How can a Jew love their fellow Jews if they behave inappropriately in the Holy Land
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Question
Hello, a sensitive topic question: How can a Jew living outside of Israel love their fellow Jews if some members of our people, when moving to Israel (not out of love for their true spiritual homeland, but out of a desire to boast politically, etc., unfortunately, this phenomenon exists now) behave inappropriately and represent our faith, language, culture, etc., in an ugly way, disgracing themselves and our people.. (As a result, all the antisemitic anger is directed at all of us, and how can one love their fellow Jews in such a situation?)
Answer
Shalom!
Thank you for your question.
First of all, I would like to respectfully note that the overwhelming majority of Jews make aliyah — the move to the Land of Israel — for the right and elevated reasons! Let us focus our attention on the great majority, not on a few "bad apples."
Nevertheless, you may be right, and some indeed do it for reasons far from spirituality. However, in Judaism, there is a fundamental principle: even if a person performs a mitzvah not for the sake of Heaven (not "lishma"), there is still immense value in it. The sages teach us: "Mi-toch shelo lishma, ba lishma" — "through performing not for the sake of Heaven, a person eventually comes to perform for the sake of Heaven" (Pesachim 50b).
That is, it is better to perform a mitzvah even with imperfect intentions than not to perform it at all.
Your task is to truly accept this principle in your heart. And may this grant you the strength to sincerely love every Jew and judge your fellow Jews with kindness and mercy!