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Asher Shmuel ben Rivka
He heard, for example, about what happened to R' Zaira when he traveled to Israel. Because R' Zaira so desired to reside in the land he eagerly jumped into the river that led into Israel and began to cross by foot despite the danger involved. When ridiculed by a gentile, he responded, "If the likes of Moses and Aaron did not merit to dwell there, who is to say that I shall merit? Who is to say that I will merit entering the land of Israel? Therefore I cannot afford to put it off for even a few moments, for perhaps some sort of obstruction will arise inhibiting me from entering."
When the Khazar king heard all of these things, he said to the Rabbi, "This being the case, you are violating a Torah commandment by not immigrating to Israel, by not making the Land of Israel your place of living and dying. In your prayers you say, 'Have mercy on Zion, for it is our life's home,' and you believe that the Divine Presence will return to Israel, yet still you do not immigrate. Even if its only quality was that the Divine Presence previously dwelled there for about nine hundred years in the era of the First and Second Temples, this would be enough for a person to long to make his home in Israel.
Foundations of Faith (51)
Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
28 - 28. Expression of the Land's Preeminence
29 - 29. “You have shamed me, King of Khazar”
30 - 30. The Preeminence of the Holy Land (Continued)
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"This so, why do you and the entire people of Israel not make your way to the land of Israel this very day? Is it not hypocritical to pray, kneel, and bow down in the direction of Israel yet not immigrate?" This is what the King of the Khazar's asked the Rabbi.
The Rabbi responded, saying, "You are indeed correct. You have shamed me, King of Khazar. What can I say? It is this very sin that prevented us from achieving that which God promised us in the Second Temple, as it says, 'Rejoice and be happy daughter of Zion, for I am coming and will dwell in your midst, says God' (Zechariah 2:14). This means that the Divinity was prepared to settle in the Second Temple as it had previously in the First Temple, provided that the Jewish people would all agree to return to Israel eagerly. Instead, only some returned, while the majority – including important leaders – remained in Babylon. They preferred subservience in the Diaspora, so that they would not have to part from their homes and affairs.
Owing to this, the goals which God had set for the Second Temple were not fulfilled in their entirety. The Divine promises were fulfilled only on a small scale, commensurate to the meager awakening. If we had been ready to draw near to the God of our forefathers wholeheartedly, surely God would have been willing to save us as he saved our forefathers in Egypt. And so, our recitations of such prayers as, 'Bow down to the Mount of His holiness,' 'Bow down to His footstool,' 'Blessed are you Who returns His Divine Presence to Zion,' and the likes, are merely like the warble of the parrot and other birds who imitate human voices with no true intention.
"You are correct Khazar king, Israel's persistent presence in the exile is but a weakness, a shortcoming, a disgrace that must be put to an end."
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Rabbis in Midrash
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Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
