Bored stiff, you get a mitzva for every “dalet amot” you walk in any area of Israel! That means any piece of ground I’ve not yet walked upon, can gain me more Olam Ha’Ba.
(My hubby is a Rosh Kollel; he told me this a while ago but I don’t recall the source.)
After stayng here in Netivot throughout last winter’s war (Oferet Yitzuka) and witnessing firsthand Hashem’s miracles and hashgacha pratit, I ask myself how anyone can compare living abroad to living here? Yes, there are imperfections. Yes, there is polarization and not enough ahavat chinam. However, the chesed here; the warmth between your average everday Israeli, no matter what his religious status, and primarily the closeness you feel to Hashem…. these things make everything worthwhile!There is perfection in only one place- Olam Ha’ba, and until we get there, Israel is the closest you can get!!
As a student in Touro College in the mid ’70’s I felt more fear living in N.Y.C. than I do here in Netivot, kassams and all. And, if someone here ever shouts “help,” people come running from all directions to do just that. Come! You won’t regret it!!