בס"ד

BS’D

THE MITZVAH TO DWELL IN ERETZ ISRAEL

(A COMPILATION)

  1- For Zion's sake I will not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her righteousness goes forth like radiance, and her salvation like a burning torch.  2- And the nations shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall express. (Isaiah 62: 1-2)

 “Dwelling in Eretz Israel is the equivalent of all the Mitzvot in the Torah” (Sifrei, Parashat Ree)

THE MITZVAH: COME AND POSSES THE LAND

It is a mitzvah to settle in the Land of Israel and to dwell there, as it is written: “... you shall expel them and live in their land." (Devarim 12, 29). (Sifre)

     The Lord our G-d spoke to us in Chorev saying, "You have dwelt long enough at this mountain, turn and take your journey and come to the mountain of the Amorite... Behold, I have set the land before you, come and possess the Land which Hashem swore to your forefathers...to give to them and their seed after them" (Devarim 1:6-8) 

        And Hashem your G-d will bring you to the Land that your forefathers possessed and you shall possess it... And Hashem your G-d will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, to love Hashem your G-d with all your heart and with all your soul that you may live. (Devarim 30:5-6)

 Yehoshua said to the people of Israel: How long will you be remiss in going up to possess the Land which Hahem, G-d of your fathers, has given you? (Yehoshua 18, 3)

 “IT ONCE HAPPENED that Rabbi Yehuda ben Beteira [and three of his colleagues] had to leave Eretz Israel. When they reached Paltus, they remembered Eretz Israel. They raised their eyes, and tears ran down their cheeks. They rent their garments, and recited the verse, 'Inherit the Land and dwell therein' (Devarim 11) They turned around and returned home, saying: 'Dwelling in Eretz Israel is the equiv­alent of all the Mitzvot in the Torah" (Sifrei, Parashat Ree)

 Sefer Chareidim (Mitzvot Asei HaTeluyot B'Eretz Israel, chap. I, sec 15) states, "There is a positive, biblical commandment to dwell in Eretz Israel, as it says, You shall possess it and dwell in it” (Devarim 17:14, 26:I). Chazal say that this mitzvah is equal to all the mitzvot of the Torah (Sifrei, Re'eh 28), and it is one of the 613 mitzvot according to the Ramban and the Rashbetz

 “Go forth for yourself…to the Land that I will show you” (Bereshit 12) The Mitzvah to live in Eertz Israel is very great for it is the first Mitzvah which was commanded to a Jewish man  Rabbi Meir Yechiel Me Ostrovtza

 It is a Mitzvah for all Jewish people to fix his house in Eretz Israel and to settle in it, according to his power  Rabbi Menachem ha Meiri

 This is the Mitzvah, the rules and the laws that Hashem your G-d commanded (me) to teach you so that you will keep them in the Land you are crossing over to occupy.  (Devarim 6, 1)

 WHAT A (GREAT) MITZVAH IT IS TO DESIRE TO
GO TO ERETZ ISRAEL

            What a (great) mitzvah it is to desire to go to Eretz Israel! The Shelah and Sefer Yereim teach that a person should constantly have in his heart a desire and love for Eretz Israel, as it is written, "And your eyes and your heart shall be there all the days."(Based on I Melachim 9:3) If a man has all that he desires, he should always remember that he is lacking something, because he is not in Eretz Israel... He should be sad about that, for the most important thing is missing (Yeaarot Devash, beginning of Derashah 14.)

 THE RAMBAN COUNTS IT AS ONE OF THE 613 MITZVOT

The Ramban discusses this obligation at length in Sefer Hamitzvos. "We are commanded to take possession of the Land G-d gave to our forefathers, Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov. We must not leave it to others or in desolation, as G-d told them: 'And you will take possession of the Land, for I gave the Land to you to possess. And you will settle the Land which I promised to your fathers"...

"We may not relinquish the Land to any nation at any point in time. If any nation should flee the Land...we are commanded to conquer those cities and settle our tribes therein. Indeed, after we have destroyed the other nations, if our tribes should wish to leave the Land and go conquer other lands, they are not permitted to do so. This is because we were commanded to conquer the Land and live in it ­and this applies throughout the generations.

"This mitzva, I believe, which our sages emphasized so strongly - saying 'Whoever leaves it and dwells outside the Land must be in your eyes as one who worships idols' (Kesubos 110) and many other strong statements - is the positive commandment of inheriting the Land and living there."

 You have to be reprimanded for wanting to settle Chutz La Aretz, AND NOT IN the Holy Land and the Chosen Land of Hashem  Or ha Chayim Bamidbar 32:3

 SETTLING ERETZ ISRAEL IS A MITZVAH THAT ENCOMPASSES ALL THE TORAH

Settling Eretz Israel is a Mitzvah that encompasses all the Torah, for all those who walk in it four Amot have a portion in the World to Come which is all life.

Or ha Chayim Devarim 30:20

 Settling Eretz Israel is a Mitzvah on its own, as we found how much our Rabbis insisted on the Mitzvah of settling Eretz Israel

Or ha Chayim Ketuvot 111, devarim 26:1

 "Don't you know? Haven't you heard? The beauty, the glory and the greatness of the Mitzvah of strengthening the settlement of Eretz Israel, for it is a great Mitzvah, to awaken the old love and the desire for the Holy Land and to renew the love as former days, so that the love burns like flames of fire The Alter Rebbe brought in the Sefer Mishnat Yoel)

 For the main place for the observance of the Mitzvot is in the Land of the Living, Eretz Israel   Chatam Sofer Vayeshev

 ERETZ ISRAEL IS MORE BELOVED TO ME THAN EVERYTHING

Ha Kaddosh Baruch Hu said: Eretz Israel is more beloved to Me than everything

Bamidbar Rabba 23

 Eretz Israel is beloved to Me and I have sanctified it more than all other Lands

Tanchuma Behar 1   

 Eretz Israel is the house of G-d   Or ha Chayim Shemot 20:2

 THE MITZVAH TO SETTLE ERETZ ISRAEL

The one who rents a house in Eretz Israel places a Mezuza immediately because of the Mitzvah to settle Eretz Israel  Massechet Menachot 44

HE WHO LIVES IN ERETZ ISRAEL SHOULD BE PERPETUALLY HAPPY WITH HIS MITZVAH

The Peleh Yoetz writes: "He who lives in Eretz Israel should be perpetually happy with his Mitzvah, and all the suffering he experiences should be insignificant to him in light of his love for this mitzva" (Peleh Yoetz Eretz).

 IT IS FORBIDDEN TO LEAVE ERETZ ISRAEL

It is forbidden to go out of Eretz Israel   Massechet Gittin 78a

 Elimelech, Machlon, and Kilion were the greatest men of their generation - leaders of the generation... Why were they punished? Because they left Eretz Israel. (Baba Basra 91)

 We also find this in Midrash Tanchuma regarding Elimelech and his sons: They dwelt there [Moav] about ten years (Ruth I:4). All of these years, the Holy One Blessed be He gave them warnings, perhaps they will repent and return to Eretz Israel. When they did not repent, He began to smite their cattle and camels. When they [still] did not realize that they must repent, they died immediately. (Tanchuma, Behar 3)

 Even one who enjoys parental merit (Zechut avot) will not benefit from it if he leaves Eretz Israel. (Bava Basra 91)

 These are the words of the Rambam in Mishne Torah. Hilchos Melachim (5, 9). "It is always forbidden to leave Eretz Israel (to go anywhere outside the Land) except in order to learn Torah, or to marry (a wife), or to be saved from the gentiles - and then to return to the Land. One may also leave for business purposes. "But to live outside the Land is forbidden, unless a famine there is so severe that a dinar's worth of wheat costs two dinars. When does this apply? When money is available, and produce expensive. However, if produce is cheap but no money can be found, one has no earnings and his pockets are empty- then he may leave for any place where he can make a profit. But, even though it is permissible to leave - it is not righteous conduct (midas chasidus). For Machlon and Kilion were the two gedolim of their generation, and left because of a terrible situation, yet they were sentenced to extinction by the Almighty."

