“Shouldn’t we encourage readers to prioritize Eretz Yisrael rather than settle for yet another galus community?”
Thank you for sharing Rabbi Aryeh Kerzner’s incredible article on parnassah. His words were both insightful and powerful, and I’d like to add my own perspective.
Two years ago, I moved to a well-known out-of-town community —heralded as an exceptionally warm and welcoming place. In some ways, that reputation is well-deserved. People greet each other with big smiles, a heartfelt “Good Shabbos,” and the community truly comes together for simchahs.
But beyond the surface, I’ve found that warmth doesn’t always translate into inclusion. In the time I’ve been here, I haven’t really been invited to Shabbos or Purim meals. I don’t feel fully at home in most of the shuls, because I’m not “part of the olam.” And most of all, when I reach out to people for business opportunities, for networking, for a way to make a parnassah — I am often met with silence. My emails go unanswered, my efforts to connect unacknowledged.
So, I turn to you — anyone in these communities who read Rabbi Kerzner’s article — please, take a moment and ask yourself: Is he talking to me? Can I do more to help others find their way in business? Is my warmth and friendliness truly inclusive? Do I extend it only to those in my circle, or also to those who are looking for a foothold, a chance, a way in?
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