Torah Reading: Be'halot'cha

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My Israel Connection

by Mrs. Lori Palatnik

There is no other place like the Land of Israel.

Published: May 7, 2011

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Visitor Comments: 13

(10) gabrielle, July 12, 2011 8:37 PM

do you live here now?

glad to hear all the aish people are finally coming to the holy land! its the only place to be a really true jew in every sense. kol hakavod

(9) Danny K, May 11, 2011 6:52 PM

Well said

Beautiful Lori, miss seeing you for Shabbos.

(8) orah, May 11, 2011 11:32 AM

Come make aliyah, Lori--and all the rest of the Diaspora Jews!

Intelligent, productive Jews like you are desperately needed in the State of Israel! The most meaningful contribution a Jew can make is living here with us, sending your kids to school, riding the busses, and working in Israel. I left the USA 25 years ago; it's not easy, but since when is being Jewish easy?!

(7) Anonymous, May 10, 2011 8:43 PM

Why staying abroad?

Israel waits for you - Home is where they let you in - Israel is our Home! This is the only and best place in the world - and it is ours! Being abroad means doing mitzwot just for not forgetting them. Living in Israel means completely accepting the Thora, demanding us to live here, constructing a Jewish country and preparing the arrival of Moshiah!

(6) michelle, May 10, 2011 3:01 PM

u made me cry. i lived in israel for 3 years...best place everrr!!!

(5) Lianne Lasry, May 10, 2011 2:18 PM

That was so beautiful, Thank you Lori. I have always felt that the land of Israel is our spiritual umbilical cord to GD, thats why we feel this connection.

(4) Brian, May 10, 2011 1:35 PM

Eretz Yisrael

Living in Israel is probably not for everyone but if you decide to make aliyah you won't regret it. My wife and I made aliyah from the UK on my retirement and despite some difficulties of language wouldn't ever consider going back. Celebrating Yom HaAtzmaut in our own land is joyous and every day is fulfilling. B"H we lived to make the dream reality!

(3) Rosen, May 10, 2011 12:51 AM

embracing Israel

Going to Israel and embracing the Holy Land is usually the highest moment a Jew can have in his/her Judaism. It's also great to hug other fellow Jews over there such as on Shabbaton trips to kibbutzes.

(2) Sharon, May 9, 2011 10:04 AM

the deepest connection

I always felt a strong connection with the land of Israel and finally when I was ten years old on my first trip to Israel I knew that it would one day be my home. I never allowed anything to get in the way of that goal, and finally after my university studies I moved to Israel fulfilling and 12 year old vow. Since I have married and have given birth to 5 healthy children, the oldest are not young adults, and G-d has bless us with prosperity, and for that I am thankful. Our lives perfectly imperfect. We have many struggles of different kinds, but that is not the point here. I just came back from the memorial day ceremony at the military cemetery. The fierce feelings of unity of the many diversified participants as we together honored our fallen heroes was felt by all. For several years I have participated in this small way and felt a oneness with my fellow Israelis. Lori, I completely understand your feelings and sympathize with your position. It is hard to hold on to such a compelling dream and leave it unfulfilled. Each person has his own mission and his unique struggles. May we each with G-d's help succeed in fulfilling our roles and bringing more light into the world.

(1) dani, May 8, 2011 3:10 PM

so come home

If Israel is so wonderful, what are you doing in Washington?

Daniel ratner, May 9, 2011 1:46 AM

"unless you merit it, the land will spit you out"

Lori is bringing thousands of unaffiliated jewish women to Israel very year. She is just waiting to merit it before she moves there, which will be soon.

Cathryn, May 9, 2011 2:46 AM

Lori living in Washington

In reply to Dani (May 8, 3.10pm, 'so come home'), I have heard Lori speak about living in the US in other videos. She says that at the moment she does not merit to live in Israel because G-d has work for her to do in the diaspora. And when she was in Israel once, she met several young people in one day who knew her from the US and who thanked her because she was the reason they had come to Israel - her influence.

Dani, May 9, 2011 9:06 PM

cathryn- Jews need to come home!

There are plenty of secular Jews she can influence here in Israel, and she can travel to America on occasion to do more outreach work. Hashem wants us to live here that is clear, who are we to grant exceptions from the will of Hashem?

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About the Author

Mrs. Lori Palatnik

More by this Author >

Lori Palatnik is a writer and Jewish educator who has appeared on television and radio, and is the author of "Friday Night and Beyond: The Shabbat Experience Step-By-Step," "Remember My Soul - What to do in Memory of a Loved One," and co-author of "Gossip: 10 Pathways to Eliminate It From Your Life and Transform Your Soul." She is a much sought-after international speaker, having lectured in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., Central America, South America, South Africa and Israel, including featured talks at Yale, Brown and Penn. She lives in the Washington D.C. area, with her husband, Rabbi Yaakov Palatnik. Lori is the Founder of The Jewish Women's Renaissance Project, an international initiative that brings over 1,000 women to Israel each year from ten different countries on highly subsidized programs to inspire them with the beauty and wisdom of their heritage. She is the busy mother of five children, ages 24 to 14; and her son, Zev, just finished serving as a sharpshooter in the IDF. Her weekly video blog, "Lori Almost Live" is a popular feature on aish.com, viewed by over 50,000 people each month.

Follow Lori on Twitter, @LoriAlmostLive

May 23, 2013 / 14 Sivan 5773

My Israel Connection

There is no other place like the Land of Israel.

Visitor Comments: 13

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