The mitzvot are intrinsic to Israel. The Torah and Land of Israel are inseparable - the one can only flourish with the other.
Zionism is declared alive and well in the very first words of the Torah in Parshat Bereishit. "In the beginning Elokim created the heavens and the earth".
Rashi immediately jumps on the Posuk and brings down R. Yitzchok who says," the Torah should have begun with "this month shall be your first month", it being the first Mitzvah Bnei Yisrael were commanded". The fact that the Torah began with the words, "In the beginning Elokim created" is to declare the power of G-d's works to his People in order to give to them the inheritance of the Nations. Thus should the nations of of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, for you have taken by force the land of the seven nations", Israel can answer "all the earth belongs to G-d".
He created it and gave it to us as an inheritance. Rashi knew fully well that 1000 years after he had lived that the Land of Israel would once again come back to the Jewish People. He anticipated this happening 1,000 years before it did. Clearly prophetic. He chose the very first words of the Torah to declare the land of Israel as the eternal inheritance of the Jewish People. Yes, the word "Bereishit" begs to be expounded upon. Rashi says that the world was created for the sake of Torah which is called "Reishit of his Way".
The fact that Rashi makes these two points at the very beginning of the Torah highlights the importance of the Land of Israel as the Jewish People's eternal Homeland and the Torah its eternal Treasure. The remaining portion of the Five Books of Moses can now move forward. Rashi felt it essential to point out the two most critical issues right off the bat-Israel and Torah.
Two inseparable aspects of the Jewish People. The Maharal in his Gur Aryeh asks the question of why Rashi brings down R. Yitzchok connecting Mitzvot to the Land of Israel. What is the connection of Mitzvot to the Land? The Maharal answers that most Mitzvot in the Torah are dependent upon the Land of Israel. Therefore Rashi felt obligated to connect Torah and the Land of Israel at the outset.
A famous Sifrei is brought down by the Ramban on Bereishit 26:5 ("Because Abraham obeyed my voice, and observed My Safeguards, My Commandments, My decrees and My Teachings") and quoted again by the Ramban in Leviticus 18:25 and Deuteronomy 11:18 which intimates that the Mitzvot are intrinsic to the Land of Israel. Although most would say that the performance of all Mitzvot have much more value performed in the Land of Israel compared to the Exile, this Sifrei seems to imply that the the only real place where Mitzvot can be performed properly is in Israel.
This Sifrei makes it more understandable why Rashi felt compelled to connect the Mitzvot/Torah with the Land of Israel in the very first Posuk of the Torah. They are intertwined and inseparable. May the Torah and Mitzvot flourish in the Land of Israel and the World over today like never before in our History. Shabbat Shalom
Zionism is declared alive and well in the very first words of the Torah in Parshat Bereishit. "In the beginning Elokim created the heavens and the earth".
Rashi immediately jumps on the Posuk and brings down R. Yitzchok who says," the Torah should have begun with "this month shall be your first month", it being the first Mitzvah Bnei Yisrael were commanded". The fact that the Torah began with the words, "In the beginning Elokim created" is to declare the power of G-d's works to his People in order to give to them the inheritance of the Nations. Thus should the nations of of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, for you have taken by force the land of the seven nations", Israel can answer "all the earth belongs to G-d".
He created it and gave it to us as an inheritance. Rashi knew fully well that 1000 years after he had lived that the Land of Israel would once again come back to the Jewish People. He anticipated this happening 1,000 years before it did. Clearly prophetic. He chose the very first words of the Torah to declare the land of Israel as the eternal inheritance of the Jewish People. Yes, the word "Bereishit" begs to be expounded upon. Rashi says that the world was created for the sake of Torah which is called "Reishit of his Way".
The fact that Rashi makes these two points at the very beginning of the Torah highlights the importance of the Land of Israel as the Jewish People's eternal Homeland and the Torah its eternal Treasure. The remaining portion of the Five Books of Moses can now move forward. Rashi felt it essential to point out the two most critical issues right off the bat-Israel and Torah.
Two inseparable aspects of the Jewish People. The Maharal in his Gur Aryeh asks the question of why Rashi brings down R. Yitzchok connecting Mitzvot to the Land of Israel. What is the connection of Mitzvot to the Land? The Maharal answers that most Mitzvot in the Torah are dependent upon the Land of Israel. Therefore Rashi felt obligated to connect Torah and the Land of Israel at the outset.
