Rabbi's Blog

As Jews around the world began the transition from Tish’a B’Av to Shabbos Nachamu, the Shabbos of consolation, I began to think about what ‘grade’ or score God gave us regarding this most recent day of mourning. What, I wondered, are the metrics that Hashem uses to determine whether we convinced Him that we are truly worthy of return, worthy of bringing about the salvation? Did we just cry about the destruction of Jewry throughout the centuries around the world? Was our focus deeply intent enough on praying for the Beis HaMikdash to be rebuilt or crying with the Teshuva/repentance that we will try harder to watch how we speak? I think they are all valid points that Hashem uses to calculate our score, but I would like to add one more: Did we focus with intensity; did we truly crave for our return to Eretz Yisrael? Putting aside the modern-day word of ‘Zionism’ as a measure, do we continue to work on our Ahavas Eretz Yisrael, our true love of the land? I’m not sure if I would qualify to be a Zionist because as of now I don’t live in Israel. Nevertheless, I am proud to believe and declare with a full heart that Eretz Yisrael is the land that all Jews should aspire to live in. I believe fervently that ultimately, in the time of Moshiach, Eretz Yisroel – our land of Israel - will be the central place for Jews to live.

A day or two before Tisha B’Av I was shocked and taken aback reading an article from a well-known, outspoken Jew expressing his opinion that Jewish communities should be strengthened. I try not to criticize people in a forum like this, and I also want to be careful in my critique of his message. He clearly writes how Israel is central to the Jewish people, but on the other hand Europe should not become desolate of Jews. He writes to the contrary how Jews should be proud of their Judaism and be able to freely express their Jewish identity publicly. The following is a direct quote from the author: “I count the State of Israel as the great love of my life and I have taken immense pride seeing my children serve in its military. Israel is the eternal homeland of the Jewish People. But Jews also have a universal mission. It warms my heart to see the continued success of Polish Chief Rabbi Michael Shudrich, rebuilding Jewish life where six million Jews were murdered, and I was moved to my core to see the enormous new synagogue in Munich where 80 years ago Hitler came to power, run by Rabbi Shmuel Brodman. No reader of this column should wish to see Europe become a continent empty of Jews”.

I understand the need for Jewish outreach, positively affecting our fellow Jews who live in the diaspora – as well as in Eretz Yisroel. I understand and accept that it’s extremely important for us to have a strong presence within communities throughout the free world, to build our educational and religious infrastructure. I don’t, however, see the need to rebuild communities which were the scene of horrific destruction, to “rebuild Jewish life where six million” of our people were brutally exterminated. The Navi Yeshayahu spoke about the Jews being an ‘Or Lagola’ by living a good and upright life in the land of Israel - showing the world how a people – a unified nation - in our land are supposed to act. Yes, we should set the example by living lives of chessed, emunah (belief), and positive contribution – wherever we reside, but the concept of Light unto the Nations does not mean showing the nations of the world how to live through viewing the way Jews happen to live among gentiles in the diaspora. It is our job to give that light to the world simply because that is who we are supposed to be and displaying it from with our land Eretz Yisrael.

I was particularly disturbed to read this article at the same time we were preparing ourselves for Tisha B’Av - the fast day commemorating the exile from the land in which we ought to want to live. Perhaps the timing of this week’s parsha VaEschanan in proximity to this calamity comes to remind us of the land we are not only supposed to want but a land to which we are intimately connected; a land which in we are entitled to live and flourish.

In this week’s Parsha VaEschanan the Torah states in Devarim 4:1: “V’Ata Yisrael Shma El HaChukim V’El HaMishpatim Asher Anochi Melamed Eschem LaAsos, L’Maan Tichyu Uvasem Virishtem Es HaAretz, Asher Hashem Elokei Avoseichem Nosein Lachem” - “Now, Israel, listen to the rules and laws that I am teaching you to do, so that you will remain alive and come to occupy and inherit the land that God, Lord of your fathers, is giving you.” Rav Moshe Lotar explains that there is only one way the Jews would be able to enter into the land and to hold on to it for the length of days. The method is to listen and to adhere to our laws. The verse specifically uses the word ‘now’ indicating to us that it is only now after Moshe’s prayers did not help him, that he was punished because he sinned by hitting the rock instead of speaking to it. Because Moshe sinned by hitting the rock rather than speaking to it, Moshe lost the Zchus - merit to enter the land, and, as a byproduct, extend the days of his life.

The second half of the passuk is predicated on the first half: “In order to live and come to inherit the land and to hold onto it, one needs to listen to the laws and statutes that I teach you here today.” There are many references to the lack of holiness in the exile and the increased amount of impurity outside Eretz Yisrael. We know that living in Eretz Yisrael gives us the opportunity to fulfill more of the mitzvos than our brethren can fulfill outside the land. The Midrash HaGadol points out regarding this verse the fact that God is teaching us. The Midrash asks: “What is God teaching?” while not taken literally, it nevertheless teaches us that whoever is involved, whoever toils in Torah, will merit for himself a share in the World to Come. With the learning of the Torah we will merit the inheritance and therefore the occupation of our land.

The goal, the ultimate purpose of the Jewish people is to learn Torah, to observe and fulfill the Mitzvos. This alone will gain us access to Eretz Yisroel, permitting us to fulfill more mitzvos. Once we are successful at that, we can then be Or Lagoyim - a light unto the nations from our home land, not by living amongst the gentiles. The Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh explains this verse from the viewpoint of Moshe warning us, the Jewish People, to listen to what Hashem tells us to do, unlike Moshe himself who sinned by hitting the rock. As a result, Moshe was not permitted entrance into Eretz Yisrael. Moshe encouraged and warned the Jews not to sin and suffer his fate. On the contrary Moshe did everything in his power to arrange Klal Yisrael to enter, settle and inherit the land that was promised to our forefathers, Avraham, Yitzchok and Yaakov. Moshe tried to get them into Eretz Yisrael as quickly as possible and to settle the land for he knew this was our homeland and we would flourish in our land rather than flounder in the diaspora.

If we can’t make Aliyah right now, let us appreciate the need to settle in Eretz Yisrael. It is our mission, of course, to build up our local communities, but it should also be our yearning and hope to support and to love Eretz Yisrael so that one day we will be privileged to settle the land of our inheritance.

Ah Gut Shabbos       Rabbi Avraham Bogopulsky

Rabbi Bogopulsky’s book “Developing A Torah Personality” is available for purchase directly from him or Amazon

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