The Life-Force of Eretz Yisrael
In Parshas Sh’lach, the Meraglim (spies) are sent to scout out Eretz Yisrael. They return with an alarming report that the land is full of fierce inhabitants living in fortified cities, and among them are giants. In addition, they said that Eretz Yisrael is a “land that devours its inhabitants” (Bamidbar 13:32).
Rashi (ibid.) explains why they thought this about Eretz Yisrael: “Everywhere we went we found people burying their dead.” Rashi adds, however, that “Hashem intended that this assist them, so that they [the Canaanites] would be busy mourning and would not pay attention to the meraglim.” The meraglim did not pick up this nuance, however, and concluded that Eretz Yisrael was a dangerous land.
Of course, since Hashem said that the Jews would settle in Eretz Yisrael, any comment against the land or Hashem’s plan was rebellion, and it incurred a most severe and rare punishment (see Bamidbar 14:37). In examining the claims of the meraglim, however, certain parts are easier to understand than others. They made two central points: 1) Eretz Yisrael would be hard to conquer, and 2) it was a dangerous land. Now, if a person lacks emuna, it is understandable that a land of fierce giants living in fortified cities would seem hard to conquer. However, why did the meraglim say that the land “devoured its inhabitants?” Even if they did not perceive the many funerals they saw as Hashem’s hashgacha, so that the people would be distracted, why did they conclude that the land was dangerous? Not everyone was dying. No epidemic was taking place. Indeed, wherever they went they saw funerals, but the Sages (Sotah 35a) state that only people of the ruling class were dying, which the meraglim could have interpreted as divine retribution for the Canaanites’ evil practices. Moreover, the meraglim had traveled the length and breadth of Eretz Yisrael for 40 days and came back alive and well. Why did they see it as a land that they couldn’t live in?
Rav Yaakov Neiman explains that the meraglim understood that not everyone was dying in Eretz Yisrael. Nevertheless, they perceived that Eretz Yisrael is not a natural land. “It is unnatural for so many people to be dying,” they thought to themselves. “This land seems dangerous. We’re afraid to live there.”
Although Eretz Yisrael is not a dangerous land, and there is in fact a special divine protection there, it indeed is not a land that follows the ways of nature. Living there is on condition that we keep Torah and mitzvos. If a person does not keep Torah and mitzvos in Eretz Yisrael, the Sifrei (Vayikra 11:14) states that the land cannot tolerate his presence. The Ramban states that certain severe sins, if committed in Eretz Yisrael, cause the land to throw the sinner out (Vayikra 18:25).
Torah and mitzvos are the life-force of Eretz Yisrael. Just like a person who is told that his life depends upon following a specific diet will surely follow the diet to the last detail, so too in Eretz Yisrael, our lives depend entirely on Torah and mitzvos. Since Torah and mitzvos are the very air we breathe, they must be strictly observed.
Not only are Torah and mitzvos the life-force of Eretz Yisrael, but every aspect of avodas Hashem gains an added measure of divine assistance there. The air of Eretz Yisrael imparts wisdom (Bava Basra 155b), and the Sages state that “there is no Torah like the Torah of Eretz Yisrael” (Sifra, Devarim 7:12). Prayer also has a unique power there, as this is the center for prayers of Klal Yisrael throughout the world (Brachos 30a). There is an entire category of mitzvos that can only be fulfilled in Eretz Yisrael. The Ramban (Vayikra 18:25) states that in fact, the chief location for the fulfillment of all mitzvos is Eretz Yisrael. In short, Eretz Yisrael is the ideal place for a Jew to realize his spiritual potential.
Not all Jews are zoche to live in Eretz Yisrael, and many Jews in chutz la’aretz have legitimate reasons for remaining there. Once, a couple came to Rav Yitzchak Zilberstein and said that they wanted very much to settle in Eretz Yisrael, but they were taking care of an elderly parent, and because of kibud av, they asked if they had to remain in America.
“Kibud av ve’eim is more important right now, and you must remain in America,” said Rav Zilberstein. “Still, you should consider Eretz Yisrael as your home, and if you can’t live here right now, at least send your children to learn here, so you can have a deeper connection to the land.”
Of course, if a person has the ability, he himself should come to Eretz Yisrael, even if only for a few months. However, this time should not be spent taking trips and sight-seeing, but rather learning, davening and speaking to the gedolim. This will certainly have a great effect.
May we deepen our connection to Eretz Yisrael!