A famous Sifrei is brought down by the Ramban on Bereishit 26:5 ("Because Abraham obeyed my voice, and observed My Safeguards, My Commandments, My decrees and My Teachings") and quoted again by the Ramban in Leviticus 18:25 and Deuteronomy 11:18 which intimates that the Mitzvot are intrinsic to the Land of Israel. Although most would say that the performance of all Mitzvot have much more value performed in the Land of Israel compared to the Exile, this Sifrei seems to imply that the the only real place where Mitzvot can be performed properly is in Israel.
This Sifrei makes it more understandable why Rashi felt compelled to connect the Mitzvot/Torah with the Land of Israel in the very first Posuk of the Torah. They are intertwined and inseparable. May the Torah and Mitzvot flourish in the Land of Israel and the World over today like never before in our History. Shabbat Shalom
20 comments:
Shkoyach. Nice D'var Torah DIN.
Gut Shabbos!
The land of Israel is indeed discussed. Zionism is not. No half-truths please.
"A famous Sifrei is brought down by the Ramban on Bereishit 26:5 ("Because Abraham obeyed my voice, and observed My Safeguards, My Commandments, My decrees and My Teachings") "
See the Ramban on the 1st pasuk and he clearly states that Eretz Yisroel is only outrs as long as we follow the Torah,
If not, the what happens?
ותקיא הארץ את יושביה
Did you davven MUssaf this past Yomtov?
Did you say ומפני חטאינו גלינו מארצנו ???
ו
9:29
It is in fact a whole truth ...Zionism is the dream that every single Jew has .. to come home to the land that the Ribbono Shel Oilim gifted to us ..
Those Jews that don't have that wish or mock those Frum Jews that call themselves Zionists, are as the Zohar Hakodosh calls them ..the "eirav Rav"
the Eirav Rav can also be people that dress in vaaseh shtrimp ...and throw apples !
Joe Bobcat
I went over this Ramban many times over
See my sidebars on Satmar
However the Torah in פרשת עקב
אל תאמר בלבבך בהדוף ה׳ אלקך אתם מלפניך לאמר בצדקתי הביאני ה׳ לרשת את הארץ הזאת, וברשעת הגוים האלה ה׳ מורישם מפניך
לא בצדקתך וביושר לבבך אתה בא לרשת את ארצם
כי ברשעת הגוים האלה ה׳ אלקך מורישם מפניך
The verse state unequivocally that it does not depend on how frum the Jewish people are
Also it seems that Ezra Hasoifer and Nechemia missed that Ramban since they advocated Aliyah knowing full well that the Jewish inhabitants were all assimilated and מחללי שבת
No, DIN. I don't believe you care more about Tzion than do I. For that matter I know few people who do. I cry about it and pray for it with the warmest tefillos on a constant basis and the tears flow on my cheeks as I do. But 'Zionism' the way it is meant by most people who use that term, is not my dream at all.
Bobcat...
The posuk does exactly not apply nowadays.. See Rav Teichtal's and Orach Chaim Hakadosh ( brought down by R' Teichtal) for explanation... In short,
The Jews who entered EY were initially all frum, so there was an urgent obligation for them to keep the mitzvos, and when they didn't, the land spat them out...
This is now 2,ooo years later, and the opposite has happened.... The Land drew them in... The signal from Hashem was given, and you guys, the talmidei chachomim , for the most part, refused to heed the call... So the non-frum who unbelievably heard the bas kol were moser nefesh to rebuild.... Read some history from RELIABLE sources... Zionist conventions were open to ALL JEWS, and the frum were talked out of it by the leaders..There were Communists, Socialists, agnostics, atheists, believers, frum, semi-believers, leave-us-alone types.... Open to ALL JEWS... You guys absconded... The 2nd Bet Hamikdash was destroyed primarily for sinas chinum, not for other sins requiring "Vetoki".... Amazingly, the Maharsha states emphatically that the seeds of 2nd BH destruction began with the REFUSAL of frummies to join the Great Ezra... who also amazingly, brought with him the assimilated, the mechallelei Shabbos, pagan worshippers , etc... It was a success, but forever tainted by the groise sheineh Yidden who stayed in sweet Babel....See Resh Lokish, for example, who said that he HATED the Babylonians... Read, the big tzaddikim who refused to make Aliyah...
No Bobcat, your perspective of reality is tainted by propaganda.... Many of it Meraglim plaplerei... not L'Shem Shomayim....
Instead of lighting a candle, you CATS curse the darkness....
Your reference to" Vetokee" is maybe wishful thinking, maybe ?????
Ain't Happenin'.... Keep ignoring the Torah learning there, the chessed, the shuls, the yeshivos, the kollelim, the building of Yerushalayim... Bonei Berachachmov.... fruits, foods,....... Keep ignoring it because you guys found a a "Vetoki"....
You guyz so concerned about 'Vetoki" ? Move there...!!!!
