Rav Avigdor Miller: Now, it's well known that the avirei Eretz Yisrael is machkim. However, you have to learn everything with perushim. If a person goes to Eretz Yisrael and doesn't learn, then the avirei Eretz Yisrael won't be machkim him. If he has the same opportunities there as here, then he'll succeed more over there. But if he has more opportunities here, he shouldn't go there. Le'olam yadur adam bimkom rabbo. Man should always live where his rebbe is. Because Ezra never wanted to forsake Bavel as long as his Rebbe, Boruch ben Neriah was still in existence. And although Eretz Yisrael is waiting for him, Anshei Knesses Hagedolah, and binyan Beis Hamikdash, he didn't go. Because building yourself up is more important than building a Beis Hamikdash! Building yourself up. And he sat with his rebbe as long as his old rebbe was still alive. Only after Baruch ben Neriah passed away, then Ezra went to Eretz Yisrael. And therefore, it's important not to make any mistakes. And people go to Eretz Yisrael just because of Eretz Yisrael. But to sacrifice opportunities that they have elsewhere, they have to ask and take counsel before they do anything like that. I know cases where Gedolim said, "Do not go to Eretz Yisrael." Even Rav Yisrael Salanter, zichrono livracha, told people not to go. They have to understand where it is better for you in ruchniyus. And therefore, a person shouldn't just pick himself up and go. He has to find out if that's a place where he's going to succeed in ruchniyus. |
| (September 1992) |
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