Dear Chief Rabbi Goldstein,
Your video describing the Jewish history and connection to the Land of Israel was moving and beautiful. Your defense of our homeland and Jerusalem was pure eloquence.
There was a parable recently told over in Torah Tidbits of two brothers who were ill with an exotic disease called Galusia, and they had to eat non-kosher South African elephant meat in order to survive. (I’m paraphrasing TT here).
The first did so with regret, but knew he had no other choice. The second brother became an international elephant meat connoisseur, writing books and making videos on how to cook South African elephant meat and make the most wonderful dishes.
One day a cure was found for their disease (discovered by an Israeli company, as it happens).
The first brother was happy and relieved beyond belief. He no longer had to eat non-kosher food.
But the second brother now how to give up his beloved South African elephant meat, the thing he learned to enjoy more than anything else in the world.
Rabbi Goldstein, your description of Israel was moving and beautiful, even as your love for South Africa is clear.
But there is now a cure for Galusia.
Please, with your congregation, please come home to Israel.
Galus is the disease, Israel is the cure.