The second half of this week's double-Sedra contains the ultimate Mitzva of
Yishuv Ha'aretz (settling Israel): "And you shall possess the land & settle
in it, for I have given it to you as an eternal possession." While every
Sedra sends the message that Jewish life reaches its fullest dimension only
in Israel, this Pasuk is the nuclear core of the idea.
The Ramban counts this verse as a positive Mitzva, applying to all Jews at
all times, to conquer the Land from whoever is living there & to dwell in
Israel. Rashi, however, sees the two clauses in the Pasuk as inter-dependent: Only if Am Yisrael drives out the foreign residents of the
Land will we be granted the merit of dwelling in Peace. Indeed, Rashi views
all wars as optional except the war to liberate Eretz Yisrael.
The imperative to secure the homeland is echoed in Moshe's admonition to
Reuven & Gad, who ask to break away from the rest of the nation & live in
Trans-Jordan. Some view their request negatively, based on an excessive lust for material wealth to be found in the "greener pastures" of Chutz L'Aretz. Others take a kinder posture, saying these Tribes wanted to be close to Moshe, who would himself be buried outside Israel proper.
In any case, Moshe sternly lectures Reuven & Gad, reminding them that all
Jews are responsible for one another, & that none may pursue personal
ambition at the expense of the nation. Moshe ultimately approves the
petition, but with two provisos: 1) Reuven & Gad must fight alongside their
brothers until Israel is secured; & 2) Shevet Menashe will serve as a bridge
between the 2 entities, with half of Menashe living in Israel & half living
with Reuven & Gad. Thus Menashe (the letters of whose name spell "Neshama") will be the spiritual link to the rest of the nation, tempering the abject materialism of Reuven-Gad. .
Today, we have a similar situation in Jewish life. Many Jews Baruch Hashem
live in Israel itself, & they are the ones on the front lines, doing the
fighting, risking their lives day-to-day. Many other Jews still live "on the
other side," in the Diaspora, where there appears to be more material
benefits. Yet Moshe's words still ring as true as when he first spoke them:
No Jew may abdicate his role in this struggle, no Jew may abandon his
brothers. Even the Jew outside Israel must contribute to the battle in a
meaningful way & help eliminate the vicious enemy that stands in the path of our complete Geula.
To emerge victorious, we need a united front of each & every Jew who cares
about Eretz Yisrael & Am Yisrael.
Yishuv Ha'aretz (settling Israel): "And you shall possess the land & settle
in it, for I have given it to you as an eternal possession." While every
Sedra sends the message that Jewish life reaches its fullest dimension only
in Israel, this Pasuk is the nuclear core of the idea.
The Ramban counts this verse as a positive Mitzva, applying to all Jews at
all times, to conquer the Land from whoever is living there & to dwell in
Israel. Rashi, however, sees the two clauses in the Pasuk as inter-dependent: Only if Am Yisrael drives out the foreign residents of the
Land will we be granted the merit of dwelling in Peace. Indeed, Rashi views
all wars as optional except the war to liberate Eretz Yisrael.
The imperative to secure the homeland is echoed in Moshe's admonition to
Reuven & Gad, who ask to break away from the rest of the nation & live in
Trans-Jordan. Some view their request negatively, based on an excessive lust for material wealth to be found in the "greener pastures" of Chutz L'Aretz. Others take a kinder posture, saying these Tribes wanted to be close to Moshe, who would himself be buried outside Israel proper.
In any case, Moshe sternly lectures Reuven & Gad, reminding them that all
Jews are responsible for one another, & that none may pursue personal
ambition at the expense of the nation. Moshe ultimately approves the
petition, but with two provisos: 1) Reuven & Gad must fight alongside their
brothers until Israel is secured; & 2) Shevet Menashe will serve as a bridge
between the 2 entities, with half of Menashe living in Israel & half living
with Reuven & Gad. Thus Menashe (the letters of whose name spell "Neshama") will be the spiritual link to the rest of the nation, tempering the abject materialism of Reuven-Gad. .
Today, we have a similar situation in Jewish life. Many Jews Baruch Hashem
live in Israel itself, & they are the ones on the front lines, doing the
fighting, risking their lives day-to-day. Many other Jews still live "on the
other side," in the Diaspora, where there appears to be more material
benefits. Yet Moshe's words still ring as true as when he first spoke them:
No Jew may abdicate his role in this struggle, no Jew may abandon his
brothers. Even the Jew outside Israel must contribute to the battle in a
meaningful way & help eliminate the vicious enemy that stands in the path of our complete Geula.
To emerge victorious, we need a united front of each & every Jew who cares
about Eretz Yisrael & Am Yisrael.