Try to convince the non-frum, try to make a Kiddush Hashem so they can emulate us instead of mocking us...
EY is ours no matter what..!!! EY, Hashem and Am Yisroel is one...not ARE one.... IS ONE...
Hey boyz & goilz..... Look how concerned these anti-Zionists are about EY...
Eh, we can do mitzvoth here in Las Vegas...!!!!
Mipnei Chatoeinu, Vtokee, Rambam...Musaf.....Blah, Blah...
You're not fooling G-D...!!!!
the Derby
... Just to add the following:
The current geulah is coming slowly, unless everybody doeas tshuva, and in that case it's HAYOM IM BEKOLO...etc...
Many Gedolim wrote about our return BEFORE Moshiach... Discussed this many times...
I Only ask that all stone throwers, first stare in the mirror, do your own tshuva, that includes me too... Don't look for faults, don't prove by toire'lach...
All the frummie anti-Zionists do is bash, bash , bash... spend time & money on publications and websites... republish discredited "seforim" & books bashing other Jews... Bashing, bashing,,,
You Talmidei Chachamim:
Didn't you just include the Arovos in your hand-picked %50 million esrog with the magnifying glass checking for spots and admiring the gartel..??? Without the Aravah, without the poshei Yisroel, your gorgeous esrog is worhless..
Didn't you just fast and bekittled and be-chest -gebochet al cheits say aloud.... UNO MATIRIM L"HISPALLEL IM HAVARYONIM??????
EY is yours for the grabbing.... Make Aliyah, or you're deluxe professional hypocrites to the very core...
Remember: The biggest klippos and satan are fighting against EY , because their time is almost up...
The biggest Yetzer Hara today is attacking EY..... It's a national tragedy, because they're not looking for even a piece of good.....
Hillary'll show you soon.... Even if the Donald gets in, it's going to be a rough period here..... Hashem is signaling... You listening..???
the Derby
My Dear brother Derby,
I don't want to argue with harsh words because it seems that you truly mean it ehrlich. I think I do too, although I can't be sure because a person can't.
I have several points on the matter. I can't get into everything at once but here is one point to begin.
We daven Galay.. Vehofa ... Vehinasay... and then we daven vekarev etc. The aliya that is made nowadays does't create Galay Vehofa Vehinasay or any real kvod shamayim to show that Hashem has brought us back with his strength and gathered us from between the nations along with himself - vehaishiv lo nemar ki im veshov. It is done by human natural intervention. Where do we see Hashem and his glory? His people have been exiled tortured and beaten and trampled. Where is Harnini Goyim amo? I know that we could see hashgocha pratis in the success of the endeavor, but that, INMO, is not what is meant. We can see hashgacha in anything if we look well. Have we been exiled and tortured all of the years for it to eventually be resolved without it being resolved? Is that the Kvod shamayim and Kvod Yisroel? Even if it is Geula, it certainly isn't nechama. It won't heal my wounds and the wounds of all of my brothers and it won't wipe away our tears. We have come back and continue to fight diplomatically for our existence. I refuse to accept that as solace. I'm am waiting for Eliyahu Hanavi. I am waition for a yom hagadol vahanora. I am waition for lo yeamar od ... ela chai Hashem asher hela vaasher havie etc. BB"A
A general comment.
I don't agree with any Jew who spews hatred towards another Jew. Not against modern or even chiloni and also not against ultra frummy and Chasisdish or rebbish. If we see our brother nebech being mechakel Shabbos we must still love him, but if we see our brother throwing apples on Simchas Torah then we don't?
Please! I am calling for a stop to sinas chinom.
Cha Cha de Chazente sings:
Don't worry about Vetoki... Worry that Vetoki shouldn't suddenly apply to all of you in Chutz...Especially under Hillary.
Worry that you don't get Vetoki out of your marble tiled toilets..
That you bank accounts don't get confiscated or taxed to nothing..
Ain't no Vetioki happenin' anywhere but here, and in Paris, and in London and AANTVERPPEN...
Speaking of AANTVERPENN, last summer when I was in Israel, a young AANVERTENNITE on honeymoon, told me that the wealthy ones already bought homes in EY just in case....
Take a walk in Rechavia Jerusalem and you see nice empty homes, unoccupied, hardly a soul on the street... So I ask a zhlubby question to one of the locals... He yells at me," you don't understand?? You Americaner yold you???"
The Chutz laaretz'ites, just in case they get the Vetokis in their tookies from 5 Clowns, Shmonsey , de SCHVEIIITZ, you know, TZEEEEERICH & AAAANTVERPPEN , bought homes here and are ready to hightail and settle right down the block on a moment's notice...
So much for Vetoki...
