A Call from Hashem and a Message for Our Families Abroad
As we returned to shul this Shabbat we heard inspiring words
from our rabbis, we read moving accounts of the miracles we all experienced
here in Eretz Yisrael. But a critical question remains: What do these miracles
mean for our loved ones still living in the Diaspora? How can we, who are
already here, help them see that now is the time to join us in our homeland?
Rabbi Paul Bloom explores these questions and offers some practical answers.
The Miraculous Protection of Eretz Yisrael
As you know, Israel was recently subjected to an
unprecedented aerial assault. Hundreds of ballistic missiles and thousands of
drones were launched by Iran and its proxies with the clear intent to inflict
catastrophic harm. By any logical calculation, this attack should have resulted
in thousands of casualties.
And yet, something incredible happened: The vast majority of
those missiles and drones were intercepted by the IDF or neutralized with help
from Israel’s allies. Cities that could have turned into infernos were spared.
Lives that should have been lost were miraculously saved.
It is no coincidence that we are living in a time when evil
is being uprooted from our land. The enemies of Israel are reeling from the
reality of Mi ke’amcha Yisrael—“Who is like Your nation, Israel?”
This is a moment of revelation, a moment calling out to our fellow Jews around
the world: Come home. Hashem is protecting this land not just for those
already here, but for you and your children, too. He has kept His promise. Now
it’s time for you to keep yours.
A Dangerous Shift in the Diaspora
While Israel experiences open miracles, the Diaspora tells a
far more troubling story.
In the recent New York City mayoral primary, the leading
candidate—now virtually assured of election—expressed open hostility toward
Israel and its leadership. This is not subtle bias. This is blatant
antisemitism. He has aligned himself with Hamas supporters and threatened to
arrest Israel’s Prime Minister if he sets foot in New York.
And yet, this man was embraced by voters in America’s
largest Jewish city—a city long considered a safe haven for Jews. In fact, 43%
of Democratic primary voters supported him.
This, too, is a sign from Hashem. A wake-up call. For
decades, many Jews in America believed antisemitism was a relic of the past,
that New York was an unshakeable Jewish stronghold, that “it could never happen
here.” That illusion is crumbling. The public square is turning against our
people. Jewish visibility, once a badge of honor, is becoming a liability.
We must help our families see this reality through the lens
of emunah. Hashem is not only guarding Israel—He is also removing
illusions about the long-term safety of exile. He is gently but unmistakably
reminding us all that galut is not our destiny. That our future as a
people is not in Manhattan or Miami, but here—in Yerushalayim, Beit Shemesh,
and Netanya.
Time to Reach Out—Not from Fear, but from Love
These two realities—one miraculous, one alarming—are two
sides of the same coin. Hashem is showing both what is possible in our land,
and what is no longer sustainable in foreign lands. Our families are being
pushed and pulled, shaken and embraced, warned and invited—all at once.
This is not a call to panic. It is a call to clarity. And it
is our responsibility, as family already in Israel, to reach out to our loved
ones abroad with this message. To share what we have seen with our own eyes. To
invite them not out of fear, but out of love—love for our people, our heritage,
and our destiny. To help them understand that Aliyah is not just a response to
danger, but an embrace of opportunity. It is a return to the land that Hashem
has prepared for us—not just in the past, but right now.
“וְשָׁב ה' אֱלֹקֶיךָ אֶת
שְׁבוּתְךָ… וֶהֱבִיאֲךָ ה' אֱלֹקֶיךָ אֶל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר יָרְשׁוּ אֲבֹתֶיךָ
וִירִשְׁתָּהּ, וְהֵיטִבְךָ וְהִרְבְּךָ מֵאֲבֹתֶיךָ”
“And the Lord your God will bring back your captivity… and He will bring you
to the land which your forefathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and He
will do you good and multiply you more than your fathers.” (Devarim
30:3–5)
The writing is on the wall. Let us open our eyes to the
signs, listen to the call, and gently encourage our families abroad to take the
first steps toward coming home. If you’d like ideas on how to start this
conversation or resources to share with your loved ones, I’d be honored to
help. You can reach me anytime at aliya100reasons@gmail.com—I
look forward to partnering with you in bringing our families home.
