Lead Tidbit

Hitor'rut, Chizuk, Idud

Jews living in Eretz Yisrael fall into different categories. There are those who were born here and have lived their entire lives (so far - until 120, and beyond) here. There are those who were born elsewhere and came to live in Israel at a young age, or not so young age. There are those who fled their countries of origin and there are those who took the pro-active step of coming on Aliya from “comfortable” situations in their countries of origin. And then there are Jews who have not yet come to live in Israel. These include those who would like to, those who intend to, and those who do not yet have Aliya on their agendas - for a variety of reasons.

The title of this Lead Tidbit is meant to include all Jews in the purview of the following paragraphs.

For some, it will hopefully remind them of the very special quality of living in Eretz Yisrael, even if they tend to take things for granted, and not marvel at the specialness of their living here. That is the intended meaning and target for HITOR’RUT (or HISOR’RUS, if you like).

For others, Olim of various lengths of time, the goal is CHIZUK. You know why you came, but sometimes you need a reminder of how special it is to live in Israel. Sometimes, the experiences of everyday life blunt or obscure the good feelings of your choice to come on Aliya. Hopefully, the following paragraphs will be a vitamin shot for them.

And for those who do not yet live in Israel, we hope that the following paragraphs will serve as IDUD, encouragement. Maybe they will be the push or nudge you need to activate your plans and actualize your dreams. Maybe, at least, you will think anew about this important subject.

And now for those “following paragraphs” we’ve referred to.

Living in Israel is a mitzva - the mitzva known as YISHUV ERETZ YISRAEL. In this Lead Tidbit, we are not going to discuss Mitzva Kiyumit vs. Mitzva Chiyuvit. Nor will we address the issue of Rambam’s not including this mitzva in his list of Taryag. We’re also not going to talk about whether the mitzva is active in this time or not. All of that and more belongs to a presentation of the Mitzva of YISHUV ERETZ YISRAEL. Which this is NOT going to be. It’s going to be more.

Living in Eretz Yisrael is the reason for the existence of the Jewish Nation. No less.

The Torah consistently links our nationhood with our being given and taken to Eretz Yisrael. Take a look in last week’s sedra of Sh’mot. G-d’s first “conversation” with Moshe Rabeinu. Specifically, Sh’mot 3:8 - “And I have come down to save them from the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them out of that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey…” G-d’s intended Plan - to take the people out of Egypt to bring them to Eretz Yisrael. This is not even presented as a two-pronged plan. It is not presented in two p’sukim or even in one pasuk with an “and” between the two elements. It doesn’t say, to take them out of Egypt AND to bring them to Eretz Yisrael. It says, to take up out of Egypt to Eretz Yisrael. In order to take us to Eretz Yisrael.

Still, we can view this as two parts of the Plan, without weakening the significance of the component of G-d’s Plan that includes living in Eretz Yisrael. Let’s go back to Avraham Avinu and G-d’s command to him (and all future generations) to circumcise. Immediately before commanding circumcision, that which Brit Mila symbolizes is spelled out. B’reishit 17:7,8 - “And I will establish my covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you, and to your descendants after you. And I will give to you, and to your descendants after you, the land where you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”

The Plan can now be seen in a more complete form. G-d will take the people out of Egypt and give us the Torah (and all the commitment that is involved) on the way to taking us to Eretz Yisrael.

This is beautifully expressed in the beginning of Va’eira - which is why this is this week’s Lead Tidbit - in what is usually known as the Five Terms of Redemption, but can be seen as Eight Terms of Redemption. Sh’mot 6:6-8 - “Therefore say to the people of Israel, I am HaShem, and I will bring you out… and I will rid you from their slavery, and I will redeem you…  (3 terms of Y’tzi’at Mitzrayim itself), And I will take you to Me for a people, and I will be to you God; and you shall know that I am HaShem your God, who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians (3 terms - combined as one - for Matan Torah). And I will bring you in to the land… and I will give it to you for a heritage (2 terms - combined as one - for possession and living in Eretz Yisrael); I am HaShem.”

For those Jews who live in Eretz Yisrael - be aware and be strengthen in this reiteration of the place that living in Israel has in G-d’s Plan for the Jewish People. Of the significance of living in Israel as part of the reason we exist as a people and a nation.

For those Jews not yet living in Eretz Yisrael, let this be a stimulus for for discussion within your family and for planning the implementation of those plans.
Finally, we must add that although the main thrust of this Lead Tidbit has been Living in Israel, it must be clear that it is G-d’s Plan that the Jewish People live in the Land of Israel according to the Torah. Without Torah, Eretz Yisrael is like a body without a soul.

So why do we keep harping on Aliya and not as much on Torah observance in its entirety? Perhaps it is because we hear some Jews claim that it is possible to be completely Torah observant elsewhere in the world. And that is just not so!

• Other Lead Tidbit
• The Middle Matza
• When will we learn?!?
• A Brief Look Back at Chanuka