YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Family and Society
- Settling the land
- The Mitzvah of Settling the Land
Translated by Hillel Fendel
Here's a question that repeatedly arises: Given that we see some Jewish communities that by and large traditionally observed the Torah and its commandments, yet ceased doing so to a significant extent after they immigrated to the Land of Israel – was it worth it? There were great rabbis who said, prior to the Holocaust, that religious Jews should not ascend to the Land as long as its Zionist leaders were sinners and sometimes even heretics; perhaps they were right?
A penetrating analysis of this topic was conducted by the renowned Rav Tzadok HaCohen approximately 150 years ago. His bottom line is that those who espouse this position are guilty of the same sin as that of the 12 Spies sent by Moshe Rabbeinu to scout out the Promised Land. And so he writes in his Dover Tzedek (Har Bracha edition, Parashat Acharei Mot, p. 186), that G-d sometimes gives us commandments even though He knows they will lead to some negative consequences [the following is a paraphrased translation; see especially the last paragraph of this selection]:
"That which we see in Eretz Yisrael all sorts of beautiful and attractive elements – this is merely the 'skin of the snake' [a form of yetzer hara, Evil Inclination], and therefore our Sages taught (Sifra, Acharei Mot 13) that the Canaanites are the worst of the nations [for their idol-worship], and as the Spies said: 'The people living there are very brazen' (Bamidbar 13,28).
"They also said that Eretz Yisrael is 'a land that consumes its inhabitants' (ibid. 29) – and this was not for naught; it means that its 'skin of the snake' consumes its inhabitants by virtue of its many forms of serenity and attractions, which are liable to lead people astray… However, regarding the fruits of the Land, when they are eaten for the purpose of a mitzvah, the Name of G-d dwells upon it even when they are eaten expansively… But the Spies saw the external aspects of the fruits as the 'skin of the snake,' while Yehoshua and Calev [the two Spies who did not speak ill of the Land] saw the inner aspects, as "the Land is good" (ibid. 14,7).
"And why is the outside covering of the 'skin of the snake' so enticing and entrapping? On this is written, "If G-d desires us, He will bring us to the Land and will give it to us, a land of milk and honey" (ibid. 8). This means that if G-d wishes to bring us to the Land, even when He knows of the spiritual dangers – what business is it of ours? We know that when King Hezkiyahu was reluctant to procreate because he saw prophetically that his son would be the evil King Menashe, the prophet objected and said, "Why delve into the secrets of the All-merciful?" And even though it can be seen prophetically that his sons will not be very good, he must fulfill the commandments, as is written in the Talmud (B'rachot 10a). And on this, R. Shimon bar Yochai said that we must not ask…
That is to say: G-d knows that it could be that an evil son like Menashe might result from fulfilling the commandment, yet he will later repent - and in any case we may not forsake a commandment with which G-d has charged us.
Regarding our question above, then, it is clear that we must not forsake the mitzvah of living in Eretz Yisrael because of fears of spiritual harm. This also fits in with a Midrash brought in the Yalkut Shimoni (Eichah, 1037):
R. Chiyah taught a parable: A king went to Hamat Gader and took his sons with him. They once complained against him and vexed him, and he vowed that he would no longer take them with him. The next time, he went without them, and he remembered them and cried, and said, "How I wish my sons would be with me, even though they vex me." This is as is written [in a play on words] in Yirmiyahu 9,1, where G-d says that He wishes His people would be with Him just as they were in the desert when they used to rise up with complaints." And similarly, "The House of Israel dwells in its land and defiles it" (Yechezkel 36,17) – G-d says: "Would that My children be with Me in the Land of Israel even though they defile it."
We may not seek to "outwit" G-d's commandments. We must act honestly and simply, and obey His word. HaRav Kook elaborates on this regarding the Jewish National Fund (see Chazon HaGe'ulah, p. 222), explaining that it was important to cooperate with the JNF because it was fulfilling the simple and obligatory mitzvah of acquiring lands in Eretz Yisrael for the Jewish People – even though the JNF also enabled desecration of the Sabbath on the lands it acquired.
For in this case, too, the Jewish People are destined to do teshuva, because of its deep soul connection with G-d.
In order to get articles like this delivered straight to your inbox every week, subscribe to the Israel National Torah newsletter here.
