What does Israel mean to you?

For years, this was a theoretical question for many people who live in the diaspora. Given Israel's war against Hamas and its army of terror, however, the question has gained additional resonance and, in some ways, can no longer be put off; it demands an answer. With Israel under military attack, and the Jewish people experiencing verbal attacks unlike any seen since World War II, Jews outside of Israel have been forced to consider what kind of relationship they have and want to have with the Jewish state. 

Scott was honored to host Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, the cofounder and executive director of Nefesh B’Nefesh, in order to ask him some of these questions, and to learn about what has changed, and what hasn’t - since October 7th. They talked about the reasons that a person should and should not make aliya, questions about the independent integrity of diaspora Jewry, the relationship that exists and should exist between Jews in and outside of Israel, if there has been greater interest in aliya over the past four months, and more.

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Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com