 A SMALL GROUP IN THE LAND DEARER THAN A FULL SANHEDRIN OUTSIDE OF IT

Said the Holy One Blessed be He: A small group in the Land of Israel is dearer to Me than a full Sanhedrin outside the Land. (Yerushalmi, Sanhedrin 86)

 ONE SHOULD ALWAYS LIVE IN THE LAND OF ISRAEL

One should always live in the Land of Israel, even in a city where the majority are idol worshippers, and not in chutz laAretz, even in a city where the majority are Jews. (Kesubos 110); also included in the Rambam   (Hilchos Melachim Chapter 5)

 EVEN REGULAR CONVERSATIONS IN ERETZ ISRAEL IS TORAH

Rav Zera said: “Even the conversation of the sons of Eretz Israel is Torah” (Vayikra Rabba 34)

 THOSE WHO LIVE IN ERETZ ISRAEL RESIDE WITHOUT SIN

All who live in Eretz Israel reside without sin (Ketuvot 101)

 Fortunate are they who live in Eretz Israel for they have neither sin nor transgression, not the living and not the dead (Midrash Shocher Tov 85)

     Anyone who dwells in the Land of Israel, the very Land atones for him. (Sifrei, Haazinu)

 THE DESERTS OF ERETZ ISRAEL IS BETTER THAN THE PALACES OUTSIDE OF IT

"It is preferable to dwell in the deserts of Eretz Israel than the palaces of Chutz LaAretz" (Bereshit Rabba 39:8).

 THE PRESENCE OF THE SHECHINA IN THIS WORLD

"lf you desire to see the Presence of the Shechina in this world, study Torah in Eretz Israel." (Midrash Tehillim 105)

 THE ONLY HAPPINESS IN THE WORLD

There is no happiness, but only when Israel is settled in the Holy Land  Zohar ha Kaddosh Bamidbar 118a

 There’s no happiness except in dwelling in Eretz Israel (Ohr ha Chayyim ha Kaddosh Devarim 26:I)

 We should not rejoice, we should only rejoice about settling Eretz Israel, as they said: “Then our mouths will be filled with laughter”   Rabbi Chayim Ben Atar

 The one who lives in Eretz Israel has to be happy always  Rabbi Eliezer Azkari

 Only in Eretz Israel can happiness be complete and it is also possible to sanctify oneself with great Keddusha, something that is impossible in foreign lands   Rabbi Elimelech Mi Lizensk

 HASHEM LOVES ZION

Hashem loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Yaakov. (Tehillim 87, 2)

 ALL BLESSINGS COME FROM ZION

All the benefits and blessings and sources of comfort which the Almighty will ever confer upon the people of Israel will come only from Zion. (Vayikra Rabba 24)

 Hashem will bless you from Zion and you will see the good of Yerushalaim all the days of your life (Tehillim 128:5)

 The Land of Israel lacks nothing. (Berachot 36)

 MASHIACH BEN YOSEF RETURNS THE EXILED
 JEWS TO THEIR HOMELAND

All that happened to Yosef happened to Tzion... (Tanchuma, Vayigash 10)

 ... The ingathering of the exiles and the return to the Holy Land, in general and in detail until the Final Redemption, is the role of the first Mashiach, Mashiach Ben Yosef... (Kol HaTor, Chapter 1)

 All those who involve themselves in the ingathering of the exiles ease the suffering of Mashiach Ben Yosef; the 'Birthpangs of Mashiach' will come a little at a time. (Kol HaTor, Chapter 1)

 THOSE WHO BEHAVE LIKE THE SPIES PERPETUATE THEIR STAY IN IMPURE LANDS AND DO NOT GO UP TO ERETZ ISRAEL

When the ten spies went out to spy the land, the souls of the ten corresponding tribes came into them, the actual sons of Yaakov. This is the sod of what Yosef told them (his brothers), "You are spies" (Bereishis 42:9), to allude that in the future their souls would go into the spies. (Kitve ha Ari ha Kaddosh Shaar HaGilgulim, Introduction 36)

 So just the same way in which the brothers opposed Yosef and they further opposed the land, in our times religious Jews oppose the Mitzvah of settling in Eretz Israel (They oppose Tzion) by perpetuating their abode in impure lands, thereby becoming contaminated by the ideals of the nations where they live in. And so it is that when Jews live in America they become contaminated with the idea that material success is the main goal in life, and thereby they refuse to go up to Eretz Israel for it entails the risk of a descent in respect to their luxurious dwellings and their prospects for material success

 THE EVIL REPORT OF THE SPIES AGAINST THE LAND

They [the spies] brought back to the Children of Israel an evil report of the land which they had searched, saying, "The land which we investigated is a land that eats up its inhabitants. " (Bamidbar 13:32)

EATS UP ITS INHABITANTS: "In every place we passed we found them burying their dead!" However, the truth was that The Holy One, Blessed is He, did this for their good, to involve them (the inhabitants of Canaan) in mourning to distract them from paying attention to the spies." (Rashi)

 Why does the letter ayin come before the letter peh (in the Aleph-Bet)? Because of the spies, who spoke about that which they did not see. (Sanhedrin 104b)     And, more importantly, the following:    Yosef said to his brothers, "I am Yosef, is my father still alive?" However, his brothers weren't able to answer him because they were in shock. (Bereishis 45:3)

Woe to us on the Day of Judgment, and woe to us on the day of reproof. Yosef was the youngest of the tribes, but when he said, "I AM YOSEF!" the brothers were overcome with humiliation at having acted wrongly. When G-d will reveal Himself to each of us, announcing, "I AM HASHEM!" we will certainly be unable to answer and will be deeply ashamed of ourselves. (Bereishis Rabbah 93:10)

 THE BEST TORAH IN THE WORLD

          There is no Torah like the Torah of Eretz Israel. (Bereshit Rabba 16, 7)

        There are ten portions of Torah in the world: nine in Eretz Israel and one in the rest of the world. (Esther Rabba I)

 “And the gold of that Land is good” This comes to teach that there is no Torah like the Torah of Eretz Israel and there is no wisdom like the wisdom of Eretz Israel

Bereshit Rabba 6

 "There is no greater abrogation of the Torah (Bittul Torah) than when the Jews were exiled from their place" (Chagigah 5b).

"Amongst the goyim, there is no Torah. From this we learn that the Torah is in Eretz Israel."  (Sifre, Ree)

          ''He has set me in dark places, as those who are long dead.' Rav Yirmiyah said, this is the Talmud of Bavel."     Sanhedrin 24A

 "Those in Eretz Israel have a great advantage over those in Bavel, in that they are directed more to the truth since the air in Eretz Israel is pure from all impurity and does not add falsehood and mistaken ideas, which is not the case in Bavel."   (Chatam Sofer, Drashot, Pg.374)

 "The air of Eretz Israel makes one wise" (Bava Batra 158b)

 THE SAME IS TRUE OF THE TORAH; IT EXISTS
PRIMARILY IN ERETZ ISRAEL

It is well known that the close relationship between Torah and Eretz Israel is parallel to the relationship between life and the heart. Torah is eternal life, as we say, "And eternal life He has planted in our midst."  The seat of life and of the soul is in the heart. The main instructions of life lie there, and life emanates to the rest of the body from it. The same is true of the Torah; it exists primarily in Eretz Israel. (Rav Moshe Cordovero, Or Neerav 5: 4)

 WE ARE ONLY ONE NATION IN ERETZ ISRAEL

         “In Israel, they are one nation, and not outside of it.” (Zohar ha Kaddosh  Emor, 93)

 HASHEM IS OUR G-D ONLY IN ERETZ ISRAEL

As long as you are in the Land of Canaan, I am your G-d; when you are not in the land - I am not your G-d. (Tosefta, Avoda Zara 85)

 "He who dwells in Eretz Israel is like one who has a G-d, and he who dwells outside the Land is like one who does not have a G-d" (Ketuvot 110b)

 The people of Israel who are outside the Land worship false G_ds in purity." (Avoda Zara 8)

 The Tosefta comments on the verse “And I will truly implant them in this Land with all My heart and with all My soul” (Yirmiyah 32:41):  If they are not upon the Land, they are not truly implanted before Me, neither with all My heart nor with all My soul. (Tosefta, Avodah Zarah 5:4)

HASHEM IS CALLED KING ONLY IN ERETZ ISRAEL

"The Holy One Blessed be He is called 'King' only in Eretz Israel" (Zohar ha Kaddosh 3:276a).

