The Purpose of Eretz Yisrael
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ShareThe land of Israel is where the Mitzvot are meant to be performed.
The land of Israel is unique for so many reasons. Undoubtedly, one of those reasons is the spirituality that is connected to the land.
What makes this land so spiritual in nature? One aspect is that Israel is designated as a special place to perform the mitzvot.
(א) וְזֹ֣את הַמִּצְוָ֗ה הַֽחֻקִּים֙ וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוָּ֛ה יהוה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֖ם לְלַמֵּ֣ד אֶתְכֶ֑ם לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת בָּאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתֶּ֛ם עֹבְרִ֥ים שָׁ֖מָּה לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ׃
(1) And this is the Instruction—the laws and the rules—that your God יהוה has commanded [me] to impart to you, to be observed in the land that you are about to cross into and occupy,
These Psukim seem to be indicating that the mitzvot are meant to be performed in Eretz Yisrael.
Do you believe that the Mitzvot may only be performed in Eretz Yisrael?
Are these Pesukim talking about specific Mitzvot or all of the 613 Mitzvot?
אמרו בספרי (עקב מג) ואבדתם מהרה (דברים יא יז) אף על פי שאני מגלה אתכם מן הארץ לחוצה לארץ היו מצויינין במצות שכשתחזרו לא יהו עליכם חדשים משל לאדון שכעס על אשתו ושלחה לבית אביה אמר לה הוי מתקשטת תכשיטים שכשתחזרי לא יהיו עליך חדשים
It is on the basis of this matter that the Rabbis have said in the Sifre: “And ye perish quickly from off the good Land. Although I banish you from the Land to outside the Land, make yourselves distinctive by the commandments, so that when you return they shall not be novelties to you. This can be compared to a master who was angry with his wife, and sent her back to her father’s house and told her, ‘Adorn yourself with precious things, so that when you come back they will not be novelties to you.’
The Ramban (Who lived outside of Israel for most of his life) makes a very bold statement: The performance of the Mitzvot outside of Israel is almost considered like a “performance” for when they can be performed in Israel.
How can the Ramban say such a thing when he didn't live in Israel for most of his life?
Is the Ramban trying to say that mitzvot outside of Israel are merely a performance?
וירשתם אותה וישבתם בה ושמרת לעשות את כל החוקים האלה ואת המשפטים אמרו ישיבת ארץ ישראל שקולה כנגד כל המצוות שבתורה.
"Take heed and hearken to all of these things … and dwell in their land" — at which they said: Dwelling in Eretz Yisrael is as important as all of the mitzvot in the Torah.
The Sifrei equates living in the Land of Israel to be as important as all of the Mitzvot of the Torah.
Does that mean living in Israel is more important than other Mitzvot?
How can one compare the importance of one Mitzvah against any other?
Rabbi Yirmeya bar Abba said that Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Anyone who walks four cubits in Eretz Yisrael is assured of a place in the World-to-Come.
According to the Gemara, even walking a few feet in Israel is considered a Mitzvah, for one is rewarded with the World to Come as a result.
