(c) Apr 18 2001 RashiYomi Inc. MY COLLECTED & INDEXED MAIL JEWISH POSTINGS-Ver #1
Individual Postings 1st appeared(& were copied in html form) on the Email List Mail Jewish

From: Russell Hendel <rhendel@saber.towson.edu>
Date: Tue, 4 Apr 2000 23:54:16 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Does a person living in Luxury have the right NOT to go to Israel

Eli Turkel in v31n93 writes
>>>>
The vast majority of Jews can make a reasonable living in Israel.  There
is no mitzvah to have every luxury. As I once wrote R. Blau of the
Neturei Karta lived in a hut while visiting the US so that he should at
>>>>

The Rambam is very explicit Law of Gifts to the Poor, Chapter 7:3
        >Poverty is relative to a former life style
        >If the poor person was used to a chariot and servants
        >then THAT IS WHAT YOU GIVE HIM!!!

In other words I don't think we should run around telling people WHO
ALREADY LIVE IN LUXURY that they should go on Aliyah and that what they
are doing is not optimal. The change from a materialistic American life
to a more idealistic Israeli style may be too much for most people We do
not have the right to say that Halachah requires it.

(Of course Eli is right to try and get people BEFORE they live in Luxury
and BEFORE they have jobs)

Russell Hendel; Phd ASA; RHendel@Towson.Edu
Moderator Rashi is Simple
http://www.shamash.org/rashi/