 Rashi on Hoshea (3:5) cites the following:  R. Shimon ben Menassiya said: "The Jewish people will not be shown a good sign until they once again request the kingdom of Heaven, the kingdom of the House of David, and the rebuilding of the Beit HaMikdash. It is thus written, Afterwards, the Children of Israel will return and seek out the Lord their G-d and David their king... (Hoshea 3:5)."

 WE ACCEPT HASHEM AS OUR KING ONLY
 WHEN WE LIVE IN ERETZ ISRAEL

"I am Hahsem your G-d Who brought you out of Egypt to give you the Land of Canaan, to be a G-d for you." (Vayikra 25, 38) From here we know: Every Jew who lives in the Land of Israel accepts the yoke of the kingdom of Heaven, and everyone who leaves the Land is like one who worships stars and planets. (Torat Kohanim)

 ONLY THOSE WHO ENTER ERETZ ISRAEL ACCEPT
 HASHEM’S KINGDOM

If your sons enter Eretz Israel they accept My kingdom, and if they don’t enter Eretz Israel then they don’t accept My Kingdom   Bereshit Rabba 40

 WHILE DWELLING IN ERETZ ISRAEL, WE ARE ASSURED A PORTION IN THE WORLD TO COME

Better is a dry piece of bread with tranquility in it than a house full of quarrelsome feasts (Mishle 17:1) R. Yochanan said, "This refers to Eretz Israel, for even if a person eats (dry) bread and salt every day while dwelling in Eretz Israel, he is assured a portion in the World to Come…Than a house full of quarrelsome feasts: This refers to Chutz LaAretz, which is full of violence and robbery." (Yalkut Shimoni 2:956)

 Everyone who walks 4 Amot in Eretz Israel is assured a portion in the World to Come  (Ketuvot 111a)

 “Three are assigned portions in the world-to-come, and they are these: the one who lives in the Land of Israel, the one who raises his son to Torah learning, and the one who makes havdala over wine at the conclusion of the Shabbat.” (Pesachim 113)

 He who lives in Eretz Israel and eats CHULLIN in purity and speaks Lashon ha Koddesh and reads the Shema in the morning and in the evening, he is assured of a portion in the World to Come  Yerushalmi Shabbat 1:3

 Even a maid servant who is buries in Eretz Israel she is assured a portion in the World to Come.  Massechet Ketuvot 111

 ERETZ ISRAEL HAS GREAT VIRTUES, AND HE WHO HAS A PORTION IN IT IS CONSIDERED AS [IF HE HAS] A PORTION IN THE WORLD TO COME.

Yaakov arrived complete at the city of Shechem which is in the Land of Canaan..., and he bought the portion of land (Bereshit 33:18-19). Rashi comments, "Like a person who says to his friend, 'So and so escaped from the lion's teeth and has returned unharmed (lit., complete].''' The Ibn Ezra writes: He bought the portion of land: a portion in the Land. Scripture mentions this to demonstrate that Eretz Israel has great virtues, and he who has a portion in it is considered as [if he has] a portion in the World to Come.

 WE ARE STILL DESTROYING THE BEIT HA MIKDASH

The Yerushalmi states, "Any generation which does not witness the rebuilding of the Beit HaMikdash is considered as if it destroyed it" (Yoma 1:1 [4b])

 THE CLEAREST SIGN OF THE END OF DAYS:
THE FRUIT OF THE LAND

R. Abba said, "There is no clearer sign of the end of days than this verse: But you, O mountains of Israel, will give forth your branches and yield your fruit to My people Israel, for they are soon to come (Yechezkel 36:8)." (Sanhedrin 98a) Rashi explains, "When Eretz Israel gives forth its fruit in abundance the end will be near, and there is no clearer sign of the end of days”.

 IF HE (THE HUSBAND) SAYS TO ASCEND (TO LIVE IN THE LAND OF ISRAEL) AND SHE (THE WIFE) SAYS NOT TO - SHE IS FORCED TO ASCEND

If he (The husband) says to ascend (to live in the Land of Israel) and she (The wife) says not to - she is forced to ascend; otherwise she is divorced without her Ketuba. If she says to ascend (To live in the Land of Israel) and he says not to - he is forced to ascend; otherwise he must divorce her with her full Ketuba. (Ketubot 100)

 THE YEARS LIVED OUTSIDE OF ERETZ
ISRAEL DO NOT COUNT

The rabbis taught: If a person is married to a woman for ten years and she does not give birth for him, he should divorce her and give her a kesuvah, because maybe he doesn’t merit to build a family through her. Even though there is no proof for this, there is an allusion to it: "Sarai, the wife of Avram took Hagar the Egyptian, her handmaid, after Avram dwelled in the land of Canaan for ten years, and gave her to Avram . . ." (Bereishis 16:3). We learn from here that his stay outside of Israel did not count [in the ten years]. (Rashi: He was with Hagar, which means he did not marry her before he came to Eretz Israel, though there were many years spent in Padan Aram [childless]. This teaches you that the time outside the Land did not count for him; perhaps the transgression of [living] outside the land caused her to be barren). (Yevamos 64a)

 YOSEF HA TZADDIK LOVED ERETZ ISRAEL

The daughters of Tzelofchad-the son of Cheifer, the son of Gilad, the son of Machir, the son of Menashe, from the family of Menashe, the son of Yosef approached. These are the names of his daughters: Machlah, No'ah, Chaglah, Milkah, and Tirtzah. (Bamidbar 27:1)

        FROM THE FAMILY OF MENASHE, THE SON OF YOSEF: Why did it have to mention this, since it already said "the son of Menashe"? To tell you that Yosef loved the Land, as it says, "Bring my bones up" (Bereishis 50:25), and that his 'daughters' also loved the land, as it says, "Give us our possession" (Bamidbar 27:4). (Rashi)

 HASHEM DOES KINDNESS ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHO DWELL IN ERETZ ISRAEL

R. Natan comments on the verse: “And doing kindness to thousands of generations to those who love Me and keep My commandments” (Shemot 20:6): "This refers to those who dwell in Eretz Israel and dedicate themselves to all of the Mitzvot" (Yalkut Shimoni, Yitro 292)

 BURIED UNDER THE MIZBEACH

 He who is buried in Eretz Israel is as if he was buried under the Mizbeach

Massechet Ketuvot 111

 ONE OF THE GREAT GIFTS THAT HASHEM GAVE US

Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai said: “The Holy One Blessed be He gave the people of Israel three wonderful gifts - and all are acquired through suffering. They are: Torah, Eretz Israel, and the world to ­come”. (Talmud Berachot 5)

 HASHEM CRIES FOR THE TEMPLES AND FOR OUR BEING EXILED FROM OUR PLACE

The Talmud states: "And my eye will weep sorely and run down with tears (Yirmiyah 13:17). Why three tears? One for the First Temple, one for the Second Temple, and one for the Jews who were exiled from their place" (Chagigah 5b).

 THOSE WHO STUDY TORAH PROTECT THE SOLDIERS AND THE SOLDIERS PROTECT THOSE WHO STUDY TORAH

Were it not for David who sat and occupied himself with Torah, Yoav ben Tzeruyah would not have been victorious in war. And, were it not for Yoav who fought the battles, David would not have been able to sit and occupy himself with Torah. (Sanhedrin 49a)

 NEVER SAY ANYTHING BAD ABOUT ERETZ
 ISRAEL OR ITS INHABITANTS

“Rav Ami and Rav Asi used to (have their students) get up (and move) from a sunny place to a shady place, and from a shady place to a sunny one.” (Ketuvot 112) The Ben Ish Chai comments on this Gemara the following: “So that no student would be moved to say, about the place where they stood, ‘not good,’ and thereby speak ill of a piece of the earth of Eretz Israel. And from this should every man learn a lesson: to guard his mouth and tongue against any negative utter­ance, condemning even one cubit of Eretz Israel, whether its air, its weather, its fruits, or its buildings; even in a time when the Land is desolate and in gentile hands, and the houses belong to non-Jews.”

