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The Kli Yakar has an interesting take on these words. A person may think that if God chose the Land of Israel for the Jewish people then the Land has God’s " Plumbe "
( a lead seal vouching for the Kashrut of an item ) , and by bringing us here we have carte blanche to do with the Land as we, the chosen of God, see fit. But is that true?
As a child I remember coming to Israel , walking into a restaurant and asking "Is this kosher?" Invariably, someone nearby would say, "You’re in Israel now, everything is kosher."
As a naive child, I was able to accept that everything is kosher in the Land of Israel . But, the Kli Yakar says, the Torah is warning us that though the holiness of the Land inspires us, makes us feel pure and holy, we need to ask ourselves, do we inspire it, do we make it kosher?
Yaacov Peterseil is the Director of Simcha Publishing Company and calls Jerusalem "home."
Pesach
On Pesach, besides celebrating the fact that our ancestors were freed from brutal slavery, we celebrate the birth of the Jewish people. The prophet Yechezkel refers to the exodus from Egypt as the birthday of the Jewish nation, "the day that you were born" (Yechezkel 16:4). Along with our release from the shackles of bondage placed upon us in Egypt, our collective existence was broadened as we gained the new status of "Am Yisrael."
It is for this reason that within the context of the retelling of the story of the exodus, the wicked son is seen as a blasphemer because he separates himself from the nation of Israel - "since he removed himself from the collective, he has denied God ". The Jew who removes himself from the Jewish nation simultaneously removes himself from the Master of the World.
While, in fact, our departure from Egypt marked the beginning of the formation of the Jewish nation, the Maharal of Prague explains (Netiv Hatzedaka, Chapter 6) that true "arevut" - mutual responsibility of every Jew for every other Jew - was only achieved when we crossed the Jordan River and entered into Eretz Israel. It is only here in Eretz Israel that we are able to reach our full potential as an interconnected and unified nation.
"Ata echad, ve'shimcha echad, umi ke'amcha Yisrael goy echad ba'aretz"
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.