Rav Shimon Bar Yochai on Eretz Yisrael

Question: When is G-d considered The One and Only G-d?

Rav Shimon Bar Yochai (Rashbi): Now that the Jewish Nation is in Galus, G-d is not considered “one” אחד. When is G-d considered one? At the moment that the Jewish people leave the Galus and return to the place of unity with G-d (Israel). As it says in Zecharia (14:9) “on that day G-d will be one and his name one” ביום ההוא ה’ אחד ושמו אחד“. One without the other is not considered “one”…As is says in Shmuel II (7:23) “one nation in the land [of Israel]” גוי אחד בארץ . Certainly, in the land of Israel we are one nation… (Zohar Emor 93:2).

Question: What is the spiritual difference between a Jew who lives in Eretz Yisrael versus a Jew who lives in Chutz LaAretz?

Rashbi: Rav Yehuda says, happy is lot of one who is worthy in his life to be part of the generation who lives in the holy land of Israel…Whoever is worthy to connect in his lifetime to this holy land of Israel – he is worthy afterwards to connect to the holy land above…Not only this, but in his lifetime he is worthy to brings close to himself the Ruach HaKodesh and be always דבוק בשכינה וברוח הקודש. By contrast, one who lives in Chutz LaAretz, brings close to himself a different strange sprit [ דבוק בסט”א וברוח הטומאה] (Zohar Acharei Mos 72:2).

Question: What was the significance of Avraham Avinu planting trees?

Rashbi: Avraham planted a tree אילן (the tree of life עץ החיים)…he did not live properly in any place until he came to the land of Canaan. Through this special tree Avraham would know which person was connected to Hashem and who was connected to Avodah Zara. Whoever was connected to Hashem the tree would spread its branches and cover his head and make him pleasant shade. One who was in the shadow of Avodah Zara, the tree would lose its leaves and go heavenward. Then Avraham would warn this individual of his beliefs and he would not budge until he captured this person in the Emunah of Hashem. (Zohar VaYeirah 102b)

Question: Does G-d accept prayers differently that originate in Israel versus Chutz LaAretz?

Rashbi: Yes. The moment the Jews are established in their land of Israel, G-d comes close to the Jews and listens to their voices and is praised by them. (Zohar VeEschanan 267:1)

Question: Which land is called “land of the living”?

Rashbi: Israel. He opened and said, (Tehilim 24:1) “…To Hashem is the Land and all that it holds…” …לה’ הארץ ומלואה…This is the holy land of Israel that is called the land of the living ארץ החיים. (Zohar Tazria 45:2)

Question: What is the letter “aleph” written smaller than the other letters in the first word of Parshas VaYikra ויקרא?

Rashbi: He opened and said, “and G-d called to Moshe” (VaYikra 1:1) ויקרא אל משה . Here the letter aleph is small. Why? Because G-d calling Moshe was not complete. What is the reason? For this occurred in the Mishkan located in another land (not Israel). For completeness שלימות is not found anywhere in the world other than in the holy land of Israel. (Zohar VaYechi 239a)

Question: Does G-d provide for us the same way in Israel compared to Chutz LaAretz?

Rashbi: No. Rabi Elazar and Rabi Yossi…Its written (Devarim 8:9) The land where you may eat food without limit in it, where you will lack nothing in it…” ארץ אשר לא במסכבת תאכל בה לחם, לא תחסר כל בה…. Why does the pasuk use the word “in it” בה two times? Rather, it means that for the other lands G-d provides their needs via emissaries. However, in Eretz Yisrael no angels/emissaries have any power, only G-d Himself. Therefore, He inserted the Jewish nation which has no external powers ruling over it, into the land that does not have any eternal powers ruling over it. Come and see, Hashem gives sustenance to the land of Israel first, and then afterwards to the rest of the world…in Israel they eat in wealth and all that is necessary. “Eat in it” and not in another land. “in it” means in the holiness of Eretz Yisrael. “in it” refers the influence of the heavenly Emunah. “in it” refers to in influence of the heavenly blessings, and not in another land. (Zohar VaYeirah 108b)

Question: What is the difference with death in Israel versus death in Chutz LaAretz?

Rashbi: Those who die in Chutz LaAretz die by hand of the Angel of Death, however those who die in Israel do not die by his hand, rather they die by the hand of G-d…For the land of Israel is only under the jurisdiction of G-d himself and not any other powers…Therefore, it is written in Yeshayahu (26:19) “Let your dead revive, Let corpses arise! Awake and shout for joy, you who dwell in the dust…” יחיו מתיך נבלתי יקומון, הקיצו ורננו שכני עפר… “Let your dead revive” these are the Jews who die in holy Israel, for they are His [G-d’s]… “Let corpses arrive” those are the Jews who die in in a strange other land via the Angel of Death, and are therefore called נבילה … (Zohar Teruma 151b).

Question: Where is true happiness שמחה found?

