Good News From Israel: "And the Children (of Israel) Return to their Borders"

Today, history was made... and Ariel Sharon was at the center of it...

No, I am not talking about Sharon's decision to seal-off Gush Katif from the rest of the Jewish People and State of Israel, in anticipation of the (planned) upcoming destruction of the Jewish communities there.

So, what am I talking about?

Today, 520 Jews from North America - 2 plane loads - made Aliyah - courtesy of one of the greatest Jewish organizations in the history of the Jewish People and the State of Israel, namely, Nefesh B'Nefesh.

These 520 olim mark the single largest group of Jews to ever make Aliyah from North America, and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was on hand to greet them.

The Jerusalem Post reports:

"Since it began offering financial, logistical and emotional support for North Americans wishing to make Aliyah, Nefesh B'Nefesh-arranged Aliyah has grown from 500 in 2002 to just under 3,000 last year. This year, with twice as many flights - eight - as last year, the organization expects to bring as many as 4,000 people, according to spokesman Charlie Levine".

It is easy to assume that the only news coming out of Israel these days deals with Israel "Disengaging" from the Land of Israel, retreating in the face of terror, and a collective effort to run and hide from our collective Jewish destiny.

Today's events, however, show the very opposite. The 520 olim that Nefesh B'Nefesh brought today from North America represent the true future of the Jewish People and the Jewish State. These 520 Jews have chosen to make Aliyah, to come home, and take an active role in helping to fulfill the destiny of the Jewish People. They recognize that the future of the Jewish People is, in fact, in Israel. These are Jews who did not run from anti-Semitism or economic hardship - and they are coming at a time where on paper, it would seem to make absolutely no sense.

It is ironic that Prime Minister Sharon was on hand to greet the olim on the same day that he ordered Gush Katif a closed military zone until after the (planned) "disengagement". I truly believe that in the years to come, through the generous assistance of Nefesh B'Nefesh, thousands upon thousands of North American Jews will return home to Israel by making Aliyah, and that they will have the opportunity to live and visit in all parts of the Land of Israel that they so desire.

Today's events represent the Jewish answer to "Disengagement". The Jewish People are not disengaging from the Land of Israel, rather they are returning home to it, by choice, embracing the Land of our forefathers, the Land of Israel - "V'Shavu banim l'gvulam"!!!