Lech Lecha 5786 – Avraham to Oleh Chadash

In 1948 the first Oleh was born. Avraham Avinu was born in Ur Kasdim nearly two millenia after the world was created. At age three he already was inquisitive enough to realise the nonsense of the paganism of his surroundings and seek out the true One G-d.

However, it was only much later in life that Avraham started to move to Eretz Yisroel. There is a debate amongst the Rishonim as to how many journeys did Avraham make. The issue in chronology arises from a contradiction in the two Pesukim. In Parshas Lech Lecha (12:4) we are told Avraham left Charan aged 75. However, towards the end of Parshas Bo (12:41) the exile in Egypt is said to have been 430 years long. Rashi over in Parshas Bo explains, based on the limited generations that actually lived in Egypt, that is impossible to understand the 430 years as only referring to the actual Egyptian exile. He explains, based on Seder Olam, that the calculation must have started  from the Prophecy of the exile, namely the Bris Bein Habesarim, which would have occurred 430 years before Yetzias Mirzayim.   

This breaks down to 30 years between Bris Bein Habsarim until the Birth of Yitzchak and then 400 year from the birth of Yitzchak until Yetzias Mitzrayim. We then know that Avraham was 100 when Yitzchak was born, then 30 years before that he would have been aged 70 at the Bris Bein Habesarim.

How can it be that Avraham was already prophesizing about his descendants receiving the promised land and “returning here” (15:16) at aged 70 when he was only told to “GO” aged 75?

Seder Olam says that he first Came to Eretz Yisroel aged 70, returned to Charan for 5 years, then returned to the holy land aged 75. It is unclear from the Seder Olam why he returned to Charan. The Ran suggests that it was to sort out all his assets and bring them with, as we see that the Pasuk in Lech Lecha (12:5) makes reference to Avraham bringing his family and “all their possessions which they amassed”.

The Ramban (Shemos 12:40) explains alternatively that Avraham only came to Eretz Yisroel once. The 430 years are counted from the Bris Bein Hebesarim, however the 400 years is just a rounded number, not a reference to the birth of Yitzchak. Therefore, the Birth of Yitzchak could have occurred only five, ten or twenty years later. This would place Avraham between his 80s or 90s when receiving the prophecy, solving the need for a Second Aliyah.

The main question remains. What would have been the tax implications of Avraham’s repeat relocations?

According to the Ramban, it’s relatively simple. He would have become an Oleh Chadash aged 75. He would have benefited from having 10 years of tax free income from Charan. 

The complication arises according to Rashi. When Avraham came to Israel aged 70 did the 10 years start or would he be able to push off the trigger until aged 75? It would all depend on whether he became a “Toshav Yisrael” – “Israeli Resident” for tax purposes. The determination of Toshav Yisrael is an extremely complicated one, depending on days spent in Israel and various other factors which determine where a persons “center of life” is located. If he left all his assets and family in Charan there would be a strong case to be made that the 10 years would not have started unitl his second Aliyah aged 75.

Important note to those considering Aliyah: hurry up. On 01/01/2026 new regulations kick in requiring reporting on Chutz La’aretz income even during the first ten years for anyone who makes Aliyah after that date. You still wont have to pay tax on that income, but you will have to disclose it to the authorities. And once they know, they know.

For any Aliyah related or other financial issues you require assistance with please reach out at [email protected].

Good Shabbos.