Rashbi: Only in Eretz Yisrael. “Rejoice with Jerusalem and exult in her all those who love her: rejoice with her a rejoicing, all who mourn over her.” (Yeshayahu 66:10) שִׂמְח֧וּ אֶת יְרֽוּשָׁלִַ֛ם וְגִ֥ילוּ בָ֖הּ כָּל אֹֽהֲבֶ֑יהָ שִׂ֚ישׂוּ אִתָּהּ֙ מָשׂ֔וֹשׂ כָּל הַמִּֽתְאַבְּלִ֖ים עָלֶֽיהָ. This is because happiness is not found only when Jews are living in Israel. For here is where a wife connects to her husband [allegory from Shir HaShirim our relationship with G-d]. This is happiness over everything, from the bottom world to the world above.

It’s written one says in Tehillim (100:2) “Serve Hashem with joy, come before Him with praise…” עִבְד֣וּ אֶת ה’ בְּשִׂמְחָ֑ה בֹּ֥אוּ לְ֜פָנָ֗יו בִּרְנָנָֽה. It’s also written one says in Tehillim (2:11) “Serve Hashem with fear, and rejoice with quaking” עִבְד֣וּ אֶת ה’ בְּיִרְאָ֑ה וְ֜גִ֗ילוּ בִּרְעָדָֽה. What is the difference between these pesukim? One pasuk is when the Jews are living in Israel (Serve Hashem with joy). The other pasuk is when Jews are living in Chutz LaAretz in Galus living with the non-Jews (Serve Hashem with fear).

Rabbi Yehuda says, its written in Yeshayahu (55:12) “For with joy shall you go forth…” .כִּֽי בְשִׂמְחָ֣ה תֵצֵ֔אוּ For the entire time that Jews are in Galus and they are lying on the dirt and this is not considered “happiness”. Until G-d comes to us and lifts us up from the dirt and says (Yeshayahu 52:2 ” Shake yourselves from the dust, arise sit down Yerushalayim…” הִתְנַֽעֲרִ֧י מֵֽעָפָ֛ר ק֥וּמִי שְׁבִ֖י יְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם. (Yeshayahu 60:1)” Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has shone upon you.” ק֥וּמִי א֖וֹרִי כִּֽי בָ֣א אוֹרֵ֑ךְ וּכְב֥וֹד ה’ עָלַ֥יִךְ זָרָֽח . Then we are united as one and this is called “happiness” חדוה complete love. And then “for with joy you shall go forth”. (Zohar Bamidbar 118: 1).

Question: Where are the mitzvos are the Torah intended to be observed עיקר קיום הצוות?

Rashbi: In Eretz Yisrael. The Jews were not commanded to keep the Mitzvos of the Torah until they entered Eretz Yisrael at the end of their forty year journey from Egypt. (Zohar Shemos 11:2)

“I sleep, but my heart is awake…” (Shir HaShirim 5:2). The Jewish people say אֲנִ֥י יְשֵׁנָ֖ה וְלִבִּ֣י עֵ֑ר, I am sleeping from the mitzvos of the Torah when I was walking in the Midbar. My heart is awake, to go up to Israel לעלות and to perform the Mitzvos. For all the Mitzvos (commandments) in the Torah are to be performed in Eretz Yisrael. (Zohar HaAzinu 286:1).

Moshe said to Hashem, Master of the Universe, I want to enter Israel in order to fulfill your Mitzvos. For it is written in YaYikra (23:10) ” Speak to the children of Israel and say to them: When you come to the Land which I am giving you…” דַּבֵּ֞ר אֶל בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם כִּֽי תָבֹ֣אוּ אֶל הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֲנִי֙ נֹתֵ֣ן לָכֶ֔ם; and there in Israel is the place to fulfill the keeping of your Mitzvos. (Zohar Bereishis 25:2) [The Ramban (VaYikra 18:25) writes that the main fulfillment of all of the Mitzvos, even the ones that are not dependent on the Land of Israel, apply only to those who live in Israel.]

[Rav Sholomo Zalman Auerbach used to quote the words of the Chassom Sofer (Gitten 44a), that one who lives in Chutz LaAretz does not fulfill even one Mitzva! For one who lives in Chutz LaAretz is as if he has not G-d. Even Kriyas Shema in Chutz LaAretz is not comparable to one who says Kriyas Shema in Eretz Yisrael. Because these Jews are expelled from the portion of G-d’s inheritance נחלת ה’, and this message is a huge Mussar (moral lesson).]

Therefore, I [G-d] have given you the Truthful Torah תורת אמת , to gain merits from it and to learn the ways of G-d; in order that you should inherit the holy land of Israel. For whoever merits to live in this holy land, he has a portion in Olam Habah. [This is because Eretz Yisrael is the “body” and Olam Habah is the “soul” נשמה of Eretz Yisrael. One who merits the “body” by default merits the “soul” (Ramban, Rav Volli)]. As its written in Yeshayahu (60:21) ” And your people, all of them righteous, shall inherit the land forever, a scion of My planting, the work of My hands in which I will glory.” וְעַמֵּךְ֙ כֻּלָּ֣ם צַדִּיקִ֔ים לְעוֹלָ֖ם יִ֣ירְשׁוּ אָ֑רֶץ נֵ֧צֶר מַטָּעַ֛י מַֽעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָדַ֖י לְהִתְפָּאֵֽר. (Zohar VaYishlach 177b)