I'm tellin'ya....
You should hear me throw down a Mipnei Chatoeinu with the choir...
I was so good they threw apples at me...
Whatever..
7:14
And where did Vetoki really happen?////??
In Europe! Where is Bobov, Ger, Lubavitch, Belz, Kloizenberg, Satmar, Valozhin, Mir, Telz etc... now?
Didn't the Goyim Vetoiked them out?
There was more Vetoki and bloodshed in Europe than in all of Israel and I'm taking the destruction of Jews in during both Bais Hamikdashs in account!
My Dear Harry..
First of all. a great year to you & yours...
Frankly, I'm tired of arguing my points..
I'm willing to buy and send you as a gift...EIM HABONIM SEMEICHA by R' Teichtal... if I can still get it...
Also, and I know I can't get it her in USA, R' Kalisher's Derishat Tziyon, as far as I know it's only available in Jerusalem.
Read it, peruse it and if you don't agree than it's fine...
Give youself a chance... He tackles all questions...
There are other seforim also, but alas, alas, mipnei chatoeinu, are not found in local Judaica stores... Chaval... Chaval..
We all wait for Elihau and Moshiach.... Meanwhile let's open eyes to miracles as the saga in real time unfolds...Let's praise Hashem for the small and large miracles in EY till these happen...
I & members of my family were zoche to see it when my grandparents from both sides were not... They have to wait for Tchiyas Hameisim and I, their grandson, and my children walked its land... Go figure.... Unbelievable...
Last summer, I and a family member took a crowded bus in Jerusalem... I have some grey hairs under my kilppah.... A younger apparently chiloni with hair down to his waist offered me his seat in Hebrew ... I declined... I respect him more... He lives there, I don't....I stood...I blessed him in broken Hebrew and he smiled... Made my day... Made my trip...Hopefully made his day too...
Thanks.
the Derby
Our people suffered lot's of Vetoki. Maybe because of sinas chinum, as Chaza"l tell us that that was the cause of the churban bayis shaini.
The actual vetoki means that EY can't tolerate sinners because of it's kedusha, but then it says uvagoyim hahaim lo sargia. We need to repent from the sin of the day and the centuries and millenniums - sinas chinom.
7:33
According to all meforshim ...there will never be a Vetoki in EY again ...I talked about this for years ... and it seems that you are relatively new to this blog ... this has been regurgitated a million times here ... go back and search this point in my blog ...I also recommend the book "oloy Naaleh" that brings down all the sources for this ...
We have over 100 thousand bochrim and yungeleit learning Torah in EY ...never before in the entire Jewish history has that ever happened ...
you are witnessing Torah in Israel that Moshe Rabbeinu never saw , Yehoshuah, the Shoftim, the Neveeim, the Jewish Kings never ever saw ...
We are witnessing the fruition of the Neveeis of Amos that before Mashiach, Israel will flower and flourish once again ...
guys like you that sound so frum, quoting Beer Hetiv about throwing apples at people, will never get it ... stay in America...soon they will get you here too....
We live in an upside down world, just recently 6 million Jews were brutally murdered while at the same time the Jews that lived in EY survived ... all the Jewish towns in Europe were decimated yet there are still Harry's around that wear Tallis and Tefillin ...eat kosher, are Shomrei Torah and Mitzvas and deny the Miracle of the State of Israel .... amazing!
Turns out that all the Gedoilim of Europe that urged jews to remain in Europe and not to listen to the Zionists were completly wrong, with some of them escaping themselves leaving their flock behind to throw apples at each other and getting destroyed ...
Wake up, my fellow brothers, wake up from your deep slumber ...
I would like to read Rav Teichtahl's sefer, but not Kalisher, as he was disqualified in my circles.
Curious... Which circle?? You thinking for yourself, or imbibing Malaga???? He was in the circle of R' Akiva Eiger and many other great gedolim and tzaddikim and corresponded with them...
Anyway, if you can figure it out, I send you an Eim Habonim if I can get it.
the Derby
Circles???? I think I know.
Except for korbonos, which can be argued, everything else he wrote was prophetic.
I'm assuming that it is the Rav Teichtahl who wrote Mishneh Sachir, right?
Correct, published just as war broke out. I have that sefer also..
Wrote Eim Habonim without seforim, from memory in hiding in Budapest.
Ran back to Slovakia, got caught, was murdered by a Ukranian guard on the train to Belsen I think, because of a piece of bread that the Ukranian took away from another Jew on the train.
Yes, that's him...
Derby
Harry 6:26, I completely agree! Shkoyach for that very comment! You can check out my blog at achsameach.blogspot. Do you have a blog? Because what you say seems to really be right on....
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