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After Hashem promised Avraham that he would inherit the land, Avraham asked: "How will I know that I will inherit it?" (Bereishit 15:8). The Torah commands to settle Eretz Yisrael as a positive commandment according to the Ramban. "And you shall conquer the Land and dwell in it, for I have given the Land to you to inherit it" (Bamidbar 33:53). The Ramban writes: "In my opinion this is a Torah commandment. He commanded that they live in the Land and inherit it, for Hashem gave it to them, and they should not despise it. If they contemplated to conquer the Land of Shinar or Assyria, a land not belonging to them, they would be transgressing a positive commandment…and this mitzva repeats itself numerous times, as it says: "Come and inherit the Land" (Devarim 1:8). But Rashi explained the pasuk: If you are able to remove its dwellers from there, then you will be able to settle it; but if you do not, you will not be able to settle it."
Why did the Ramban prefer his explanation to Rashi’s? We suggest the following. At the time of Brit Bein Hab’tarim, Avraham was an important person in the Land and even conquered the four kings to free his nephew Lot. Nevertheless the true ruler of the Land was Pharaoh of Egypt, and local kings were his vassals, as is recorded in the letters of Tel el Amarana. Pharaoh even judged between kings when there was a dispute and protected them from foreign enemies.
Therefore Avraham asked Hashem: Even if my children dwell in this Land, they will still be subject to the Egyptian empire, with all its implications, meaning that a critical ingredient of national life will still be lacking. When will Am Yisrael finally be free to fulfill the mitzva of settling the Land in its full sense? When and how will they get an independent state?
Hashem answered Avraham that only after four hundred years from the time of the beginning of the covenant regarding progeny (i.e., Yitzchak’s birth), the brit will be re-enacted on a national level when Am Yisrael would walk between the strips of Yam Suf and the connection to Egypt would finally be severed. Until Pharaoh’s army was drowned, complete freedom was still in doubt.
The Ramban’s explanation may be based on the connection between the words "Irashena, Vhorashtem, Lareshet" and the pasuk after the giving of the Torah at Sinai where it is stated, "Come and "reshu" the Land that I promised to your forefathers …." What was promised at Brit Bein Hab’tarim? This is the deeper spiritual connection between the seventh day of Pesach and Yom Haatzmaut, which is already hinted to in the "at bash" alphabetical code.
Rabbis in Midrash
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
