Israel’s Greatest Treasure Isn’t What It Has — It’s What It Stands For
LECH LECHA: IS ISRAEL JUST ANOTHER COUNTRY?
Why the Holy Land Must Never Lose Its Soul
A tourist visiting Israel once asked his guide, “Tell me, what makes Israel so special? Every country has its history, its government, its politics, and its problems!”
The guide smiled. “That’s true. But in most countries, people argue about politics. In Israel, we’ve been arguing since the days of Moses!”
And judging by the newspapers, the argument hasn’t ended!
But behind the humor lies a serious question.
What really makes Israel different?
Its remarkable science and technology? Its military strength? Its democracy? Its extraordinary resilience?
All achievements worthy of admiration.
But is that what makes Israel Israel?
Or is there something deeper, something that existed long before there was a Knesset, a prime minister, or an Israeli flag?
This week’s Torah portion, Lech Lecha, offers a remarkable answer.
The Rebbe’s Fascinating Question
Rashi opens his commentary on the Torah by asking:
Why does the Torah begin with Creation rather than the first mitzvah given to the Jewish people?
He explains that when the nations accuse the Jewish people of taking the land of the seven Canaanite nations, we can respond:
“The entire earth belongs to G-d. He created it and gave it to whomever He deemed proper.”
But the Lubavitcher Rebbe raises a fascinating question.
Why go all the way back to Creation?
Why not simply quote this week’s Torah portion, where G-d promises Abraham:
“To your descendants I will give this land.”
Isn’t that enough?
The Rebbe explains that the issue is not merely who possesses the land.
The deeper question is what gives the land its identity.
When the Jewish people entered Canaan, they were not simply establishing another kingdom.
They were fulfilling a Divine covenant that would transform the land’s spiritual identity.
Canaan would become Eretz Yisrael — the Land of Israel.
Not merely a change of name or government, but a land entrusted with a sacred purpose.
And that purpose comes from the Creator Himself.
A Country Needs a Government. A Holy Land Needs a Soul.
My friends, we rightly admire modern Israel.
Its achievements in medicine, agriculture, technology, defense, and innovation are extraordinary. Its democratic institutions are an important part of its national life.
But alongside these accomplishments, we must remember something timeless.
Israel is not simply another country on the map. It is the Holy Land.
And there is a difference.
Democracy provides a framework for governing a country.
Holiness reminds us of the higher purpose for which we live.
A government can build highways, hospitals, and schools. It can protect its citizens and strengthen its economy.
All vital accomplishments.
But holiness asks an additional question:
What are we doing with the blessings G-d has entrusted to us?
Are we building a society of integrity, compassion, humility, and respect for human dignity?
The greatness of Israel is not only what it accomplishes, but the sacred ideals it calls upon us to fulfill.
What Does It Mean to Be a Holy Land?
Sometimes we imagine holiness belongs only in a synagogue, a yeshiva, or at the Western Wall.
But the Torah teaches something much broader.
“You shall be holy, for I, the L-rd your G-d, am holy.”
Holiness belongs in the marketplace, the courtroom, the hospital, and the home.
In honest business dealings.
In caring for the vulnerable.
In respecting those with whom we disagree.
And in remembering that even when we possess power, we remain accountable to a Higher Power.
The prophets of Israel repeatedly reminded us of this responsibility.
Isaiah called for justice. Micah taught us to love kindness and walk humbly with G-d.
The holiness of Israel is not simply a privilege to celebrate. It is a responsibility to fulfill.
Transforming the Ordinary Into the Holy
And here is the Rebbe’s beautiful insight.
The transformation of Canaan into Eretz Yisrael teaches us that something can acquire an entirely new spiritual identity without changing its physical appearance.
Take an ordinary piece of leather.
Properly prepared for tefillin, it becomes an object of holiness.
Take an ordinary room.
Fill it with Torah study, prayer, hospitality, and kindness, and it becomes a place where G-d’s presence is revealed.
The walls haven’t changed.
The furniture hasn’t changed.
But the purpose has changed.
And that is the great vision of Chabad Chassidus:
To make the physical world a dwelling place for G-d.
Not to escape the world, but to elevate it.
Not to reject material achievements, but to fill them with spiritual purpose.
And if that is our responsibility here in Mineola, imagine the sacred responsibility associated with the Land of Israel!
Israel Is More Than Its Achievements
Sometimes Israel is described as a technological miracle.
And indeed, it is.
But imagine describing the Western Wall merely as an impressive example of ancient stone construction!
Or the Torah simply as a remarkable contribution to literature!
Wouldn’t we be missing the point?
The Western Wall is not merely stone. The Torah is not merely literature. And Israel is not merely a political achievement.
It is a land woven into the prayers, promises, memories, and spiritual destiny of the Jewish people.
For nearly two thousand years, Jews turned toward Jerusalem in prayer.
At the Passover Seder and the conclusion of Yom Kippur, we declared:
“Next year in Jerusalem!”
Generations who had never seen the land carried it in their hearts.
They dreamed not merely of a homeland, but of Zion, Jerusalem, and renewed closeness to G-d.
That spiritual connection is what makes Israel so precious.
Holiness Should Unite, Not Divide
And here is an especially important lesson for our time.
The holiness of Israel must never become a weapon against another Jew.
Some Jews are deeply observant. Others are secular.
Some express their love for Israel through Torah study and prayer. Others through military service, medicine, agriculture, education, or acts of kindness.
We may disagree passionately.
After all, two Jews, three opinions!
In Israel, sometimes two Jews, five political parties!
But beneath our disagreements lies a shared inheritance.
The holiness of Israel does not belong to one political party, one religious movement, or one group of Jews.
It belongs to our shared spiritual heritage.
And the more deeply we appreciate that holiness, the more seriously we must care about the dignity and well-being of every person who lives there.
Holiness should make us more responsible, more compassionate, and more united.
Lech Lecha — The Journey Within
Now we return to Abraham.
G-d tells him:
“Lech Lecha — Go forth!”
Chassidus teaches that these words also suggest a journey inward.
Go toward your true self. Discover the Divine purpose for which you were created.
And perhaps that is the message for Israel, and for every one of us.
The challenge is not simply to become stronger, but to remember what our strength is for.
Not simply to become wealthier, but to remember what our blessings are for.
Not simply to achieve more, but to bring greater holiness into what we achieve.
A society where scientific advancement is accompanied by compassion.
Where courage is accompanied by moral responsibility.
Where freedom is accompanied by spiritual depth.
And where prosperity is accompanied by generosity.
A Final Thought
My friends, every country needs borders, an army, a government, and institutions.
But a Holy Land must also remember its soul.
Democracy tells us how a country is governed. Torah reminds us of the sacred responsibilities by which we should live.
And that is the message of Lech Lecha.
G-d did not simply tell Abraham to find a new place to live.
He invited him to begin a journey that would bring Divine awareness into the world.
That journey continues today.
In Jerusalem.
In Tel Aviv.
And right here in Mineola.
Because holiness is not simply something we inherit.
It is something we express through the way we live.
So let us celebrate Israel’s achievements, appreciate its democracy, and pray for its peace and security.
But above all, let us remember:
Israel is not merely the land where the Jewish people live. It is the Holy Land — calling us to live up to its holiness.
May G-d bless Israel with peace, security, unity, and a renewed awareness of its sacred mission.
And may we each transform our own corner of the world into a place where G-d feels at home.
Shabbat Shalom!
