Eretz Yisrael in the Torah is intended to increase every Jew’s appreciation of the gift of Eretz Yisrael to the Jewish people. Every parsha in the Torah contains reference to Israel and our responsibilities toward this Holy Land. Eretz Yisrael in the Torah will highlight one possuk every week and will share a corresponding thought for you to consider and to share with others. We hope it will give chizzuk to those who live in Eretz Yisrael and will inspire those who have not yet come home.
HOW TO MAKE IT BACK HOME This week’s parashah covers the twenty-year period in which Ya’akov Avinu lived in Padan Aram with his father-in-law Lavan. In the end, Ya’akov returned to Eretz Yisrael, making him the first Jew (since Avraham received the commandment of Lech Lecha) to dwell in Chutz LaAretz for an extended period…
DWELL IN THE LAND There was a famine in the Land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Avraham; and Yitzchak went to Avimelech king of the Philistines, to Gerar. The Lord appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell (שכן) in the Land that I shall tell…
THE GOD OF THE LAND Avraham said to his servant… “I will make you swear by the Lord, God of heaven and God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell. Rather, you shall go to my land and to my…
THE GREATER TEST R’ Levi bar Chita said: “[The Torah] says lech lecha twice [once in the beginning of last week’s parashah – Go forth from your land…to the Land that I will show you (12:1), and once in the story of Akeidat Yitzchak – Please take your son…and go forth to the land of…
WHEN THERE’S A WILL THERE’S A WAY When God commanded Avraham to leave his birthplace and go to “the Land that I will show you” (12:1), our forefather did not hesitate nor question the order. On the contrary, he immediately picked up and began his journey, as it says two verses later, And Avraham went…
THE FLOOD AND ERETZ YISRAEL What connection could there possibly be between this parashah and the Holy Land? Seemingly, the flood affected the entire world, as the verse says, Everything that was on dry land died (7:22). Furthermore, this is essentially a universal parashah. It deals mainly with the father of mankind (hence, the seven…
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,…
THE DESIRE OF KINGS This week’s parashah enumerates the blessings that Moshe Rabbeinu gave the Children of Israel before he died. Many of these blessings contain clear references to the special qualities – both spiritual and physical – of Eretz Yisrael. The last verse in Yosef’s blessing states, בכור שורו הדר לו וקרני ראם קרניו…
THE FINAL STAGE OF HISTORY Shirat Ha’azinu is basically a synopsis of Jewish history, starting with HaShem’s choice of Am Yisrael and culminating in the final redemption, for which we so sorely yearn. It therefore behooves us – the generation living so close to the End of Days – to study this Song and learn…
THE INGATHERING OF THE EXILES The Lord your God will return (ve’shav) your captivity and have mercy on you, and He will return (ve’shav) and gather you from all the nations where the Lord your God has scattered you. If your dispersed will be at the ends of the heavens, from there the Lord your…