"WE MADE ALIYAH, NOW WHAT?"

Panel discussion at the Cultural Center in Shdema, July 24, 2009.The moderator, Sharon Katz, editor of VOICES, kept things moving right along among a range of speakers: Rabbi Moshe Lichtman, author of Eretz Israel in the Parasha; Rabbi Yitzhak & Geula Twersky; Zahava Englard.
SHARON KATZ, of Voices Magazine
Thanks to two people (Americans understand real freedom and equality):
John Wayne imparted to the American people a real feeling of winning, a feeling of triumph, that good triumphs over evil, a feeling of fighting for what we believe in.
The second person is John F. Kennedy. He taught all Americans something I don't think any generation will ever forget: "Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country!"
I don't find one American who comes to Israel who is not willing to give to his country. Who actually tries figure out things he can willingly and voluntarily do for his country.
RABBI LICHTMAN from Beit Shemesh
One of the important components of making aliyah is a spiritual aliyah.
GAME PLAN FOR A SPIRITUAL ALIYAH: It's different for every individual because it's determined by what one can handle…. Some children have certain disabilities that hinder them from learning so they can't be expected to excel as others, nor can they be tested as others. One student may be required to take the test without open books, while another may be tested with an open book. Both may make a 100% on their test, but the handicapped child needed more assistance, he needed the open book.
Hashem does the same. He says, "I know your background, how you were brought up, and your limitations." You are expected to reach a certain level. Maybe you were one who was never meant to reach a 100%, maybe only 70%. Hashem is pleased with everyone who reaches the level he is required to reach.
ZAHAVA ENGLARD from Efrat
We need to refocus…
We need to acknowledge our role as a new generation of Zionists, take charge of it, rekindling that flame that brought us here and rekindle the Zionistic fervor throughout this country.
We are here, not merely because we decided to be here. We are here because Hashem put us here. To rejuvenate the pioneering spirit, to hold on to every inch of our land, to educate our fellow Jews here in this land and abroad that the days of the ghetto mentality are over.
We are here to refuse the doubts, the pressures from within the current Israeli society; to refuse to be absorbed into a defeatist state of affairs, and rather, to rectify the inequities of our present day leadership to be a formidable force to reckon with. A force of determination, commitment, selflessness and of emunah (faith).
RABBI TWERSKY from Neve Daniel
One might think, the purpose of having Eretz Israel is for the Jews to be able to live here. It's just the reverse. The purpose of living here is for us to have Eretz Israel.
REBBETZIN GEULA TWERSKY
(Photo: L-Rebbetzin Twersky, R-Yehudit Katzover) METAPHOR: "We have become a global society that is glued to the television. Television has taught us to sit back and watch somebody else live a life. That cultural mindset is a mindset that we need to leave behind….
"I remember when living in chutz la-aretz (abroad) feeling like I was watching Jewish history like watching a TV set, and I was watching the performance of mitzvoth like watching a show….
"Making aliyah made me realize so many things about living Judaism, understanding that the Torah, the Tenach is not a TV."
(Whereas, Geula used to read and teach the stories about Yehoshua being told to put his feet on the Land, she now actually puts her feet on those places she read about.)

COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE
RABBI YORAM DURANI from Nokdim:
Every person who makes aliyah brings their own flavor to contribute to Israel. And what the American aliyah is contributing is a real sense of democracy. The Americans really believe in democracy, whereas, most Israelis don't even know what it is much less even believe in it. The second thing is the real feeling of freedom and equality. And this (education) is the responsibility of the Western olim in Israel.
MIMI
Referring to olim from the Western world: Those active in democracy have been translated as 'activists' here in Israel. On the other hand, if you look at the various ethnic groups who have made aliyah over the past number of years, we (of the western olim) have the poorest record of success in the political arena in terms in being a force and a power in politics in Israel. How can we get more political power?