Opinion
Israel is always your home
Tal Raphael
Published: 05.12.11, 21:09
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90 Talkbacks for this article
1. Good job, Tal
David N. ,   Haifa, ISRAEL   (12.05.11)
She has got what he does not, anatomical imposibility or not.
2. the beautiful Israelis. Tal thanks
golan ,   modiin   (12.05.11)
3. If he really wants to leave
BH ,   Iowa   (12.05.11)
he would just do so. People move all the time. Perhaps as frustrated as he is, he went public hoping to be talked off the ledge. Hopefully he will convinced to stay.
4. AMEN!
Ben ,   Chutzlaaretz   (12.05.11)
Thank you Tal! Couldn't have said it better!
5. Beautiful and written with wisdom, I admire you.
Hippocrates ,   Earth   (12.05.11)
6. tal Refael
vivian ,   jerusalem   (12.05.11)
So eloquent-we love Israel, with all its wrinkles
7. Tal, you are above the level...
Dempsey ,   BP, NY   (12.05.11)
...of this discussion. Once you have the spiritual connection that you have, you are not on the same plane. Liad follows in the footsteps of idol worship. He is not going to get it like you do. It is computers, movies and meat for him. The more the better bragging. A casualty of evil.
8. Nicely put Tal. Well said and good job.
Ari ,   Kfar saba   (12.05.11)
9. sorry, but
E. G. Marsch ,   Nahariya, Israel   (12.05.11)
his descendant won't want to "return" because he won't be Jewish, won't know what aliyah or Israel is. That Magen guy--it's good to be rid of all those types, it's sort of a pruning phenomenon. Let him find bliss and meaning in Eretz Toronto.
10. I'm confused
Mike ,   London   (12.05.11)
I'm a jew born in the uk and will die here as well. Its nonsense to state that Israel is my home. I have no connection with a country obsessed by religion, on a knife edge between war and peace and is now turning into a theorocracy as far as I can see. What do I have in common with any Israelis? Nothing at all. My religion is a belief and my beliefs I keep private. The Israel Government goes to extraordinary lengths to try and encourage Jews to settle. Unfortunately, my view Israel has no future in its current state. I suspect it will turn to a one state for two people in another 20 years, in which case I might as well stay here.
11. really Dempsey,
isaac ,   US   (12.05.11)
and you wrote this talk back on what? the rock on your back yard and shipped it via the fastest mail carrier around. take an example from Tal who choose not to use insulting words to make a point (a great point i must say, even if I don't agree with all she said). looks to me that she is also far above your level.
12. Re: Mike - I am confused
Roman ,   IL   (12.05.11)
Mike, I totally understand you and the increased abuse of benefits by the religous sector (not every religious person but those ultra-orthodox young men who can contribute to the society greatly), further gap between haredi and secular really make one ponder about the place we all call HOME... If Israel would fail - it would starting rotting from inside... I hope it would never happen!
13. kol hakavod Tal :)
Ester   (12.05.11)
14. To # 10
Joseph ,   Australia   (12.05.11)
Dear Mike, From your comments, I can understand why you are confused !!!
15. A couple of points...
isaac   (12.05.11)
I just wanted to make a couple of points. One, don't judge a person until you walked in their shoes! some of you call him infected by evil while some seem to be profits who claims his kids will not be Jews... come on now. Second, I think the main point to take from Liad is that there is a lot of frustration among many young Israeli's yet no one seems to care! that some segments of the population is getting a way with more then others while contributing a lot less. Without getting into right or wrong it exist! and we must listen to one frustrations and look into the reasons. On a last note, some people that made Aliyah would argue with the "warm" welcome.
16. So we are doomed to live in Israel?
Avi ,   NYC, USA   (12.05.11)
That's what the Zionist right wing wants you to believe. I recommend that you do not believe this nonsense.
17. Michael @ 10, we always come back. Maybe not you, but yours.
leo ,   usa   (12.05.11)
18. #10 Confused.
Moisha Kapoir ,   nanuet USA   (12.05.11)
Mike, the Jews of Berlin were confused just like you . Before WWII, they were German first, Jews Second. Great Britain already has already expelled Jews twice in their History. Israel with all its faults may one be your last resort. Good luck in Londonsthan.
19. Tal:
(12.05.11)
Tal I don't agree with you. His grandson and other descendants won't even be Jewish!!!!
20. Israel is always your home
sandro ,   italy   (12.06.11)
enlighten and moving considerations by Tal Rafael, however if cost of life for those classes ( of people ) who only can rely on their salaries becomes usustainable, more concret steps are imperative .As far as I know Israeli economy is developing at fast rate , unfortunately ineqaulity and poverty too
21. Mike Confused
Daniel ,   UK / Israel   (12.06.11)
Hey Mike, Everyone has their own views and feelings towards these things. Before World War 2 Jews thought Germany, France , Italy, Belgium, etc, was there home... We both know the outcome of that.... I have full respect for England - some of my family fought and died fighting Nazies... You should always remember when the chips are down your roots go back more than 3000 years in the land of Israel, like it or not ! Also remember that Israel doesnt desire being on a Knifes edge between war and peace. We are trying to survive against vicious enemies who want us DEAD ! All Israel really wants is to continue living a normal peacfull life like most other Contries... We better hope Israel continues to exist and becomes stronger and stronger cos you never know what the future will be in cozy England.
22. Beautiful response, Tal;
Devorah   (12.06.11)
written with elegance, a reprimand and compassion by leaving the door open. So well done, Tal. Kol HaKavod!
