Questions To Rabbi Mandel
Question: Before WW2 very few Jews saw “the writing on the wall”. Those who acted were saved from the terrible Holocaust. What would be considered proper Hishtadlus today?
If 300,000 Jews were capable of gathering in Washington, what’s to stop the Arabs in Patterson NJ or in any other city (Detroit), to rally in the streets of Lakewood or Brooklyn, Chas V’shalom...? As we have seen, their protests are violent, and they can do serious damage or worse, Chalila, before they are contained...
The holy Yidden in Europe surely davened and cried out as much as us, if not more. Yet, they were not spared from Middas HaDin, Hashem Yinkom Damam... If one has the possibility of moving to Eretz Yisrael, then wouldn’t it be advisable to do so?
Thank you for addressing my question. I’m sure this is on the minds of many, many Yidden...
Answer: First of all, such a question is for the big Gedolim, not for me; and I could give you recommendations of who you should be asking.
However, I will say a few points. First of all, who said that Eretz Yisrael is any safer? We don't find the Gedolim saying to move to Eretz Yisrael. Rabbi Avigdor Miller Zatzal didn't move to Eretz Yisrael. I'm not the panic-mode type. What's wrong in America? Now, if you have the desire to move to Eretz Yisrael and you are able to do so, then there is definitely a motion to do so. I’ve heard that Reb Chaim Kanievsky Zatzal would tell everyone who asked him that they should move to Eretz Yisrael. So there is surely a big Makom to do so. I was told for myself, that if I'm busy with Zikkui HaRabbim, then I shouldn't go there, because they need me here. Now, there are plenty of reasons why it wouldn't work for someone to move to Eretz Yisrael, and such a person should not go. One point that I want to make clear is, that whatever your Gadol decides, and whatever the outcome of your decision is, whether you should move or not, you have to be happy and confident in your decision. Don’t be wishy washy in your place. You have to be where you are with your whole heart. Hashem doesn't want you to be in a place, and be wishing you could be somewhere else. So wherever you are, you better be happy!
Additionally, the Chofetz Chaim says openly that to be saved from Chevlei Moshiach, you should work on Bitachon. That's the way to go. And no matter what happens, you’ll be just fine. With Bitachon, you will be saved from everything. The Chofetz Chaim did not say that to be saved from Chevlei Moshiach, you should to go to Eretz Yisrael. So stop worrying so much! But if you could easily move to Eretz Yisrael, then why not.