YERUSHALAIM CAN ONLY BE REBUILT WHEN ISRAEL YEARNS FOR IT TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT THEY EMBRACE HER STONES AND DUST

The Kuzari writes that "Yerushalaim can only be rebuilt when Israel yearns for it to such an extent that they embrace her stones and dust,"(Kuzari 5:27) as the verse of Tehillim states: "You shall arise and have mercy upon Zion, for the time to favor her, the set time has come. For your servants take pleasure in her stones and embrace the dust thereof " (Tehillim 102: 14)

 THE SPECIAL PROVIDENCE OF ERETZ ISRAEL

Eretz Israel (The Land of Israel) is watered by the Holy One Blessed be He Himself. And all the world He waters through an emissary, as is written (Iyov 5): “...Who gives rain upon the land, and sends water upon chutzot [outside or fields].” (Taanit 10)

 It is a Land where you will not eat bread in poverty, and you will not lack anything - a Land whose stones are iron, and from whose mountains you will quarry copper. (Devarim 8,9)

 And of Zion shall it be said: This man and that was born in her, and the Highest Himself shall establish her. (Tehillim 87, 5)

 IT IS OUR DUTY TO GO UP TO ERETZ ISRAEL OUT OF OUR OWN INITIATIVE

The Zohar states: "R. Chiya said, 'The nations will rule over Israel for only one day, a day of the Holy One Blessed be He, which is a thousand years. It is thus written, “He has made me desolate, faint throughout the day” (Eichah I:13), one day and no longer.' R. Yosi said, 'If [the Jews] are subjugated longer than this, it is not because of the King's decree, but because they refuse to return towards Him " (Zohar 2:17a). (Brought Minchat Yehuda sec. 18, p. 237 by R Yehuda Alkalai)

 Rabbi Yehuda Chai Alkalai writes in a Kol Korai, "Because Israel didn't rise up to return to our Land, and to the inheritance of our forefathers, the decrees began, the expulsions and slaughters, for the matter is dependent on the repentance of returning to Eretz Israel (Kol Korai, Rabbi Yehuda Chai Alkalai. The Writings of Rav Alkalai.)

 THE MITZVOT WERE GIVEN TO BE FULFILLED
 IN ERETZ ISRAEL

Why did Moshe Rabbenu yearn to enter Eretz Israel? Did he need lo eat its fruits, or to satisfy himself from its bounty? Rather, Moshe said: The people of Israel have been given many commandments, and they cannot be fulfilled except in the Land of Israel. (Sota 14)

 OUTSIDE THE LAND THERE IS NO MERIT

A person who sees himself in a dream unclothed in Babylonia is without sin (Rashi: Because outside the land there is no merit, only sin, and one who stands without clothing is like one lacking those sins); in Eretz Israel, he is without mitzvos (Rashi: Because there are many mitzvos there, and to be naked is a sign of being without mitzvos). (Brochos 57a)

 WHEN ALL THE JEWS LIVE IN THE LAND, IT IS CONQUERED; WHEN THEY DO NOT ALL LIVE IN THE LAND,  IT IS NOT CONQUERED

“About forty thousand soldiers (of Reuven and Gad) passed before Hashem for the battle” (Yehoshua 4:13). It also says, “Hashem has delivered the entire Land into our hands” (ibid. 2:24). Do you really think that Israel conquers the Land before the Omnipresent? Rather, when all the Jews live in the Land, it is conquered; when they do not all live in the Land, it is not conquered.  (Tosefta, Avodah Zarah 5:2)

 THE SIN OF NOT RETURNING TO THE LAND

"A miracle should have occurred at the time of Ezra, but sin prevented it" (Berachot 4a). The Maharsha (Yoma 9b, s.v. kechomah) explains that Ezra's redemption was supposed to last forever, but the sin of not returning to Eretz Israel en masse prevented this from happening.

 ERETZ ISRAEL IS THE MOTHER WHO RAISES THE SONS AND HASHEM INQUIRES ABOUT HER

Why does the Torah mention the merit of the Land alongside the merit of the Patriarchs? Reish Lakish says, "This can be compared to a king who has three sons, and a maidservant who raises them. Whenever the king inquires about his sons he [also] inquires about the woman who raises them. Similarly, whenever the Holy One Blessed be He mentions the Patriarchs, He mentions the Land with them, as it says, And I will remember. My covenant with Yaakov, [and also My covenant with Yitzchak, and also My covenant with Avraham I will remember] and I will remember the Land (VaYikra 26:42)." (VaYikra Rabba 36:5)

 HAD JEWS FOUND REST IN THE EXILE, THEY
 WOULD NOT HAVE RETURNED.

“And the dove did not find rest” (Bereshit 8:9): Yehudah bar Nachman said in the name of R. Shimon, "Had she found rest, she would not have returned." Similarly, She [Israel] dwelled among the nations, but found no rest (Eichah 1:3): Had she found rest, she would not have returned. Similarly, And among those nations you will not be tranquil; there will be no rest for the sole of your foot (Devarim 28:65): Had they found rest, they would not have returned.     Bereshit Rabba (33:8)

 HASHEM BRINGS JEWS BACK TO THE LAND THROUGH NATURAL MEANS

The Radak writes (Radak, Tehillim 146:3) Salvation is solely in the hands of Hashem, and He brings it about through mortals, as He did with Cyrus during the Babylonian exile. In the future, as well, Hashem will bring Israel's redemption through gentile kings, by inspiring them to set the Jews free.

 IF YOU SEE MANY DIASPORA JEWS ASCENDING FROM BABYLONIA TO ERETZ ISRAEL, IT IS A SIGN THAT THE HOLY ONE BLESSED BE HE CALCULATED THE END OF DAYS

The Midrash states (Eicha Rabba I:41): "R. Abba bar Kahana said, 'If you see benches filled with Babylonians in Eretz Israel, anticipate the footsteps of Mashiach. Why? For, it says, He spread a net for my feet (Eichah I:13)         

The Torah Temimah  (Eicha I:141) writes: "If you see benches filled with Babylonians in Eretz Israel" means, if you see many Diaspora Jews ascending from Babylonia to Eretz Israel, it is a sign that the Holy One Blessed be He calculated the end of days.

 "LET ISRAEL, WHO BECAME MY PORTION, INHERIT THE LAND WHICH BECAME MY PORTION."

The Land of Israel is beloved since the Holy One Blessed be He chose it. You find that when G-d created the world He distributed the various lands to the heavenly ministers and chose the Land of Israel for Himself. How do we know this? Moshe said, When the Supreme One apportioned to the nations their inheritance, when He separated the children of man, He set the boundaries of the people according to the number of the Children of Israel (Devarim 32:8). He also chose the people of Israel as His portion, as it is written, For the Lord's portion is His people; Yaakov is the lot of His inheritance (ibid. 32:9). Said the Holy One Blessed be He: "Let Israel, who became My portion, inherit the Land which became My portion." (Midrash Tanchuma, Re'eh 8)

THESE ARE THE WAYS OF EXILE: YOU HAVE SOWN MUCH, BUT BRING IN LITTLE; YOU EAT WITHOUT BEING SATIATED...; YOU CLOTHE YOURSELVES, BUT NO ONE IS WARM

The prophet Chaggai cries out: And now, thus says Hashem of Hosts, "Consider your ways. You have sown much, but bring in little; you eat without being satiated...; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and whoever earns wages earns for a bag with a hole." Thus says Hashem of Hosts, "Consider your ways" (Chaggai 1:5-7). Rashi explains:

Consider your ways, meaning, your business. You see that your labor achieves no blessing, as the verse says, You have sown much, but bring in little..., and whoever earns wages earns for a bag with a hole. Any profit you make perishes, just like one who places money in a pocket with a hole

 WHEN THE SONS OF ISRAEL WERE EXILED TO BABYLONIA, EZRA SAID TO THEM, "ASCEND TO ERETZ ISRAEL." THEY, HOWEVER, DID NOT WANT TO GO.

