When was the last time that we begged for something? Moshe Rabbenu begs. In this week's Portion he recounts how he prayed and pleaded and asks of Hashem, and asks again and again, only to allow him to enter into the Land of Israel, only to pass through it and see it - but the request was denied. Moshe Rabbenu didn't merit to do so.
When my family and I were looking for a place to live for the time of our Shlichut in the USA, we looked at a house in New York, in which Shani Lubetzki and her husband, Rabbi Dr. Uriel, lived. "We are making Aliyah!", they told us excitedly, "and so, the house that we rent will be available." They connected us with the homeowners - Michele and Dr. Ya'acov Michali, and then Michele told us enthusiastically that they, too, planned to make Aliyah soon. I wish this was a representative sample: that random apartment owners and random tenants that I happen to speak with - were making Aliyah this summer to Israel. This week it happened. They have arrived here in Eretz Yisrael. The Lubetzki family will live in Efrat, and the Michali family in Modi'in.
"Let me go over, I pray Thee, and see the good land that is beyond the Jordan, that goodly hill-country, and Lebanon", said Moshe Rabbenu thousands of years ago, when he looked at this land lovingly, from afar. We have arrived here. Twice we were exiled, but the desire to walk in through the gates of the good Land is still with us.
Welcome, Shani and Uriel, Michele and Ya'acov, and all their children. Thank you for reminding us how exciting and moving it is!
