Living in the Land of Israel part 6

I would like to go further into the words of my teacher, as well as present my conclusions on the topic as a whole. Rav Kiwak was, as I understand, teaching an important general lesson. There are commandments, both Biblical and Rabbinic, that are non-negotiable. One cannot simply say "well, this Saturday I would really like to go shopping. I'll just skip Shabbat this week". That is simply not an option for someone who takes Torah seriously. On the other hand, even most Torah laws provide for situations where they are to be violated. For instance, a person who is dangerously ill MAY NOT fast on Yom Kippur. Similarly, one who is dangerously ill on Shabbat, MUST violate the Shabbat in the course of medical treatment, This is not a dispensation. This itself is a requirement of the Torah. There is no reward for going beyond this by putting one's self in danger. But there are things that are very valuable, but not actual halachah. The Zohar, as well as many other holy books, puts a tremendous emphasis on the positive effects, both on the microcosm; man, as well as on the macrocosm: the Universe, of arising in the middle of the night to pray and meditate on the themes of alienation from G-d, as well as restoration. In the days when people retired soon after nightfall, this was not difficult. Today, this is a virtual impossibility for most people. Some, nevertheless, do it without fail. Others do it occasionally. For still others, this has gone by the wayside entirely.For example, older editions of the Chabad siddur feature it, newer ones do not. Rav Kiwak's comments about the "stomach ache" mean that one must weigh the risk/benefit ratio of staying in bed or getting up in the middle of the night. As it is not halachah, one may very well say "why bother?". But the tremendous spiritual journey of Tikkun Hatzot is beyond words. On the other hand, if being up at that time will mean being sleepy the next day, unable to pray, unable to study Torah, unable to perform one's duties to one's employer, let alone to G-d, his "merit has been lost in his loss". Some people will do it anyway. Others will think about prioritizing their spiritual life. The same is true when talking about the Land of Israel. There is clearly no requirement, according to most opinions, to live there. But the sanctity of the Land, besides its many holy places where one can be renewed, are beyond belief. Every moment is a treasure; for those who do not feel a "stomach ache". Those who say otherwise, base their statements on aggadah rather than halachah; or, even worse, political ideology, disguising as religion. I will illustrate with an unpleasant experience I had a few years ago. A woman who had been my neighbor in Beit El, found me on Facebook. She told me her tales of woe. Her husband had left her, going back to the States. (Fortunately, he did give her a "get"; a bill of divorce.) She had moved to Jerusalem with their children. Unscrupulous lawyers had convinced her to sue her ex for support and were draining her of the little sustenance she had. I told her that from my knowledge and experience, such international lawsuits rarely bore fruit. But she was convinced that if, in the midst of her poverty, she pursued the legal route, she would soon be rich. She met a man who wanted to marry her. But he had a wife back in the States, whom he did not divorce, and hence the Rabbinate would not allow her to marry this man. A rogue rabbi in Israel suggested she live as his concubine. They now have children together. For months, she wrote to me about her misery; bill collectors, neighbors prejudiced against her because of her living arrangements, government oppression, police oppression, constant anxiety over Israeli government policies. I wrote her many sympathetic emails. Then, about six years ago, she posted a comment about the upcoming American elections. (I do not wish to deal with the question whether her perceptions were correct. It is the attitude I am commenting upon). She wrote "I hope that Trump loses. American Jews would prosper under Trump, and never come on aliyah. But Hillary is an antisemite, and will persecute the Jews. Then they will have no choice but to come to Israel". I was stunned. Despite all of her misery, she wanted the American Jews to come at any cost. Let them be persecuted, rounded up in camps, perhaps with many to die...so long as the bulk came "home" to share in her misery. This attitude gives a whole new meaning to the term "cognitive dissonance". I immediately unfriended her and blocked her. For all those who say that it is a Torah requirement to live in the Land, which is largely fictitious, or who say, after an antisemitic incident "the writing is on the wall.  Time to come home" J'accuse. For those who are capable of focusing on the spirituality inherent in the Land, on the sense of closeness to G-d,  while being oblivious to everything happening around them,  happy are they! I, for one, am not sympathetic to that view.