            “You find that when the Children of Israel were exiled to Babylonia, Ezra said to them, "Ascend to Eretz Israel." They, however, did not want to go. Ezra said to them, You have sown much, but bring in little; you eat without being satiated...; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and whoever earns wages, earns for a bag with a hole. (Midrash Tanchuma, Tetzaveh 13)

 This sin (that is, the fact that few Jews longed to actually return to Eretz Israel) prevented the fulfillment of that which was destined for the Second Temple. For Divine Providence was ready to reappear as at first if all the Jews had willingly agreed to return. But, only a minority returned; the majority remained in Babylonia... Divine Providence only appears to a person in proportion to his preparedness for it. If he prepares a little, he will receive a little, if a lot, a lot. If we would be prepared to willingly and wholeheartedly draw near to the G-d of our forefathers, He would save us as He saved our ancestors from Egypt. [But since this is not the case], our utterances of "Who restores His presence to Zion" and Bow down at His Holy Mountain are like the chirping of the birds, for we say these things without proper intent  (The Kuzari 2:24)

 THEY WERE WORTHY TO ASCEND AND BUILD
 THE BEIT HAMIKDASH

R. Yosi bar Chanina said: "There are four categories with respect to names: There are those whose names are becoming and whose deeds are becoming. There are those whose names are ugly and whose deeds are ugly. There are those whose names are ugly and whose deeds are becoming. And, there are those whose names are becoming and whose deeds are ugly... 'Those whose names are ugly and whose deeds are becoming' refers to the people [who returned from the Babylonian] exile: The children of Bakbuk, the children of Chakufa, the children of Charchur (Ezra 2:51, Nechemyah 7:53). They were worthy to ascend and build the Beit HaMikdash." (Bereshit Rabba 71:3)

 THE ONE BORN IN ZION AND THE ONE WHO LOOKS FORWARD TO SEEING HER ARE CONSIDERED THE SAME

“And of Zion it shall be said, this man and that man were born in her, and He shall establish her above all.' (Tehillim 87) What does this mean? Said Rabbi Meisha, grandson of Rabbi Meir: The one born in Zion and the one who looks forward to seeing her are considered the same" (Kesubos 75).

THERE WILL BE A REMNANT ONLY IN YERUSHALAIM

“In that day shall the branch of Hashem be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for those of Israel who have escaped. And it shall come to pass, that he who is left in Zion, and he who remains in Yerushalaim, shall be called holy, every one who has been recorded among the living in Yerushalaim; When Hashem shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Yerushalaim from its midst by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning”. (Yeshayahu 4)

 AND THE TZADDIKIM THAT REMAIN IN YERUSHALAIM, WILL NOT RETURN TO THEIR DUST ANYMORE. PRECISELY THE ONES WHO ARE LEFT IN TZION AND YERUSHALAIM

Rabbi Abba said: The day in which Hashem will be happy with His creations, there has never been happiness like this from the day the world was created, and the Tzaddikim that remain in Yerushalaim, will not return to their dust anymore as it is written (Yeshayahu 4): “And it will be that the ones left in Tzion and the ones that remain in Yerushalaim Holy will be said to them”. Precisely the ones who are left in Tzion and Yerushalaim. Rabbi Acha said: If this is so, then there will be very few; rather all those that remain in Eretz ha Koddesh de Israel (The Holy land of Israel) their judgment is like that of Yerushalaim and Tzion in every respect; from here we learn that all Eretz Israel (The Land of Israel) is included in Yerushalaim and so it is written: When you come to the land (Vayikra 19) includes everything.   Zohar ha Kaddosh Vayera 114a

 THE HOLY ONE BLESSED BE HE SAID: "ERETZ ISRAEL IS MORE BELOVED TO ME THAN ANYTHING

The Holy One Blessed be He said: "Eretz Israel is more beloved to Me than anything. Why? Because I spied it out..." This teaches that there is no love like the love for Eretz Israel. The Holy One Blessed be He said to Moshe: "The Land is beloved to Me, as it says, A Land that the Lord your G-d constantly seeks out (Devarim 11:12); and the people of Israel are beloved to Me, as it says, Rather, because of the Lord's love for you (ibid. 7:8). I will bring the people of Israel, who are beloved to Me, into Eretz Israel, which is beloved to Me, as it says, When you come into the Land of Canaan (Bamidbar 34:2)." (Bamidbar Rabba 23:7)

 OUR LAND WILL NOT RECEIVE OUR ENEMIES, AND THIS IS A GREAT PROOF AND PROMISE FOR US

"And that which is stated here, 'And your enemies will rule over the desolate land,' is a blessing which guarantees that through all of the ages, our land will not receive our enemies, and this is a great proof and promise for us. For you can not find in the entire world a land which is good and bountiful, that was once settled, and is now as desolate as is Israel. For since we left her, she never received any other nation." (Ramban on the Torah, Leviticus, 26:32)

 "IF ONLY MY CHILDREN WERE WITH ME IN ERETZ ISRAEL, EVEN THOUGH THEY DEFILE IT."

"If only My children were with Me, even though they anger Me." This is the meaning of the verse, Oh, that I were in the desert in a lodging place of wayfarers (Yirmiyah 9:1). The Holy One Blessed be He said, "If only My children were with Me as they were in the desert when they complained against Me." (Eichah Rabba 3:7)

 The House of Israel dwell on their Land and they have defiled it (Yechezkel 36:17): The Holy One Blessed be He said, "If only My children were with Me in Eretz Israel, even though they defile it." (Eichah Rabba 3:7)

 WHEN THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WERE NO LONGER IN THE LAND, HE SAID: "IF ONLY MY CHILDREN WERE WITH ME, EVEN THOUGH THEY MAKE ME ANGRY

"My soul remembers and is bowed down within me." (Echa 3) Rabbi Chiya learned: This may be compared to a king who went on a trip, and took his children along. At one point, they made him so angry that he swore not to take them again. The next day he went out without them. He kept remember­ing them and crying, saying, "If only my children were with me, even if they do make me angry" So it is with the Almighty King and His children, Israel. When the people of Israel were no longer in the Land, He said: "If only My children were with Me, even though they make Me angry. If only My children were in Eretz Israel, even though they defile the Land" (Echa Rabbati 3)

 OMRI CONTRIBUTED TO BUILDING ERETZ ISRAEL AND DESERVED KINGSHIP FOR THIS ACTION

The Talmud states, "R. Yochanan says, 'Why did Omri deserve kingship? Because he added on a city to the Land of Israel''' (Sanhedrin 102b).

 Tana DeVei Eliyahu: Once, I, [Eliyahu HaNavi], was sitting in a study hall. I asked, "My masters, why is it that all other kings were not succeeded by their sons, while Omri had three of his descendants inherit his throne?" They replied, "We do not know." I said to them, "My masters, it is because he added a great city to the Land of Israel. Omri thought, just as Yerushalaim is [the capital] for the kings of Judah, so will Shomron be [the capital] for the kings of Israel" (Yalkut Shimoni 2:207)

 'WE ARE UNWORTHY TO ENTER ERETZ ISRAEL EVEN IF WE DIE THERE IMMEDIATELY, FOR WE ARE ENTERING THE PLACE WHICH HASHEM PROMISED OUR FOREFATHERS TO GIVE TO US.