Here's a question that repeatedly arises: Given that we see some Jewish communities that by and large traditionally observed the Torah and its commandments, yet ceased doing so to a significant extent after they immigrated to the Land of Israel – was it worth it? There were great rabbis who said, prior to the Holocaust, that religious Jews should not ascend to the Land as long as its Zionist leaders were sinners and sometimes even heretics; perhaps they were right?
A penetrating analysis of this topic was conducted by the renowned Rav Tzadok HaCohen approximately 150 years ago. His bottom line is that those who espouse this position are guilty of the same sin as that of the 12 Spies sent by Moshe Rabbeinu to scout out the Promised Land. And so he writes in his Dover Tzedek (Har Bracha edition, Parashat Acharei Mot, p. 186), that G-d sometimes gives us commandments even though He knows they will lead to some negative consequences [the following is a paraphrased translation; see especially the last paragraph of this selection]:
"That which we see in Eretz Yisrael all sorts of beautiful and attractive elements – this is merely the 'skin of the snake' [a form of yetzer hara, Evil Inclination], and therefore our Sages taught (Sifra, Acharei Mot 13) that the Canaanites are the worst of the nations [for their idol-worship], and as the Spies said: 'The people living there are very brazen' (Bamidbar 13,28).
"They also said that Eretz Yisrael is 'a land that consumes its inhabitants' (ibid. 29) – and this was not for naught; it means that its 'skin of the snake' consumes its inhabitants by virtue of its many forms of serenity and attractions, which are liable to lead people astray… However, regarding the fruits of the Land, when they are eaten for the purpose of a mitzvah, the Name of G-d dwells upon it even when they are eaten expansively… But the Spies saw the external aspects of the fruits as the 'skin of the snake,' while Yehoshua and Calev [the two Spies who did not speak ill of the Land] saw the inner aspects, as "the Land is good" (ibid. 14,7).
"And why is the outside covering of the 'skin of the snake' so enticing and entrapping? On this is written, "If G-d desires us, He will bring us to the Land and will give it to us, a land of milk and honey" (ibid. 8). This means that if G-d wishes to bring us to the Land, even when He knows of the spiritual dangers – what business is it of ours? We know that when King Hezkiyahu was reluctant to procreate because he saw prophetically that his son would be the evil King Menashe, the prophet objected and said, "Why delve into the secrets of the All-merciful?" And even though it can be seen prophetically that his sons will not be very good, he must fulfill the commandments, as is written in the Talmud (B'rachot 10a). And on this, R. Shimon bar Yochai said that we must not ask…
That is to say: G-d knows that it could be that an evil son like Menashe might result from fulfilling the commandment, yet he will later repent - and in any case we may not forsake a commandment with which G-d has charged us.
Regarding our question above, then, it is clear that we must not forsake the mitzvah of living in Eretz Yisrael because of fears of spiritual harm. This also fits in with a Midrash brought in the Yalkut Shimoni (Eichah, 1037):
R. Chiyah taught a parable: A king went to Hamat Gader and took his sons with him. They once complained against him and vexed him, and he vowed that he would no longer take them with him. The next time, he went without them, and he remembered them and cried, and said, "How I wish my sons would be with me, even though they vex me." This is as is written [in a play on words] in Yirmiyahu 9,1, where G-d says that He wishes His people would be with Him just as they were in the desert when they used to rise up with complaints." And similarly, "The House of Israel dwells in its land and defiles it" (Yechezkel 36,17) – G-d says: "Would that My children be with Me in the Land of Israel even though they defile it."
We may not seek to "outwit" G-d's commandments. We must act honestly and simply, and obey His word. HaRav Kook elaborates on this regarding the Jewish National Fund (see Chazon HaGe'ulah, p. 222), explaining that it was important to cooperate with the JNF because it was fulfilling the simple and obligatory mitzvah of acquiring lands in Eretz Yisrael for the Jewish People – even though the JNF also enabled desecration of the Sabbath on the lands it acquired.
For in this case, too, the Jewish People are destined to do teshuva, because of its deep soul connection with G-d.
In order to get articles like this delivered straight to your inbox every week, subscribe to the Israel National Torah newsletter here.
The Mitzvah of Settling the Land A New View of the Sin of the Miraglim
Why Don't Jews Want to Make Aliya
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
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.
