Myth #5: The Rebbe never went to Israel

People love asking the question. It's as if Chabad is perfect, but they have the pin, the fine point that's going to pop every Lubavitcher into smithereens. There's always a chin-up ego type of stance in the person asking the question. They're thinking, "yea, how's he gonna answer THIS one?"

Why didn't the Rebbe ever go to Israel?

Behind the question is a deeply rooted missionary mindset. It’s a holy checklist. Like no one is seeing the soul of what it's supposed to mean to go to Israel.

What encourages this twistedness is when the Chabadnik being asked actually answers this weak "why?" question by opening their answer with, "because.."

There is no "because..."

The real response isn't an answer. It's a halt on all the questioners premises.

Not only did the Rebbe go to Israel, he was there all the time.

And no, he did not fly El Al. He did not have jet lag, and did not have to deal with the time delay.

His trips were more direct than that.

He didn’t go to Israel, he lived Israel. He breathed Israel.

The Rebbe lived Israel through all his thoughts, speeches, and actions.

His involvement was real, sacred, and always on target.

Get the facts, people.

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Because the Rebbe lived Israel, he was able to stand in line for hours and, with his clear vision and positivity, encourage questioning travelers to travel to Israel no matter what the situation.

Because the Rebbe lived Israel, he was able to tell thousands of people not to fear.

Because the Rebbe lived Israel, he was able to turn the shame of crippled Israeli soldiers into deep respect, admiration, and praise.

Because the Rebbe lived Israel, he ensured everyone’s safety when the country was barraged with missiles. No one person was hurt.

Because the Rebbe lived \Israel, thousands of people put on Tefillin for Israel’s safety.

Because the Rebbe lived Israel, everyone became a soldier. Even tiny children marched.

Because the Rebbe lived Israel, his mourning for a soldier’s death was real. After one particular massacre, the Rebbe didn't leave his room for days. He felt everything.

Because the Rebbe lived Israel, he was in continual contact with leaders and politicians. In many ways, the government was in his hands.

Because the Rebbe lived Israel, he knew the issues. He was unafraid to be real about G-d’s instructions.When things got hazy, the Rebbe simple told the world “we’re not allowed.” He wasn’t afraid to say, “This is what G-d wants, this is his will.”

Because the Rebbe lived Israel, he was able to convince two members of Perez’s cabinet to walk out, and Perez never became Prime Minister. The Rebbe would not sit idly and allow him to win with plans to give Arafat the whole West Bank.

Because the Rebbe lived Israel, he was able to give information to hundreds at farbrengens. He knew exactly where American money was going, what the Arab nations next moves were, and the physical details of the Mideast terrain.

Because the Rebbe lived Israel, newspapers were eager to herald the Rebbe’s prophecies, directives, and comfort with the world.

Because the Rebbe lived Israel, everyone there knew his voice was the strongest. When the Rebbe had a stroke and couldn’t speak, Rabin said, “now we can do what we want.”

Because the Rebbe lived Israel, there are countless stories of how Israel was saved through his intervention, his speaking out, his unwavering strength and clarity.
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The list goes on. We don't even know the half of it.

The Rebbe had a fiery clarity and focus when it came to Israel and the needs of our nation in times of crisis. He felt every vibration. He didn’t miss a beat.

Ask a Shliach in Israel, "What do you think about the fact that the Rebbe never came to Israel?" and he will answer, "What? Never came to Israel? Where did you hear that?”

Ask a soldier in Israel, and he will smile and whip out his picture of the Rebbe, kiss it, and say “The Rebbe is here, my friend.”

For Israel, the Rebbe was a true leader, a freind, a healer, a truth ringer. It is his message and light, the realness of G-d’s truth in this world, that are the only positivity in Israel today.
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The real question is whether the Rabbis who do indeed appear to live in Israel are actually present in the land. They seem to be there, we hear of them every now and then.

Our ‘leaders” in Israel. It’s laughable. All they do is whisper.

The Rebbe got children to rally.

As the Rabbis in Israel whispered.

The Rebbe refused to be passive.

As the Rabbis in Israel whispered.

The Rebbe cried.

As the Rabbis in Israel whispered.

The Rebbe called the Prime Minister.

As the Rabbis in Israel whispered.

The Rebbe said it like it is, and loud.

As the Rabbis in Israel whispered.

The Rebbe himself is known to have asked, “Where is the voice of the religious?”

And, well, the Rabbis in Israel just whispered.