The Sifrei Zuta states:  R. Shimon said: "Come and see how beloved is Eretz Israel. A person who goes off to war runs and runs, but when he reaches the battlefield, his legs buckle under. This did not happen to the Jewish people. When they approached Eretz Israel their legs lifted them up, and they said to one another, 'We are unworthy to enter Eretz Israel even if we die there immediately, for we are entering the place which Hashem promised our forefathers to give to us.''' (Sifrei Zuta, BeHaalotecha 33, on Bamidbar 10:33)

 THIS IS WHAT ABOLISHED OUR KINGDOM, DESTROYED OUR BEIT HAMIKDASH, PROLONGED OUR EXILE, AND BROUGHT US TO OUR PRESENT PREDICAMENT, THEY DID NOT STUDY WARFARE AND LAND CONQUEST

This is what abolished our kingdom, destroyed our Beit HaMikdash, prolonged our exile, and brought us to our present predicament. Our fathers sinned and are no more. For they found many astrology books, followed them, and went astray. They imagined that these wisdoms were glorious and greatly beneficial, and they did not study warfare and land conquest. Instead, they imagined that these wisdoms would help them. Therefore, the prophets called them fools; and they certainly were fools, for they followed vanities which cannot avail nor rescue, for they are vain.

(Iggrot U'Teshuvot LeRambam, Iggrot Shonot, p. 21. 204)

 HOW DO YOU FOLLOW HASHEM? WHEN YOU ENTER THE LAND ENGAGE IN PLANTING FIRST

R. Yehudah ben R. Simon began: “You shall follow Hashem your G-d” (Devarim 13:5). Is it possible for flesh and blood to follow the Holy One Blessed be He...? Rather, at the beginning of creation the Holy One Blessed be He engaged in planting, as it is written, “Hashem  G-d planted a garden in Eden” (Bereshit 2:8). Similarly, when you enter the Land engage in planting first, as it is written, When you shall come into the Land, and you shall plant (VaYikra 19:23). (VaYikra Rabba 25:3)

 Hashem ordered that the main aspect of entering Eretz Israel would be to plant there fruit producing trees who are the students of the Torah, for the land of Eretz Israel gives wisdom to and purifies the soul (Baba Batra 158) And a Torah student is called fruit producing tree, for from him comes the food for the soul

Or ha Chayim Vayikra 19:23

 I WISH THAT I CAN PLANT FRUIT TREES WITH MY OWN HANDS

I wish that I can plant fruit trees with my own hands around Yerushalaim in order to fulfill (Vayikra 19) “And when you come to the Land, you shall plant”

The Vilna Gaon

 THEY SHALL RETURN FROM THE LAND OF THE ENEMY: YOUR CHILDREN SHALL RETURN TO THEIR OWN LAND

Thus says Hashem: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping; it is Rachel weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted, for they are away. Thus says Hashem: Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears; for your work shall have its reward, says Hashem; they shall return from the land of the enemy. And there is hope in your future, says Hashem, that your children shall return to their own land (Jeremiah 31).

 I WILL OPEN YOUR GRAVES (IN EXILE), AND CAUSE YOU TO COME OUT OF YOUR GRAVE (THE EXILE ITSELF), 0H MY PEOPLE; AND . . .I WILL BRING YOU INTO THE LAND OF ISRAEL

And He said unto me: Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered: 0 Lord G-d, Thou knowest. Then He said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole House of Israel: behold, they say: Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost. . . . There­fore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith Hashem G-d: Behold, I will open your graves, and cause you to come Out of your grave, 0 my people; and . . .I will bring you into the land of Israel (Ezekiel 37:3, 11).

 WHEN THE JEWS ARE IN EXILE, JUDAISM AND
TORAH ARE SCORNED

"And when they came to the nations, into which they came, they profaned My Holy Name, in that men said of them, These are the people of Hashem, and they have gone out of His land." (Ezekiel, 36:20) When the Jews are in exile, Judaism and Torah are scorned. The "Chosen People" become persecuted, downcast victims, despised by all of the nations. G-d's Name is desecrated. In the eyes of the gentiles, the once mighty G-d of Israel lacks the strength to safeguard His people in His land. (Ibid, Rashi)

 YOUR FOREFATHERS CHOSE IT [ERETZ ISRAEL] AS THEIR ABODE IN PREFERENCE TO THEIR BIRTHPLACES

"Your forefathers chose it [Eretz Israel] as their abode in preference to their birthplaces, and lived there as strangers, rather than as citizens in their own country. They did this even at a time when the Shechina was not yet visible, and the country was full of unchastity, impurity, and idolatry." (Rabbi Yehuda Ha Levi, The Kuzari, 2:23.)

 ANYONE WHO LIVES IN ERETZ ISRAEL IS CONSIDERED A TZADDIK (RIGHTEOUS INDIVIDUAL) EVEN THOUGH IT DOES NOT SEEM THAT WAY

The Kabbalist, R. Avraham Azulai (the grandfather of our master, the Chida), writes in his holy work, Chesed LeAvraham: Anyone who lives in Eretz Israel is considered a Tzaddik (righteous individual) even though it does not seem that way. For if he was not a Tzaddik, the Land would vomit him out, as it says: And the Land vomits out its inhabitants (VaYikra 18:25). Since the Land does not vomit him out he must be considered a Tzaddik, even though he is presumed to be wicked

Chesed LeAvraham, Ma'ayan 3, Nahar 12

 "IF A MAN IS OUTSIDE THE LAND OF ISRAEL, HE HAS A SOUL OF LESSER CELESTIAL FORCES. IF HE MERITS TO ENTER THE LAND OF ISRAEL, A SOUL FROM A NEWLY CREATED SOURCE COMES TO HIM, AND CLOTHES ITSELF WITH HIS OLD SOUL

"If a man is outside the Land of Israel, he has a soul of lesser celestial forces. If he merits to enter the Land of Israel, a soul from a newly created source comes to him, and clothes itself with his old soul. The first night he sleeps in Eretz Israel, both souls depart from him and rise to worlds above, and in the morning, only the new soul returns." (Chesed L'Avraham, The Third Spring, Spring of the Land, River 12)

 WHOEVER LIVES IN THE LAND OF ISRAEL IS FULFILLING THE WILL OF HIS FATHER IN HEAVEN AND IS CALLED A TZADDIK AND G-D LOVES HIM... AND IT IS SUPERFLUOUS TO NOTE THAT ANYONE WHO SPEAKS ILL OF THE LAND OR OF ITS INHABITANTS IS LIKE THE MERAGLIM (SPIES)

Whoever lives in the Land of Israel is fulfilling the will of his father in Heaven and is called a Tzaddik and G-d loves him... and it is superfluous to note that anyone who speaks ill of the Land or of its inhabitants is like the meraglim (spies). (Rav Moshe Hagiz, Sefat Emet)

 SOMETIMES GREAT HOLY THINGS (CONQUERING ERETZ ISRAEL) COME OUT OF LOW PLACES OR THROUGH SEEMINGLY PEOPLE OF LOW MORAL STATURE

The sacred words of the Maharal of Prague, in Gevurot Hashem (Gevurot Hashem 18) , shed light on current events in Eretz Israel:  You must understand...that the holy kingdom of Israel, which has an inherent, divine status, sprouts from an unsanctified kingdom. For, this befits a kingdom which has a divine and inherent nature. The verse, “I brought forth fire from within you” (Yechezkel 28:18), alludes to this. Sanctity, which is compared to the fineness of fire, will arise from the profane and consume everything. Similarly, an unripe fruit stays in its peel, but when the fruit grows and ripens the peel decays. For, anything which has an inherent status sprouts from something external to it. This is why Moshe Rabbeinu a"h grew up in Pharaoh's house - so that his sacred and G-dly status could come from the mundane. Had this not occurred, he would not have been inherently 'separate' (nivdal). Understand this for it is very deep, and it is familiar to those who know about the development of spiritual [lit., 'separate'] things from material things. Similarly, Mashiach sits in Rome.

