TORAT ERETZ YISRAEL
In addition to the explicit references to Eretz Yisrael found in this week’s parashah, there is at least one hidden reference. When enumerating the four river-branches that issue forth from Eden, the Torah states: The name of the first is Pishon; that is the one that encircles the whole land of Chavillah, where there is gold. And the gold of that land is good; bdellium is there, and the shoham stone (2:11-12). The Sages of the Midrash comment:
WHERE THERE IS GOLD: This refers to words of Torah, which are more desirable than gold, even much fine gold (Tehillim 19:11). AND THE GOLD OF THAT LAND IS GOOD: This teaches that there is no Torah like the Torah of Eretz Yisrael and no wisdom like the wisdom of Eretz Yisrael. BDELLIUM IS THERE, AND THE SHOHAM STONE: [This refers to] Scriptures, Mishnah, Talmud, Tosefta, and Aggadah. (BeReishit Rabbah 16:4)
Chazal elaborate upon the supremacy of Torat Eretz Yisrael in numerous other places. For example: When R. Zeira moved to Eretz Yisrael, he changed his ruling on a certain halachic issue, attributing his newfound insight to the special atmosphere of the Holy Land, saying, “The air of Eretz Yisrael makes one wise” (Bava Batra 158b). Commenting on a verse in Eichah (2:9), the Midrash states: “[Her king and her officers are] among the nations, there is no Torah – from here [we derive] that the Torah is in Eretz Yisrael” (Sifrei, Eikev 1). On the negative side, the Talmud states, “There was no greater abrogation of the Torah than when the Jews were exiled from their place” (Chagigah 5b).
What exactly does all this mean? Weren’t there great Torah scholars in the Diaspora throughout the ages?
First of all, it is important to point out that just because someone reaches a very high level of Torah scholarship outside the Land, that does not mean that they could not have reached an even higher level in God’s special Land, as R. Eliyahu Desler writes:
When I come to the Holy Land, I feel clearly that it is easier to learn Mussar and arouse my heart. In addition, one feels the siyata d’shemaya (heavenly assistance) in Torah study here… In our generation, we see with our own eyes how youngsters who study Torah flourish in Eretz Yisrael. They advance in their studies; they succeed in acquiring knowledge in all of Shas (the Talmud); and they achieve much more than others achieve in their Torah education in other lands. (Michtav MeEliyahu, vol. 3, p. 194-5)
Besides the quantitative difference, there is a fundamental, qualitative difference between Torat Eretz Yisrael and Torat Chutz LaAretz, which will explain the deeper meaning of the statements of Chazal quoted above. Midrash Tehillim (105) states:
R. Yosi bar Chalafta said to R. Yishma’el, his son: “Do you want to see the Shechinah (Divine Presence) in this world? Study Torah in Eretz Yisrael, as it says, Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence always (Tehillim 105:4).” (A commentator explains that “His strength” refers to Torah, and “His presence” refers to Eretz Yisrael.)