Question:
Why is Eretz Yisrael the only thing that interests you people (i.e. Religious-Zionists)? You’re fixated on it! Certainly it’s
important, but there are other important things too: Learning Torah and performing
Mitzvot, education and our country’s social problems.
Answer:
Indeed, the idea that we are "only interested in Eretz Yisrael" has long
provided a ready excuse for complaining.
There are two answers to it:
First,
why be inaccurate? Why mislead and
confuse people? It simply isn’t true. We certainly are involved in Eretz Yisrael, but
we are also involved in Torah learning and Mitzvah observance and education and
social issues. “Everything G-d said, we
will do and obey” (Shemot 24:27). And
precisely because the battlefront is so widespread, we have to work on ourselves
in every one of these spheres, and G-d will come to our aid.
Second
of all, are we properly devoted to Eretz Yisrael? It should only be so! Surely you can’t suspect Moshe of not being
devoted to Torah and mitzvot, education and society, yet he still begged to
enter Eretz Yisrael: “I beseeched G-d at that time saying, ‘Let me pass through
and see the good land…’” (Devarim 3:23-25).
G-d finally said to him, “You’ve said enough!” (verse 26). Don’t ask anymore. “Let people not say, ‘How
unfair the Master! How stubborn and
incalcitrant the disciple!” (Rashi).
That shows how vociferously Moshe begged. “Here is one of three places
where Moshe told G-d, ‘I won’t relent until You tell me if You’re going to
fulfill my request or not” (Rashi, verse 23).
Yet surely Moshe had a reason for doing so. Eretz Yisrael has profound importance, the
very most profound importance of all. It
was only for a matter of such extreme significance that Moshe begged G-d in
this manner.
And Eretz Yisrael involves not just one profound matter, but 252 profound matters. Ha-Rav Natan Shapiro, the Chief Rabbi of Cracow, born in 1591, was one of the greatest Mekubalim of Poland in his day. His entire book “Megaleh Amukot” is devoted to those same 252 arguments used by Moshe to explain why he craved to enter the Land. Rav Shapiro did not invent them all. Rather, they are taken from the works of Rabbi Menachem Racanati, the “Rokeach,” the Arizal, Rabbi Menachem Azariah of Pano, Rabbi Moshe Cordovero and Rambam’s Guide to the Perplexed. (see the work, “Kol HaNevu’a” by Rabbi David HaKohen, “the Nazir”, page 269). For example, Principle 4 is: “If someone possesses the merit from Eretz Yisrael, he can rid the world of its craving for idolatry.” Also, Eretz Yisrael is a key to “attaining the secret of wisdom… because the air of Eretz Yisrael makes one wise.” Certainly Moshe was full of divine wisdom, yet he still craved to enter Eretz Yisrael to add to what he already had.
And Eretz Yisrael involves not just one profound matter, but 252 profound matters. Ha-Rav Natan Shapiro, the Chief Rabbi of Cracow, born in 1591, was one of the greatest Mekubalim of Poland in his day. His entire book “Megaleh Amukot” is devoted to those same 252 arguments used by Moshe to explain why he craved to enter the Land. Rav Shapiro did not invent them all. Rather, they are taken from the works of Rabbi Menachem Racanati, the “Rokeach,” the Arizal, Rabbi Menachem Azariah of Pano, Rabbi Moshe Cordovero and Rambam’s Guide to the Perplexed. (see the work, “Kol HaNevu’a” by Rabbi David HaKohen, “the Nazir”, page 269). For example, Principle 4 is: “If someone possesses the merit from Eretz Yisrael, he can rid the world of its craving for idolatry.” Also, Eretz Yisrael is a key to “attaining the secret of wisdom… because the air of Eretz Yisrael makes one wise.” Certainly Moshe was full of divine wisdom, yet he still craved to enter Eretz Yisrael to add to what he already had.
Principle
170 is: Eretz Yisrael is the key to fulfilling “The humble shall inherit the
Land” (Tehillim 37:11), for the culmination of all character traits is
humility. Certainly Moshe was the most
humble man on earth. Even so, he longed to enter the Land to become more so.
Principle
187: “Eretz Yisrael is the key to bringing all the nations under the wings of
the Divine Presence. That’s why Moshe
beseeched Hashem. He was acting for the
sake of Heaven, with the intent of helping all mankind to serve G-d.”
Indeed, Eretz Yisrael is a very profound
matter. And may we merit to become more
closely attached to Eretz Yisrael and to delve more deeply in the topic of
Eretz Yisrael.
