The Meire says that its assur to leave Eretz Yisrael for chutz laaretz because a stam makom in eretz yisrael has yirah shemyaim and stam place in chutz la'aretz doesnt because they learn from the nochrim.
What would be thge din according to the Meire if someone wants to move from a place in Eretz Yisrael that has a low level of yira shemayim to a place in chutz laaretz that has a high level of yira shemayim. For example, to move from anti religious kibbutz to Lakewood?
Ahron,
Dear Ahron,
The Me'iri says at the end of Kesuvos (Beis ha'Bechirah): Just as it is forbidden to leave Eretz Yisrael for Chutz la'Aretz, it is it forbidden to leave Bavel for other lands, for any place where Torah wisdom and Yir'as Cheit are found has the status of Eretz Yisrael, as they have said (Kesuvos 111a): Anyone who dwells in Bavel is considered to be dwelling in Eretz Yisrael.
It seems straightforward that, according to the Me'iri, if one's choices are an anti-religious kibbutz or Lakewood (he cannot, for some reason, move to Yerushalayim, Bnei Brak, or one of the many other Torah centers around the country), he should choose Lakewood. It would have more of the aspect of Eretz Yisrael than an anti-religious kibbutz in Eretz Yisrael.
Kol Tuv,
Yonasan
This is not a Psak Halachah