For most American Jews, the question must be how should we go on vacation, not whether we should go on vacation. This coming week is the beginning of yeshiva break for many American yeshiva day schools and high schools. I am aware that there have been calls that families should not go on vacation during yeshiva break this year because of the situation in Israel, and I understand the reason. In Hilchot Teshuva (3:11), the Rambam writes that a person who separates himself from the Jewish people and does not take part in their hardships, but rather goes on his own individual path as if he is from another nation, does not have a portion in the world to come. How can we go on vacation when our brothers and sisters are putting their lives on the line defending us and our land? How can we spend money on vacation when all of Israel finds itself in an economic crisis because of the war? While our soldiers are at war, we should spend most of our vacation acting on their behalf, learning on their behalf, davening on their behalf and doing chesed on their behalf. We should use the money that we saved for a vacation to support Israel at this time.

I know that this is an uncomfortable topic of discussion, especially........

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