ByAARON KATSMAN

JUNE 5, 2026 21:29

Following the turmoil surrounding judicial reform, I have received steady inquiries from residents pondering a move abroad. Roughly one or two people contact me each week, noting that the country feels different from the one they knew and weighing relocation options. Their chosen destinations often surprise me, given the sharp global increase in antisemitism.

Online platforms also show new immigrants voicing frustration with daily life here. Beyond the impact of a weaker dollar on American retirees who made aliyah, many cite differences from their former routines and environments.

These comments overlook the fact that the nation has faced an existential conflict for the past two and a half years. Reading such remarks is both maddening and saddening. Constructive feedback would be welcome, yet much of it lacks that quality and proves disheartening.

Complaints from immigrants and would-be immigrants have historical roots stretching back millennia. This week the Torah portion recounts the episode of the spies. God instructs Moses to dispatch a leader from each tribe to scout the land the Israelites are poised to enter, and Moses outlines the details they must observe and report.

Upon returning, the spies declare: We reached the land you sent us to. It is flowing with milk and honey, and here is its fruit. Yet the inhabitants are powerful, the cities fortified and immense. We cannot advance against them, for they are stronger than we are. The land devours its dwellers, and the people we saw are of great stature. To ourselves we seemed like grasshoppers, and so we appeared to them. Numbers 13:27-33.

The account is puzzling. The spies had recently witnessed miracles that toppled Egypt, the dominant power, and secured their liberation. The subsequent narrative of spies sent by Joshua reveals that the land's residents were terrified by those same events.

They understood conquest was imminent. Rahab informed the spies: I know the Lord has given you the land, and dread of you has overtaken us; all the land's inhabitants are melting away before you. Joshua 2:9

Lubavitcher Rebbe: Explaining the Negative Report

As noted previously, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z"l references the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. The Rebbe highlights that the Torah stresses these men were leaders and tribal heads who recognized God's presence among them and understood the divine promise of a conquerable land. Why, then, did they return with discouraging news?

He explains their wilderness existence involved constant closeness to God: water from a rock, manna from heaven, surrounding clouds of glory, and ongoing miracles. In the land they would wage wars, till soil, sow crops, reap harvests, and maintain an army, economy, and social services.

They would need to function like other nations in the ordinary physical world. Their direct bond with God might shift. Though He would remain evident in rainfall, agricultural blessings, and the future Temple visited thrice yearly, the visible, intimate miracles of the desert would fade. The spies dreaded not defeat but triumph.

Rabbi Sacks: Concerns Over What Success Brings

Rabbi Sacks adds that fear of success is equally genuine. People claim to seek achievement, yet often harbor unspoken worries about new duties, others' heightened expectations, and related pressures. Without encouragement, they may never reach their potential.

Regarding personal finances, it is simple to grumble and assign blame for setbacks. Following core principles consistently can lead to positive results. Prioritizing long-term investment objectives outweighs satisfying immediate desires.

Pay yourself first by making saving a habit. Spending before saving typically leaves little or nothing to set aside. Select solid investments and retain them over extended periods. Though routine, this approach has proven effective for wealth accumulation.

Financial success is attainable with discipline and a readiness to delay immediate rewards.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Portfolio Resources Group, Inc. or its affiliates.

Aaron Katsman authored Retirement GPS: How to Navigate Your Way to A Secure Financial Future with Global Investing (McGraw-Hill). He is a licensed financial professional in the United States and Israel, assisting clients with United States investment accounts. Securities are offered through Portfolio Resources Group, Inc. Member FINRA, SIPC, MSRB, FSI. Contact (02) 624-0995, visit www.aaronkatsman.com, or email aaron@lighthousecapital.co.il.