2 More Than a Tourist
The influence and responsibility of a tourist (especially an American) in Eretz Yisrael
I am in receipt of your letter of August 28th. You write that you are planning a visit to the Holy Land and that there are various ways in which you can accomplish this, concluding with the question, in what way you should go.
I must begin with some prefatory remarks. As you know, the Holy Land is regarded as holy not only by Jews but also by non-Jews, in fact by all humanity. Holiness is something which is indivisible. A person, for instance, cannot be partly holy and partly not. In other words one cannot confine holiness only to matters of the spirit, while the material aspects of physical life are excluded from this holiness.
The Jewish people are generally called in the Torah the Holy People. Of course, within this holiness there are various degrees, inasmuch as goodness and holiness are infinite, being derived from the Infinite. A Jew is therefore always expected to advance in matters of goodness and holiness, both in time as well as in place. Thus, coming to a place which is called the Holy Land, it is necessary to rise on a higher plane of holiness. Moreover a person is more directly affected by deed than by word or thought, and therefore our Sages of blessed memory have emphasized that “The essential thing is the deed”² so that any true advancement must be reflected in the daily conduct and activity.
No person lives in a vacuum. In whatever environment a person lives there is a reciprocal relationship between the person and his environment, whereby the person both influences, and is influenced by, his environment. Therefore no person can rightfully say my private life is my private affair, inasmuch as the private life of the individual is part of the society in which he lives.
In addition to bearing in mind all of the above, I also want to call your attention to the fact that when a Jewish tourist comes from the U.S.A. to the Holy Land, he is looked upon with more than the average curiosity, and therefore whether the tourist is aware of it or not, he makes an impact on all those with whom he comes in contact.³
To summarize all the above, in answer to your question, it is my considered opinion that you should utilize your visit to the Holy Land with a view to making a contribution to the advancement of the holiness of the daily life in the Holy Land. This means not only to become part of it and experience it and be receptive to it, but also, and especially, to be a living example of it to others. The impact will be all the greater, since it is often assumed by the Jews living there that America is a materialistic land, and American Jews are only interested in the material aspects of life, while religion and spirituality are of secondary importance, or altogether superficial, and practiced mainly by people who have already retired from business and from active life etc. Let them therefore see that a young American industrialist can present a totally different image, and be an inspiration to many even in the Holy Land.
Source: Photocopy of the original. Mr. Stephen L. (Boruch Zelig) Stulman (b. 5691/1931) is an American lumber industrialist and son of Julius Stulman, who shared a close relationship with both the Rebbe Rayatz and the Rebbe. The Rebbe Rayatz took a personal interest in Stephen’s Jewish education, helping inspire his lifelong involvement in Jewish causes. He has been active in numerous organizations, including the JTA, UJA, Weizmann Institute, and the College and University Council of the Lubavitch Youth Organization. A particular focus of Stulman’s activities has been supporting Jewish life in Eretz Yisrael, which he has visited nearly 70 times. Before his first visit, he wrote to the Rebbe seeking guidance for the trip. A subsequent letter concerning this visit is dated 29 Tishrei 5725. For additional letters addressed to him, see the Rebbe Responsa app, letters dated 8 Tammuz 5735, 2 Menachem Av 5735, and 16 of Kislev 5740.
² See Avos 1:17.
³ See also Likkut Maanos Kodesh 5739, no. 292; Teshurah Kaplan (25 Teves, 5769), p. 19.
