The Torah and Mitzvot of the Land of Israel

In the Book of Dvarim, B’nai Yisrael get ready to finally enter the Land of Israel with Yehoshua. Before they arrive, they need God’s guidance as to how they will live their national lives on their own land. Dvarim therefore speaks about appointing a king as well as the wars that will need to be fought in the Land of Israel. Dvarim is a book that teaches the Jewish people how to live in the Land of Israel and is especially important for us in our generation as we too have returned to our land.

Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook states in Orot HaTorah (Lights of the Torah) 13:2:

In every generation we needed to cherish the Torah of the Land of Israel, and even more so in our generation…We can only fully feel the Torah in the Land of Israel.

We learn in Breisheet Raba 16:4:

There is no Torah learning like the Torah of Eretz Yisrael, and no wisdom like the wisdom of Eretz Yisrael.

It says in Midrash Tehillim 105:

If you wish to see the Shechina (Divine Presence) in this world, learn Torah in Eretz Yisrael.

Rav Kook teaches in Orot Ertez Yisrael 5:

The intellect which is outside the Land of Israel is incapable of being illuminated with the light that exists in the Land of Israel as Rabbi Zeira teaches in Bava Batra 158b: The air of Eretz Yisrael makes one wise.

Rabbi Zeira himself felt that he had a greater level of insight after he moved to the Land of Israel.

As we read in Yishayahu 2:3: “From Zion shall go forth the Torah and the word of God from Jerusalem.”

A person who studies Torah in Israel and observes the mitzvot connected to the Land which are only in effect in Israel becomes elevated to a totally different spiritual level. In Israel, a person reaches greater heights even when they observe the mitzvot that are observed outside of Israel as well.

Just as B’nai Yisrael needed to prepare for their entrance into the Land, so do we. When a person makes aliya, they are exposed to a different type of mitzvah observance than when they were living abroad. They have to understand the concept of Milchemet Mitzvah (an obligatory war) and why we need everyone to do their part. They will learn the ramifications of having a sovereign state. They will need to pay attention to the agricultural mitzvot of the Land of Israel like Shmita, Trumot and Maasrot which are rarely practically thought about abroad. They will observe one day of Yom Tov instead of two with Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah being on the same day and conduct only one Passover Seder. They will need a new siddur (prayerbook) which includes the additional blessing of Morid HaTal (may the dew fall) and the list goes on.

As I celebrate my 20^th aliya anniversary, I am proud that I have had the honor to learn Torah in Israel, teach Torah in Israel, raise a family in Israel and keep more mitzvot, many of which can only be observed in Israel.

May all those who want to come to Israel have the opportunity to do so!