SHELACH LECHA: Dual Loyalties? |
“How was life in the old country?” the sabra asked Yuri, a new immigrant to Israel from the old Soviet Union.
“I couldn’t complain,” came the answer.
“But I thought Soviet Jews were persecuted and prevented from actively being Jewish. Weren’t those reports true?” the questioner persisted.
“I couldn’t complain,” again came the reply.
Exasperated, the Israeli demanded: “If things were so good back there, what made you come to Israel?”
“You don’t understand,” Yuri replied. “Back there I couldn’t complain. That’s why I came here to Israel where I can complain!”
Home is where one can complain. (Who else but our own would listen!) Only when the fledglings grow and leave the nest do they come to appreciate its virtues. If, when we are away from home, we still decry it, something is dreadfully wrong with home. And that was certainly true regarding Yuri’s home in the former USSR!
We aren’t at all surprised when Yuri leaves his old homeland without a tear, without an ounce of regret. Nor are we perturbed if, once settled in........