Anyone familiar with Rabbi Avigdor Miller’s ideology knows well his negative views of traveling for a vacation. He always stressed that if you are fortunate to receive time off from your daily burdens you should be running very fast to the Beis HaMidrash and not some hotel somewhere. Furthermore, he frequently pointed out the abundance of opportunities to grow in Torah that exist in the large Torah cities in contrast to hick towns. Also, it is common knowledge that vacation areas (like the Catskills etc.) provide a whole family of Nisyonos that are nor present at home. Rabbi Miller also expressed explicit dissent from touring in Eretz Yisroel as a vacation activity. It is simply a waste of precious time that could be utilized for learning many pages of Gemarah.
Lately, I have noticed that it has become a massive custom for young Jewish couples, especially newlyweds, to come to Eretz Yisroel during the summer Bein HaZmanim. From where in the world did this strange Minhag arise? Besides the time factor mentioned above, there is another point: Eretz Yisroel is not a tourist attraction. It is a Holy place to serve Hashem. Many Americans come to Eretz Yisroel and add to the problems here, not the solution. For example: The Kossel. The Kossel is a mourning site, where we should be morning and crying over past and present, bodily and spiritual, destructions of Klall Yisroel at the hands of Goiyim as well as Jewish enemies. What transpires, however? Many tourists think that the Kossel is some sort of photo studio to take pictures with their friends and buddies. It’s like going to your grandpa’s grave and taking pictures of yourself smiling while leaning on the Matzevah!
I am not saying that we don’t need times for refreshment and renewal. Life sometimes is very stressful and the need to change the atmosphere is sometimes very legitimate. But let’s utilize the summer as real authentic Jews who think before they go anywhere and let us plan a vacation which will truly bring us closer to Hashem and Torah learning.
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