(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: Sun, 9 Apr 2000 23:28:10 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: A New concept for the Aliyah discussion: OBLIGATED vs PIOUS

I have just sifted thru 30 Mail Jewishes and read all the postings on
Aliyah (including my own). I felt that something more should be said
(since everyone felt strongly and was going around in circles) but it
wasn't clear WHAT to say(Since both sides had strong arguments).

I finally decided to add the point of the difference between OBLIGATED
acts and PIOUS ACTS ("beyond the letter of the law"). It is certainly a
mistake for those who feel aliyah is NOT OBLIGATED to try and DENY all
the EXCELLENT arguments offered by those who are ADVOCATING ALIYAH.
Indeed it makes their case look bad if they disagree with all the
benefits that DO come from aliyah.

But the real issue is WHY certain acts are OBLIGATED while certain ACTS
are only PIOUS (beyond the letter of the law but not obligated). Clearly
the fact that PIOUS acts have IMMENSE BENEFITS is NOT a reason to
obligate them. Let me list some of the areas other than aliyah that this
affects.

It is pious (but not obligatory) to (a) give as much as possible to
charity (b) to study Torah as often as we are free (c) to devote as much
free time we have (when we are not studying) to the synagogue (d) to try
and do outreach to as many people as we have free time for (e) to go to
Israel (according to those legal opinions that we are not obligated if
the 'earning a living' situation is different).

My point here is that halachah has gone out of its way to tell us that
certain acts are NOT OBLIGATORY. That means in particular that if **I**
want to study all day or give alot to charity that is fine but other
people should not be pressuring me to do so (because the act is a PIOUS
one but NOT OBLIGATORY).

The same goes for ISRAEL. Halachah makes it clear that lack of ADEQUATE
EARNING OF A LIVING is valid reason not to be OBLIGATED to go. Of course
there are wonderful benefits in going and of course many people who want
to make it, have. The point to emphasize is that going to Israel under
such circumstances (where a person judges that the LIVING standards are
not the same) is a PIOUS ACT not an OBLIGATORY act--it is therefore
wrong in the eyes of halachah for other people to pressure such a person
into going or to make him feel guilty about not going.

I don't believe the above answers all questions that have been raised on
aliyah but I believe that it helps avoid some of the more unpleasant
arguments that have arisen in the past 100 issues

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