeleteMy experience was a little different than yours. I never drove, always lived in cities, that I could walk all over like Boston, Philly, DC. There were so many historic sites to see. I never had the desire to see all of America. When I got to Israel, I was so enamored and curious, I had to go on any and all tours and excursions possible. I loved being in the desert, seeing date trees, visiting Amit, the community on the shiny white sands, all the stones wherever I went, a Yeminite village, oh there was no end o my "seeing" all of the Land of Israel that I could. Well, since being flat on my back in the winter of 2013 my site seeing has been curtailed. But I'm hoping to resume cautiously. Correction, it was 2014.
ReplyDeleteLiving in Jerusalem I see Baby Strollers in Los Angeles I would seldom see them. According to the Pew Research Center study of 2013 the fertility rate for Secular/Reform Jewish Women (The largest Jewish Population in the US) was 1.4 -1.7 Child per Woman (replacement rate is 2.2) http://www.pewforum.org/2013/10/01/chapter-2-intermarriage-and-other-demographics/
ReplyDeleteIn Israel the fertility rate is 3.1 for Secular and 8.1? for Orthodox http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Israel#Total_fertility_rate
Good one! Thanks!
DeleteThe children in Israel are far more mature then in the US. My teenage daughters are doing thing in Israel that they would never do in Los Angeles. such as traveling by bus to other cities or going out at night. In Los Angles we would never let them go by themselves because of the crime, gangs and rape. Even living right next to 2 Arab villages in Jerusalem we feel safer here then in Los Angeles.
ReplyDeleteAnd, of course, it used to be even safer before the African infiltrators arrived.
DeleteI second this. The maturity of Israeli children and teens compared to America, especially in the frum community, is unparalleled.
DeleteYou know, I compare myself to my kids at the same age, and there is just no comparison. They are so much more mature and competent.
Some American teenagers speak like young children or Neandarthals. The Israeli ones still sound quick-witted and intelligent (even if it's with chutzpah ;).
The first time I came to Israel, I remember we were all struck by the freedom we sensed in the play of Israeli children. It's not something I can really describe except to say that their movements and their very play was performed with more "freedom" than I'd ever seen before.
And yeah, I also feel much safer here despite the Arabs than I ever did anywhere in the US, even in the relatively safe suburbs.
Dassie, yes I too feel much safer here than in America.
ReplyDeleteDevash, I think "incentives" is more inspiring than "trade offs". I'm inspired by the lesser amount of gashmius, by the air of freedom circulating around us, a feeling of knowing I'm in the garden of HaShem.
Hag Sameah Dvash to you your family and of course your precious blog 's followers.
ReplyDeleteA minute ago I just read new messages from the autistics on Dani18.com. It was in Hebrew and told about significant events during Pessah. What and when exactly they didn't tell.
But as always from a basic "Emuna Temima point of view" we believe that He should come any second berahamim.
At least one little but significant event I saw yesterday . Here you got many of those.
It was Birkat Cohanim at the Kotel. In the bus that took us back to the parking i met a whole massorti family from Akko who came especially to Jerusalem for the event. Their turbulent childs never saw the Kotel before.The father looked and behaved like the tough Israeli guy that many take in example for convincing people not to make aliya (how wrong and superficial they are: it's only the external toughness of the Emet. Inside it's all honey if you look closer).After a little conversation i saw tears in his eyes. He told me he felt something so deep and powerful during the event that he cant stop criying and that he wishes to be here with his family next Pessah to bring the Korban to the Temple. Just a live example of the Israeli entertainment section above. Moadim Lesimha.
That was so beautiful Itzhak! Thank you so much for sharing that! I just got back from the Kotel and hope to write something about it a little later. Thanks again.
DeleteMoadim l'simcha!
I live in Boro Park. Aside for the zionistic flag in the 'fast food' pic, and the omission of the attractions and currency (which make no spiritual difference), I don't see any differences. Clothes, Leisure Time, Shopping, and Family Time very easily match 'many' of our lifestyles here. With the imminent arrival of Moshiach, the currency and fast food will most definitely be a thing of the past!
ReplyDeleteI do agree though, that with all of the jewish beauty that surrounds us here in NY, the level of Emunah Temima and superficiality do leave much to be desired. Yet, of course, there are many wonderful exceptions who are searching for the truth and awaiting Moshiach's arrival Bimheirah!
Sarah G K
After making Aliyah and living in Jerusalem, I find the major difference is Prayer and Kedusha (holiness) between Israel and the US. Where can you really pour out your heart to Hashem in Los Angeles with everything going on there? In New York, you can go to the Lubavitcher Rebbe's Ohel, but in Israel you have hundreds of places to pray. Kever Rachel, The Kotel, Meron, The Baba Sali's Kever, just to name a few.
ReplyDelete