Forward by Yishai Fleisher of Kumah

When Rav Atiyah's book "Lech Lecha" first came to my attention, I immediately knew that we had to translate it. While it is a sharp and straight-forward call to the Jews of the Diaspora to come home to the Land of Israel, it lay dormant in Hebrew, waiting to be given an avenue to reach its intended audience in the non-Hebrew speaking world.

The time of the publication of this translation could not be more appropriate.  At Kumah, we believe that the era of ingathering to Israel has arrived, as the era of the Exile is waning. We are proud to bring you this book, which we believe will give you the conviction to rise up and awaken those around you!

Rabbi Mordechai Atiyah was born in 1898 in Aleppo and later moved to Mexico City to become the rabbi of the Aleppo Jewish community there. He was instrumental in setting up Torah classes, schools, and a ritual purification Mikva.  As a rabbi and kabbalist he always spoke much of the commandment to settle the Land of Israel, and in 1936 he came on Aliyah with his wife and nine children. For almost 20 years Rabbi Atiyah was an emissary of the rabbinate: he traveled the world collecting money for Israel and preached and wrote about the miracles of the War of Independence and the birth of the State of Israel. In 1967 he opened up a yeshiva for the study of kabbalah named "HaChayim VeHaShalom" (Life and Peace) and continued to write prolifically. Throughout, he maintained that it is incumbent upon Jews to make Aliyah, to leave the exile and make Israel their home. Rabbi Atiyah passed away in Jerusalem in 1978 and is buried on the Mount of Olives.

This book is lovingly dedicated to the memory of Chaim ben Shlomo Gove and Yoseph ben Yishayahu Masri. These two men were brothers-in-law, both born in Mexico, and both merited to ultimately make aliyah – but not in their lifetime, as their families interred them in the Land of Israel after their passing.  This book is dedicated by those families who believe in the message of Rav Atiyah, who are thankful that their beloved fathers are buried in the bosom of Eretz Yisrael, and whose children are already flourishing in the Land of Milk and Honey.

"Lech Lecha" is a short easy read, yet filled with mystical concepts that are not always easy to assimilate. Unfortunately, we Jews are good at assimilating out, but not always so good at assimilating inward. We have a lot to learn to about the centrality of our land to our culture, our nationhood, and our spirit, and that is why Kumah's 'Lech Lecha' project is so important – it teaches us to recall and relive those ancient yearnings, and to manifest them in the modern setting of the State of Israel on the Land of Israel.

We are proud to host and disseminate such a clear Torah message during this age of confusion. Harken to the book's message and you will hear a voice of clarity that will guide you home.

Yishai Fleisher

Kumah