The following is a recently discovered video of the Belzer Rebbe shlit”a, Rav Yissachar Dov Rokeach, visiting a new school dedication in Antwerp in 1994 on the occasion of a new building dedication for a Belzer girls’ school. His primary message? “What are you doing in chutz la’aretz?!”

WATCH:

Here is a transcription of the video:

Those of you who live in Chutz La’aretz, I want to ask you a question:

Why are you here? 

What are you doing in Chutz La’aretz?

Your place is in Eretz Yisroel!

And you continue to build magnificent buildings and palaces?

What is with the pasuk “And you should inherit it and dwell within it?

That according to many Rishonim it is a Mitzvas Asei min HaTorah, even B’Zman Hazeh. 

And even according to the Rishonim that did not accept it as a mitzvas asei B’Zman Hazeh, that is only min haTorah, but mid’rabban, it is surely a mitzva even B’Zman Hazeh to live in Eretz Yisrael, just as the Rambam paskins and also in the Shulchan Aruch, Even haEzer. 

“And everyone should go up to Eretz Yisroel.” 

Indeed, it is true, there are countries, specifically Belgium, which is a country that welcomes guests, and treats the Jews as good and loyal citizens. However, this is only when the Jews feel like guests. If, Heaven forbid, they forget that they are here only as guests and think they are local citizens, the non-Jews will, Heaven forbid, remind the Jews that they are only guests. 

Anyone who wishes can look in the Ya’avetz in his Siddur – the Siddur of Rabbi Yaakov Emden – what he wrote in his introduction. And you will see in the Midrash Koheles: “Better is a handful with tranquility in Eretz Yisroel than both hands full of toil in Chutz La’aretz.” 

And the midrash in Lech-Lecha says: “It is better to sleep in the deserts of Eretz Yisroel and not to sleep in the flats of Chutz La’aretz.” 

And repeatedly are the words of Chazal, without a limit.

And even though, truthfully, in the previous generations, our fathers and rabbis did not make Aliya to Eretz Yisroel, these were different times. These were times when Aliya itself was dangerous. There were difficulties earning a living. These were times when education for children in Eretz Yisroel based on religious values was scarce and full of challenges. These were times when leaning Torah in Eretz Yisroel was not on a prominent level like Chutz La’aretz, and therefore the Gedolei Yisroel did not make Aliya to Eretz Yisroel, and in any case, the people also did not make Aliya, except a minority. A small amount there and a small amount there. 

However, today, Baruch Hashem, there is parnassa in Eretz Yisroel, and definitely, definitely, the chinuch in Eretz Yisroel, of the Bnei Yisroel, is on a higher level than that of Chutz La’aretz, and there are many Yeshivos, with thousands of talmdidm, and Kollels that avreichim sit and learn Torah. And the limud haTorah in general stands on an extremely elevated level that has never been seen before in the entire world. 

Then there is no doubt that today there is no better place for a Jew to live in the entire world than Eretz Yisroel. And even though it is known to everyone that the rulership in Eretz Yisroel is not run by Jews who are yerei Hashem, but Heaven Forbid, the opposite. It is really true. This is a great agony, and therefore one should daven, “And I will cut down all the pride of the wicked and the pride of the righteous shall be exalted.”