 WHEN IT SEEMS TO US IN OUR PRESENT PEACEFUL EXISTENCE OUTSIDE THE LAND OF ISRAEL, THAT WE HAVE FOUND ANOTHER ERETZ ISRAEL AND YERUSHALAIM, THIS IS TO ME, THE GREATEST CAUSE OF ALL OUR TRAGEDIES

Rabbi Yaakov Emden (The Yaavetz) writes in the introduction to the Siddur, Beit Yaakov: "When it seems to us in our present peaceful existence outside the Land of Israel, that we have found another Eretz Israel and Yerushalaim, this is to me, the greatest, deepest, most obvious, and direct cause of all of the awesome, frightening, monstrous, unimaginable destructions that we have experienced in the Diaspora. "

 WE OURSELVES HAVE FORGOTTEN ABOUT LIVING IN ERETZ ISRAEL COMPLETELY

These words are only a fraction of what the Yaavetz has to say about the imperative nature of our obligation to settle the Land of Israel: “Now... we ourselves have forgotten about living in Eretz Israel completely. Not one in a thousand arises to go and settle there. Perhaps one from a country, two in an entire generation.  We imagine, sitting peacefully here [Ed: in Germany] that we have found a new Eretz Israel and replaced Yerushalaim with a city just like it. "For precisely this reason did such terrible things befall us when the people of Israel dwelt in Spain. G-d is just, for the fact of their GALUT had left their consciousness completely, and they were at home among the gentiles."

 HOW OFTEN HAVE WE TRIED TO ASSIMILATE

How often have we tried to assimilate! Yet we, like the oil which can never blend with other liquids, are doomed to remain separate. Rav Chaim Volozhiner put it succinctly: “If the Jew does not make Kiddush then the goy makes havdala.” Either we separate and sanctify ourselves, or the matter will be taken care of for us in much more painful ways. (From the book To Dwell in the palace, Rabbi Leff)

 BEHOLD, WHO IN OUR DAYS IS NOBLE OR ARROGANT ENOUGH TO CALL TODAY'S OLIM (THOSE WHO SETTLE IN ERETZ ISRAEL) "UGLY" OR "WICKED" (G-D FORBID)? WHO CAN CONDEMN THEIR ACTIONS OR DENIGRATE AND SLANDER THEM? WITH TRUE SELF-SACRIFICE THEY HAVE SUCCEEDED IN BUILDING A FLOURISHING LAND

Behold, who in our days is noble or arrogant enough to call today's olim (Those who settle in Eretz Israel) "ugly" or "wicked" (G-d forbid)? Who can condemn their actions or denigrate and slander them? With true self-sacrifice they have succeeded in building a flourishing Land. Unwittingly, they have fulfilled the great, positive commandment of “You shall possess it and dwell in it” (Devarim 17:14, 26:1), with all of its revealed and hidden rectifications, as I proved in the foreword.  I say unhesitatingly that their deeds are becoming to the Holy One Blessed be He and their reward is exceedingly great. I only wish that my lot could be with theirs in this matter. We only have to ask them to follow the ways of Hashem from now on, and do everything in the spirit of the Torah, according to the instructions of the gedolim of the generation. We will achieve this, with G-d's help, if we bring them close to us, lovingly and respectfully. The gentle words of the wise will be heard, but not loud noise and yelling. Then, they will subject themselves to the spirit of Torah and fear of G-d, and we will succeed in purifying them, just like Ezra did. He was able to bring the sinners closer to Torah and sanctity because they saw that he befriended them and did not alienate them. This is true and clear to anyone who wants to see the truth   Rabbi Ysachar Shlomo Teichtel ZTKL   Em ha Banim Semecha, Chapter 3

 ISRAEL'S LEADERS THROUGHOUT THE GENERATIONS WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FACT THAT WE ARE STILL IN EXILE, BECAUSE THEY SHOULD HAVE INSPIRED THE SONS OF ISRAEL TO LOVE ERETZ ISRAEL

This explains the words of our mentor, the Or HaChayim. He writes that Israel's leaders throughout the generations will be held responsible for the fact that we are still in exile, because they should have inspired the Children of Israel to love Eretz Israel. (Or HaChayim, VaYikra 25:25) Rabbi Ysachar Shlomo Teichtel ZTKL     Em ha Banim Semecha

 DO NOT PAY ANY ATTENTION TO THOSE WHO SLANDER THE LAND, EVEN IF THEY ARE TRULY RIGHTEOUS

Therefore, my friends and brothers, do not pay any attention to those who slander the Land, even if they are truly righteous. For, I mentioned above that the brilliant mentor of Eretz Israel, R. Yosef Chayim Sonnenfeld z"l, derived from the words of the Shelah that even tzaddikim can be spies. Realize that all those who oppose aliyah and the building and resettlement of the Land belong to the camp of the spies. But, all those who choose aliyah belong to Yehoshua and Calev's camp.    Rabbi Ysachar Shlomo Teichtel ZTKL   Em ha Banim Semecha

 IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO COME TO THE LAND OF ISRAEL WITHOUT DIFFICULTIES AND SUFFERING. THE ROOT OF ALL THE DIFFICULTIES AND SUFFERING LIES IN THE SLANDEROUS IMAGE OF THE LAND WHICH IS PUT ABOUT BY THE WICKED

It is impossible to come to the Land of Israel without difficulties and suffering. The root of all the difficulties and suffering lies in the slanderous image of the Land which is put about by the wicked. They are the source of all the obstacles. But the power of the Torah which we draw into ourselves enables us to overcome all the obstacles, the difficulties and suffering. The more profound a person’s grasp of the Torah and the greater the tikkun he brings about through his attainment, the greater his victory over the obstacles, and he will succeed in reaching the Land of Israel (REBBE NACHMAN LIKUTE MOHARAN 6).

 IN ATTEMPTING TO MINIMIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF DWELLING IN ERETZ ISRAEL, THE JEW RESORTS TO A VARIETY OF RATIONALIZATIONS

IN ATTEMPTING TO minimize the importance of dwelling in Eretz Israel, the Jew resorts to a variety of rationalizations. Among those most popular today is denigration of the Jews who do live here. How important could the current Yishuv be, say many (and why should I attach myself thereto), if the people in the Land are such sinners?

But when you see this Midrash you will think twice

Said the Holy One Blessed be He: A small group in the Land of Israel is dearer to Me than a full Sanhedrin outside the Land. (Yerushalmi, Sanhedrin 86)

 I HAVE SEEN JEWS BUILDING HOMES LIKE THE FORTRESSES OF PRINCES, MAKING THEMSELVES PERMANENT, THIS WORLDLY DWELLINGS IN IMPURE LANDS

The Shela Hakadosh, writes (at the end of Masechet Sukkah): "I will disclose something that has always troubled me greatly. I have seen Jews building homes like the fortresses of princes, making themselves permanent, this worldly dwellings in impure lands. (I have observed that) it is their intention to leave these homes as an inheritance to their children after them! This appears to be, G-d forbid, an abandonment of the idea of GEULA (REDEMPTION). Therefore, even if G-d gives you wealth, build simple houses, to accommodate your bare needs, and no more."

 THEY NEVER TURN TO HASHEM WITH ALL THEIR HEARTS TO ASK THAT HE RETURN THEM TO THEIR LAND. THEREFORE, THE ALMIGHTY LEAVES THEM THERE

The Keli Yakar, as well, has words on this issue (on Bereishis 47): "Many are the ignorant Jews who settle in the lands of other nations. They build themselves splendid, secure houses - homes built of stone, buildings meant to endure. For this reason, they never turn to Hashem with all their hearts to ask that He return them to their Land. Therefore, the Almighty leaves them there."

 ONE WHO BUILDS A STONE HOUSE TO EXPAND HIS DWELLING OUTSIDE ERETZ ISRAEL, WITHOUT GIVING A THOUGHT TO (RETURNING TO) THE LAND... WILL HAVE NO PROTECTION SINCE HE IS WRONGLY EXTENDING HIS SOJOURN IN CHUTZ LA ARETZ.

And the Chasam Sofer, in a teshuva, explains the dictum of Rabbi Yehuda hechassid that one may not build a stone house, and that it is a danger to live in one: "One who builds a stone house for no reason other than to expand his dwelling outside Eretz Israel, without giving a thought to (returning to) the Land... will have no protection from the dangers of living in such a house, since he is wrongly extending his sojourn in chutz la Aretz."

