here are these "klippim" (video clips) that are very popular in the "Ultra-Orthodox" circles here in Israel, called "Bardakim." They are skits that last a few minutes, which joke around about life in the religious world in Eretz Yisroel. My son showed me one, and I have to admit, it was really creative and funny. The "star" of the clip had this really crazy look on his face and was able to keep his eyes wide open as if they were bulging out and about to fall out at any moment. This certainly added to the jokes.
Then he tells me that this person stars in all of them and started the whole craze himself. More interestingly, he told me, that the whole "eye-thing" is not on purpose. It's some medical condition that he suffers from, and he has no control over it.
It turns out that when he was younger, other kids would make fun of him for this silly look he always had. When he went to his Rosh Yeshivah about this, the Rosh Yeshiva told him that he should use this condition for comedy. When he begins to laugh with it, others will laugh WITH him and not AT him. And that's exactly what he did. Thankfully, today he is married with children, doing well for himself, and is an icon for children throughout the Ultra-Orthodox world.
Can you imagine what would have happened had the Rosh Yeshiva not has the wisdom to say what he said? He literally saved a life, and in turn, brightened many others.
"And when you come to the Land…" (Vayikra 25:2)ץ
Rav Pincus asks, why is it, with Eretz Yisroel in our hands, we have yet to see the entire Jewish nation move to Israel to participate in the mitzva of settling Eretz Yisroel (according to those who count it as a mitzvah)? We see the religious world being stringent on this mitzvah and that mitzvah, yet there are so many that are still living outside of Eretz Yisroel, unwilling to take on this mitzvah?
He answers by comparing Hashem and the Jewish people to a newlywed couple. Everything is working out between them and there is peace in the house. However, they are missing one thing: an actual house! They are currently renting, but they don't own any property themselves. While this is a big thing, we know that the main thing in a marriage is that there is peace and love between the husband and wife, and not owning a house. They can go 120 years together and raise a beautiful family without a house. However, if they had a house without this peace and love, well, what good is the house? It's certainly not going to help!
Unfortunately, there is still what to improve on with our relationship with Hashem on a national level. This applies to both those living in and outside of Eretz Yisroel. Many of us who have been fortunate to move here, have nonetheless brought in certain things and attitudes that don't really belong here. So, who are we to say we are doing any better? And those who were born here? Well, they too have their things.
While according to some, there is a mitzvah to move to Eretz Yisroel. Yet it seems that perhaps Hashem feels that before we buy a house, we need to work on our marriage first. Hopefully, when that is on the upswing, we will merit seeing the entire Jewish people return to their proper homes.
With that, I wish you all a wonderful Lag B'Omer and a peaceful Shabbos.