BeshalachAutomatic Holiness!
...We all understand that the mitzvot are meant to bring us to spiritual heights. Some of our mitzvot are clearly "spiritual," and it is easy to see how they help a person rise up in Divine service and closeness. But there are also mitzvot that appear to be "materialistic," of which it is hard to see the spiritual benefits.
On a superficial level, it is hard to see the mitzvot of working, building, and settling the Land as bringing about a higher level of spirituality. After all, people do these very same things on their parcels of land throughout the world! Perhaps we can see spirituality in synagogues and other holy sites, where people come to pray and the like – but what of regular pieces of earth? Where is the sanctity there?...