Pre-empting the mass exodus of Jews to their homeland

The stuff of fantasy has made its way to real-life possible situations. Pre-empting a worst-case scenario, the government of Israel has wisely decided to prepare for a catastrophic event which could affect all world Jewry.

Presenting the following cataclysmic series of circumstances, the dim picture is painted, “A country is collapsing – the economy is in shambles, the security situation has deteriorated due to widespread riots as residents seize what they can, and the 45,000 Jews that reside there are at risk.”

Just a few short years ago, most of us could not have imagined such a predicament, but during these times, as we hear daily reports of major unrest, mass shootings, looting, as an alternative to purchasing goods, rioting and violent protests, nothing seems too far-fetched anymore.

Who would have thought that the Middle-East, where non-stop conflict, accompanied by rockets and the invasion of bloodthirsty terrorists, would end up being the safest place on the planet for a Jew? 

But that makes sense when you stop and consider the full meaning of a Jewish homeland, equipped with sophisticated, cutting-edge weapons and a skilled military, wholly devoted to the security and well-being of its citizenry.

While many of us might think that all the problems begin once you get here, the real problem could actually be just the ability to get here. The next question is how the onslaught of a mass arrival of thousands, each week, would be handled by a relatively small group of clerks who, up until now, have not exactly done such a bang-up job!

Amidst the troubling concerns of Jews, being absorbed into the country is, perhaps, the most worrisome of all possible scenarios. What happens if there is an attack on the electric grid of nations, making it impossible for planes to take off?

Such an event would leave millions of Jews trapped in their country of origin, unable to escape whatever comes down the pike. It is because of these doomsday projections that many Jews are already beginning to plan their emergency exit, so as not to end up amongst those who said, “this could never happen here.”

That is also why the government of Israel is not taking any chances, as they prudently interpret the signs of unrest, along with the unprecedented levels of antisemitism that are being felt globally.

Trying to cover all bases, the exercise which took place, just a few days ago, focused on “four stages of immigration: extraction from abroad, reception in Israel, short-term housing and long-term absorption.”

In the distressing event that electricity is temporarily curtailed, everything would hinge upon physical work to evacuate their diaspora communities, the organization of food and medical resources, transportation, hygienic issues and the provision of all other necessities.

This means that the involvement of other nations might be essential as people are quickly moved around and then eventually flown to Israel from places whose electric grid is still intact. It goes without saying that the sharing of information would be a crucial component between other countries willing to help accommodate those trying to escape.

Unlike the normal process, involving lots of paperwork and documentation, Israel would have to adjust their expectations, given the rush exodus which would be the result of escaping Jews who are vulnerable to impending persecution.  

On that basis, last names, personal accounts and the corroboration of friends and family already here, may be the only legitimate and credible information upon which to rely, corroborating that these people are truly Jewish.

All of this would require tremendous manpower – everything from retired or former airport workers, needed to process the entry of these new immigrants along with multiple translation services. Of course, in the event of individuals having been extracted from incidents of violence, medical services may be the first priority before everything else.

Certainly, there will have to be extra attention given to people with disabilities and special needs, as well as children who may be traveling without parents or other responsible adults. 

The multitude of details is so vast, when considering such an extreme catastrophe of apocalyptic proportions, that getting used to the ensuing chaos will, undoubtedly, be the outcome of these unprecedented situations which few of us have ever experienced. 

The mere fact that immigration and absorption ministers are thinking along these lines is already a step in the right direction. It means that they have no intention of abandoning Jews who might not otherwise meet today’s excessively stringent Interior Ministry standards which seem focused on weeding out more Jews than what they take in.

Unlike those bureaucrats who have chosen to follow the lead of the ultra-orthodox coalition members, who believe that only their brand of orthodox Judaism is authentic, it seems that Aliyah Ministry director-general Avichai Kahana is committed to saving the lives of all Jews.  

Despite the differences they may have when it comes to their theological beliefs, their ethnic affiliation already makes them eligible to be accepted as citizens in their ancestral homeland. It’s refreshing to think that Kahana realizes that Jews are not a one-size-fits-all monolith. 

Kahana, apparently up for what he understands could be a formidable challenge, says, “We are really good in emergencies…even after two weeks, they (people) will be fine.  They will be embraced, and they will have a place to sleep and a place to study. The children will have educational frameworks. Now, the emphasis will be on acting quickly in emergencies and everyone is running on adrenaline.”

There is no doubt that many reading this article might be skeptical of such a whirlwind event suddenly taking place throughout the world, but today’s radical changes attest to the shocking narrative foretold by the Jewish prophets. The fact that most of us, born after W.W.II, have lived in countries where order and tolerance have prevailed, makes these types of bizarre preparations almost unimaginable.

But as violent occurrences continue to escalate, both geographically and in their intensity, more and more people will come to the conclusion that time has run out for them. When that happens, watch out, because it will be the beginning of the divine intervention spoken of by the prophet Zechariah who recorded all that would happen. 

As nations turn against Israel, the Almighty will take charge, and set things right. From the looks of things, we’re already witnessing a move in that direction!