NO MATTER WHERE A JEW IS, HE BELONGS ONLY
 TO ERETZ ISRAEL

"This must be clear before anything else - no matter where a Jew is, he belongs only to Eretz Israel. This is his permanent home. Outside the Land, we have the status of guests. For two or three years, it is possible to be there, in order to fulfill a mitzvah, but the aim of our life is to be here." (Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda HaKohen Kook TZK’L)

 EVERY JEW IS OBLIGED TO ANSWER - I COME
 FROM ERETZ ISRAEL

"When Jews meet, they customarily exchange, 'Shaloms', and ask, 'Where do you come from?' The usual response is: I come from Belgium, Brazil, or Colorado. The Admor of Ostrovtza says, 'Every Jew is obliged to answer - I come from Eretz Israel.' This is a very deep insight, telling us that every Jew, in his innermost essence, belongs to Eretz Israel."   Rabbi Meir Yechiel of Ostrovtza

 AND A PERSON SHOULD HELP HIS BROTHER, WITH ALL HIS STRENGTH AND MIGHT IF ONE OF THE BROTHERS WISHES TO ESTABLISH HIS RESIDENCE IN ERETZ ISRAEL

And a person should help his brother, with all his strength and might if one of the brothers wishes to establish his residence in Eretz Israel, how pleasant if all the brothers together help him, because their brother is their flesh as it is written: “And do not hide from your flesh” (Yeshayahu 58)

Pele Yoetz, Eretz Israel

THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THIS IS A GREAT MITZVAH, FOR THE INGATHERING OF THE EXILES IS THE BEGINNING OF THE GEULA

“There is no doubt that this is a great mitzvah, for the ingathering of the exiles is the beginning of the Geula. And especially since we have now seen a tremendous yearning, both amongst non-believers, amongst ordinary men, and amongst the righteous, we are close to absolute certainty that the spirit of redemption has budded.” (Rabbi Yehoshua of Kutna Responsa, Yeshuot Malko, Section 66)

 IF A JEW THINKS THAT BERLIN IS YERUSHALAIM…

The Meshech Chochmah, written by the Ohr Somayach, Rav Meir Simcha HaCohen from Dvinsk, states that, "If a Jew thinks that Berlín is Yerushalaim... then a raging storm wind will uproot him by his trunk... a tempest will arise and spread its roaring waves, and swallow, and destroy, and flood forth without pity. (Meshech Chochmah, P.191-2)

 THE JEWS WHO DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE EGYPT DIED IN THE THREE DAYS OF DARKNESS

These matters were stated by our Rabbis years before the Holocaust. The Netziv, Rav Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin, writes the following in his Hagadah, on the verse, And G-d brought us out with a strong hand, - "The Jews who didn't want to leave Egypt died in the three days of darkness. (Four-fifths of the Jews in Egypt died in the plague of darkness. Rashi, Exodus, 13:18) And we must remember all of this in our time also, when many Jews deny our future redemption, may it come soon, but Hashem will reign over us with a strong hand."

 OUR TEACHER, THE GAON OF VILNA, KADOSH ISRAEL, WITH WORDS CARVED IN FLAMES, ADVISED HIS STUDENTS TO GO ON ALIYAH TO ISRAEL

"Our teacher, the Gaon of Vilna, Kadosh Israel, with words carved in flames, advised his students to go on Aliyah to Israel, and to further the ingathering of the exiles. Furthermore, he encouraged his students to hasten the Revealed End, and the fulfillment of the redemption, through the settlement of Eretz Israel. Almost every day, he spoke to us with trembling and emotion, saying that, in Zion and Yerushalaim there would be a refuge, and that we shouldn't delay the opportunity to go. Who can articulate, or who can describe, the magnitude of our teacher's worry when he spoke these words to us, with his Ruach HaKodesh, and with tears in his eyes (Kol HaTor, End of Chapter Five)

 MANY OF THE SINNERS IN THIS GREAT SIN OF, 'THEY DESPISED THE CHERISHED LAND,' AND ALSO MANY OF THE GUARDIANS OF TORAH, WILL NOT KNOW OR UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE CAUGHT IN THIS SIN OF THE SPIES

The Vilna Gaon, Kol HaTor, Ch.5: "Many of the sinners in this great sin of, 'They despised the cherished land,' and also many of the guardians of Torah, will not know or understand that they are caught in this sin of the Spies, that they have been sucked into the sin of the Spies in many false ideas and empty claims, and they cover their ideas with the already proven fallacy that the mitzvah of the settlement of Israel no longer applies in our day, an opinion which has already been disproved by the giants of the world, the Rishonim and Achronim."

 MAKE THE TRIP EVEN ON FOOT

"He who genuinely wishes to get to Eretz Israel should make the trip even on foot." (Chayei Moharan miBreslav

PRAY TO G-D TO GIVE YOU DESIRE AND YEARNING
 FOR THE LAND OF ISRAEL

Pray to G-d to give you desire and yearning for the Land of Israel. Then you will succeed in reaching there. And pray also that He should plant yearning for the Land in the hearts of all the Tzaddikim (Rebbe Nachman mi Bresslov Likute Moharan.).

 THE MOTIVE FOR MAKING THE JOURNEY TO THE LAND OF ISRAEL SHOULD BE PURELY SPIRITUAL: TO DRAW CLOSER TO G-D

The motive for making the journey to the Land of Israel should be purely spiritual: to draw closer to G-d. A person who goes there with this as his aim will certainly benefit. Merely by stepping foot on the Land he will become merged with it and transformed by its sacred character. That is why even “One who walks four cubits in the Land of Israel will assuredly inherit the World to Come” (Ketubot). On the other hand, if a person’s motive has nothing to do with devotion to G-d and cleansing himself of his evil, then what help will the Land be to him? The Land will vomit him out “as it vomited out the nation that was before you” (Leviticus 18:28) (Likute Moharan 29).

WHEN I COME TO THE HOLY LAND, I FEEL CLEARLY THAT HERE MY HEART IS MORE EASILY AROUSED BY THE STUDY OF MUSSAR

"When I come to the holy Land, I feel clearly that here my heart is more easily aroused by the study of mussar. We also see palpably the supernatural help one gets here in Torah learning."    Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler, zt"l (Michtav Me Eliyahu vol. III, p. 194)

 DUE TO OUR GREAT INIQUITY, MANY ERR IN THINKING THAT THEY WILL BE SITTING ENJOYING THEMSELVES AT HOME WHEN, SUDDENLY, THE GATES OF MERCY WILL OPEN

Rabbi Eliyahu Guttmacher, a close student of Rabbi Akiva Eiger, writes: "Due to our great iniquity, many err in thinking that they will be sitting enjoying themselves at home when, suddenly, the gates of mercy will open, and miracles shall occur upon heaven and earth, actualizing all of the prophecies, and they shall then be invited to come forth from their dwellings. The truth of the matter is not so (Shivat Zion, Part 2, Pg.41)

 WHERE ARE THE TORAH JEWS FROM THE LANDS OF OUR EXILE? DON'T THEY SEE G-D'S FINGER IN ALL THIS?

In Moriah, Dr. Yitzchak Breuer tells us that in 1926, Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld asked him, "Where are the Torah Jews from the lands of our exile? Don't they see G-d's finger in all this? Now I understand what it says in the musaf prayer for Yom Tov. 'And because of our sins we were exiled from our country and were distanced from our Land.' 'We were exiled from our country' by G-d, and then 'we were distanced from our Land' by ourselves! Have we ceased our constant anticipation? Imagine that it hadn't rained for 2,000 years, and then suddenly one day a tiny cloud appeared. Wouldn't everyone become excited, and say, trembling - 'Perhaps this is it? Maybe after all...? Isn't the (British) Mandate at least comparable to this little cloud?' , (Moriah, p. 197).

 IF THOSE WHOM WE CALL "SINNERS" WORK SO HARD AND GIVE SO MUCH FOR ZION, THEN HOW MUCH MORE SHOULD BE EXPECTED OF THE TIKUN CHATZOS (MIDNIGHT PRAYER FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE) SAYERS?

Similarly, the gaon Rabbi Akiva Yosef Schlesinger writes that if those whom we call "sinners" work so hard and give so much for Zion, then how much more should be expected of the tikun chatzos sayers? Perhaps the Zionists have great merit, since they are after all, like "an infan