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So, this question about the Rebbe visiting Israel. It’s got to go.

If you ever get asked this question, just smile.

Then hit them with the truth.

And now, for the inside.

This picture tells me more about the situation in Israel than any so-called news.

Why do we act like there's no inside?

There is an inside to all this.

I saw this picture, and felt less detached.

Being detached is the worst.

The Rebbe and a tattoed Israeli brought me back to life.

NOW.

I hate wanting Moshiach with this "enough is enough" tone.

A Muslim walks into the Seattle Jewish Federation and opens fire. All of a sudden, I want Moshiach.

Hearing about many deaths over the past weeks. All of a sudden, I want Moshiach.

Bombs falling on the cener of my heart - Tzfas. All of a sudden, I want Moshiach.

Walking through the airport, and all the newspapers scream about Israel. All of a sudden, I want Moshiach.

Feeling the Tisha B'av hunger in my stomach. And I want Moshiach.

It's sick. Does it have to take pain and suffering to awaken within me a genuine desire for Moshiach. Am I this numb?

I wish my yearning transcended all this craziness, all the confusion, all the losses.

I wish that, in every situation, I had a vision; an eagerness.

Where is it?

Where is it when I am strong and laughing?

I just wish everything would just calm down, so I can find the truth in this yearning.

I wish I could show G-d that I'm for real about this.

That, no matter what, I want Moshiach NOW.

Just because he wants it, and he wants me to want it.

Now.

Rebbe, wow...you really didn't have to.

Ever since I started really striving to understand, learn from, and connect with the Rebbe, my life has seen countless blessings.

I have the Rebbe to thank...for a lot of things.

But I never thought he would get me a laptop.

I mean, come on.

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I'm at the Bais Chana woman's program in Minnesota right now.

I was just on the teen program, prepared to spend the next month home, but a conversation with Rabbi Friedman led to a change of plans.

"Why don't you come to the woman's program? You can hang out and do some writing for us."

So, here I am.

I quickly realized a laptop was essential to my future, all these opportunities. I knew it would happen, but not so soon. Not so "on demand."

The laptop came because I have a mission. The Rebbe believes in me, and he just couldn't wait.

So, it's exciting.

I'm ready to turn this thing into a mission-invested, spark-lifting, simcha-spreading, and totally Moshiach-bringing machine.

And the Rebbe...

I just can't help but smile.

He's just so tech-savvy.

(We're currently looking to find a fitting name for the laptop. Any ideas?)

How BAD do you want to be GOOD?

Would you decide to care, once and for all?

Would you put aside the definitions, and follow the truth?

Would you believe in a G-dly soul? Would you listen to it?

Would you stay awake at night?

Would you change your self-definition, with the snap of a finger?

Would you embrace the rollercoaster?

Would you sing a different song?

Dance to a different beat?

Would you smile more?

Would you listen?

Would you ask all your questions?

Would you stop everything?

Would you refuse to let go?

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You want to be so good. So badly.

How badly?

You would move at a thousand miles an hour, all to be good.

You would refuse to see the barriers, all to be good.

You would be dangerous, risky, and absolutely crazy - all to be good.

Nothing can hold you back. You know it. You've seen it. You've felt it.

You will shout it to the world, and you'll ask everyone...

...How bad do YOU want to be good?

Back from Bais Chana? Never.

After a month without blogging,
my last post and this one are incredibly connected.
The Rebbe’s vision. Redemption. Bais Chana.

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I'm back from a very intense, enlightening, growth-filled and soul-lifting month that was the Bais Chana teen program.

When I came to my window seat on the plane, I asked the two passengers in my row it they would rather have my seat, since I never manage to sleep on planes. They both declined, and when I took my seat, I feel right asleep. When I woke up during landing, the man sitting next to me said, “Well, you slept well for someone who never sleeps on planes.”

I just smiled.

It’s been a while since I’ve exerted so much of my body and soul energy. I am physically exhausted, that’s for sure.

But the soul… it’s different. The more you exercise the soul, the better it breathes. The more alive it feels. And apparently, you can put a thousand pound boulder on it, and it will still kick.

Bais Chana was full of soul-kicking young women. After spending time with them, life will never be the same. It can’t.

There’s so much I want to share, but it seems like words just weren’t created to describe experiences with such a high soul-involvement.

All of it has sped right to my core. Nothing is left untouched. The knowledge, the hopes, the fears, the laughs, the tears - they will seep through everything that exists in my future, starting now.