The "Aliyah Day" celebrated in Israel in Cheshvan - in honor of the original Aliyah Day, starting today, when the children of Israel crossed the Jordan River - was added to the official calendar a few years ago, when many (perhaps too many) thought mass immigration was a thing of the past.
Accordingly, the view that has accompanied the day of aliyah so far has been directed mainly backwards, to our history as receptors and absorbers.
The historical examination and appreciation of past immigrants is important, of course, but this year's Aliyah Day comes to remind us that the work is far from over: Israel must continue to attract the Jews of the world.
The right to immigrate to Israel is in great demand these days, and thousands are considering exercising it.
The Jews of Ukraine fleeing the battles and bombings, the Jews of Russia fleeing tyranny and uncertainty, and perhaps tomorrow they will also be joined by the Jews of France, who see their country torn between left-wing extremism and right-wing radicalism.
It is impossible to guess the exact scenario that may befall this or that Jewish community in the Diaspora, but it can be said with certainty: the world will be like a pharmacy, and unlike others, Jews have nowhere to go.
In view of this situation, how ridiculous seems the unfortunate statement of the Minister of the Diaspora, Nachman Shai, who hurried to take up the vision of aliyah in Boidem near his inauguration.
"I did not come to encourage immigration to Israel," he declared in a post-Zionist demonstration, which is completely contrary to understanding history and reading the present.
It is time to erase his unfortunate words from the lexicon and formulate an opposite appeal to the Jews of the world.
Israel should encourage immigration, both for value reasons and for practical reasons.
There are margins in Israeli society for whom Kibbutz Galuyot is just the name of a crossroads, but for most of us it is a topical vision that has not miraculously escaped.
70 years ago, only hopeless optimists believed that millions of Jews would immigrate to Israel, and that the largest Jewish community in the world would be formed in Israel.
There is no reason why over the next 70 years millions of our people will not immigrate here.
Unlike in the past, contemporary Israel is able and needs to fight for the immigrants, and not just wait for the necessity of reality to send them looking for a new place for themselves.
Every wave of immigration leads to a further intensification of our country, so it is in the direct interest to attract more and more Jews here.
Unfortunately, even now, with masses of Jews leaving Ukraine and Russia, the potential for immigration is far from being realized.
Israel of course absorbs those who come through our gates, but what about the others who remain in Europe?
Why in nine months in office did Minister Shai fail to do anything to prepare and encourage them to come?
If the State of Israel had initiated determined actions and not just waited, if the politicians who do not come to encourage immigration had been assigned out of disgust - tens of thousands more Jews could have been persuaded to tie their fate to ours, so that Aliyah Day 2022 will not be missed today.
Were we wrong?
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