23. It happened to me
Izzy ,   Tel Aviv   (12.06.11)
My grandparents moved away after the war of 1948 and here I am an Israeli citizen for 7 years now.
24. It's a matter of heart
Yael Schlichting ,   Raubling - Germany   (12.06.11)
Dear Tal, dear Liad, being Jewish is not only a matter of birth, it's a matter of heart. You must feel it. When we grow up as little children, we are building our identity. Our Identity is a puzzle, which we put together from a number of predications. Some pieces are just given: Your date of birth, your parents, your place of birth. Some pieces are determined, but when they aren't carved in stone, they may still cause doubts at a later point of time: Your Gender, your Religion, your name, your handedness, ...... There are individuals who dispute these predications at a later point of time. For many of us, our identity is a product, of how we have been raised. Some of us, are lucky and never need to question predications which are pieces of their identity. Others end up in deeeeep shit, because they end up changing some predications in order to build an integrated identity. Being Jewish is an gives identity! It gives me much more than just a religion. I don't want to talk about desperation. You can go wherever you want. It will not become better! It will only become different! I hear it often enough, that it will not become better, if I finally managed to migrate to Israel. By the way, a dream would come true, if I could make my gijur in Israel! Of course, it will not be exactly better than here in Germany. It will be different! But there is a quality, a height of drop, between being Jewish in Israel and being Jewish elsewhere. Maybe, we need to spend some time abroad to find out, how beautiful our country is. Maybe, some will never learn it! Certainly we cannot confer our own attitude to Judaism and to Israel onto all the others. Happiness will not come over us, if we celebrate Christmas. It will not befall us, if we change Chanukah until it reflects a gentile custom, like so many Christian holidays do. Life will not become easier, if we don't live kosher and by the cheap food at the discounter around the corner. There is something different. When I took my first flight to Israel, I first had to travel to the Munich Airport. I had to walk quite a way until I reached a heavily secured terminal way outside the actual terminal area. I was stupid enough to be in time, so I had to wait more than three hours, until buses brought us to our plain. At the beginning the hall was empty. On the one side there was a huge table-foozball. Over the time the other passengers came. Many young people! Many families with children. I really enjoyed this! Not only that I love children, but In Germany we don't have so many children AND these children behaved different! They seemed to be happier! Without knowing each other, without prejudice, they started to play together. Watching them was a great pleasure! Yes, food is expensive in Israel. You have a problem with this? It is possible to save money! 1st stop buying convenience food! I easily managed to cook for a family with seven children, bought everything at the malls in Haifa and didn't exceed our limited budget. In fact, I needed much less money than expected! You have health insurance in Israel! It is easy to end up with no health insurance in the U.S. Even in Germany, it can happen to you! You can live a simple life in Israel and nobody will look askant at you! Try to live a simple life in Germany! You will loose quiet a number of people, you once called "friends". I have a number of reasons to leave Germany. The fingers at my hands will not be enough to count half of them. I have one big reason which causes me to yearn for Israel! Guess what!
25. This is exactly what happened to our family - my mom raised
Nehama ,   Jerusalem   (12.06.11)
My dad American and mom yoredet for over 50 years. We were raised and born in America but after my first visit age 9 to Israel started asking why we are not in Israel. My parents could have cared less about Israel until the grandchildren came. It costs around 17,000 dollars to send child to Jewish day school in Los Angeles and told my parents all my kids will go to public school and assimilate unless we make Aliyah today. They knew I was right and we made Aliyah this past summer. It was hell for me trying to convince my kids in America to feel Jewish when all their classmates non Jewish and their identity was falling apart. Now they speak Hebrew and feel comfortable being Jewish in a land where they are majority and history of this land speaks to their hearts.
26. i would be interested to hear your reasons for leaving germa
eporue ,   europe   (12.06.11)
ny, yael, and the reasons why you chose israel as destination - apart from, but plus including the big one...
27. Stupid brainwashed religious chick
Alana ,   UK   (12.06.11)
What would she know about reality? She thinks there's a dude in the sky watching her every move. Let idealistic idiots like her stay in Israel- we don't need fools like her in Europe
28. There is ni point in trying to convince the Liads of the
Al   (12.06.11)
world. When God was giving out 'brains' he thought he heard 'trains' so he decided to wait for the next one. Liad is a typical kid who thinks someone owes him something. I wish him well..I wish the kids in Israel better.
29. #18-Nailed it
Jared ,   USA   (12.06.11)
This is the entire purpose of Israel, as it is our refuge as Jews. History has proved that no country would stand up to protect the Jews, until modern Israel was established. Anti-Semitism is rampant in the world. And even with so many of us in diaspora, we can all take comfort in knowing that if something happens to threaten our existence again, we have a country that will protect us. Our own country. It is our home, like it or not. And you may consider yourself British, German, Russian, American, etc. but (as History as shown) it doesn't take much for your perceived country to turn on you. Be glad that this time, if there comes to be another Holocaust on the horizon, you have somewhere to go. Peace.
30. A fish out of water
Golani ,   Vineland, USA/Israel   (12.06.11)
I am from the US, moved to Israel at 18 for 11 years, and am back in the US and have been for several years. Outside of Israel, I feel like a fish out of water. Whenever I go back to Israel to visit, I feel like I am home again. I am certainly not suffering in the US, but it is just not really home. Things are tough here right now. I do notice though that Israelis generally complain more than most. Israelis need to appreciate what they have which although not perfect, it is still a quality of life higher than most. I miss the quality of Life in Israel.
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