Once a week, they give out a certain religious newspaper for free in various neighborhoods. On my way into the house after evening services this evening [known as "my-riv"], I stopped to take a peek at "what's new". So since it is vacation time, they have an ad/s to go to Chutz La-aretz on vacation.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
But wait!! We are in Eretz Yisrael! The gemara says and the Rambam [Melachim 5-9] paskened that it is forbidden to leave EY!! I then saw a disclaimer by the editors of the newspaper that they are in no way condoning trips to Chu"l nor are they testifying that the atmosphere in the hotels etc. will be appropriate [by the standards of Bnei Brak from whence are a large portion of the readers - it certainly won't be]. Everybody should ask their own Rav.
Oh me oh my!!
This newspaper is on a campaign to convince people that it is forbidden for Beis Yaakov girls to get a degree [in an all-female all religious environment]. This newspaper is constantly decrying the negative influence of the Internet and asserts that it shouldn't be used [unless under very strict conditions and certainly no smartphones]. I once read an article there about how important it is to wear a hat and jacket when going out on the street. There are just some of the topics. Now - The prohibition against girls getting degrees so that they can help support their large and poor families [for men this is a non-starter because they all must be in kollel] is mentioned nowhere in any source. Internet - certainly a serious issue but there is no source to produce a blanket prohibition. If the Internet is assur then it is also assur to go to Manhattan which is FILLLLLLEEEDD with pritzus of all sorts. [Important note: The Internet has ruined many homes and many lives]. Hats and jackets on the streets? For davening yes [I am aware that the vast majority of my readers do not wear hats and jackets for davening and that doesn't change the fact that you are faaaar better Jews than I am in every way] - but on the street? A nice custom perhaps but no source. There are lots of things which are strictly speaking permitted that this newspaper would never condone or even rails against.
But leaving the ארץ חמדה, the SPECIAL GIFT G-d gave the Jewish people that we have merited to return to after 2000 BITTER YEARS in the diaspora, against the gemara, against the Rambam - THAT they advertise - in living color [with a disclaimer on a different page]. Of course, there are reasons that it is permitted to leave under certain circumstances, but that is the exception to the rule. The rule is clear as day "אסור לצאת מארץ ישראל".
SO WHY DO THEY PRINT THESE ADVERTISEMENTS????
There is but one answer and one answer only. MONEEEEYYYYY!!!!!! They receive money in exchange. What other explanation could there be?
Which leads me to ask the question I have asked MANY times before - Is money EVERYTHING??? I mean - Shouldn't our values trump our desire for money? [Shouldn't we leave Trump out of this?!] If one is with G-d and Halacha, should exceptions be made for a few dollars??
I left the newspaper outside my building and didn't bring it in..... My own little protest in honor of our very holy land!:-)
