The Talmud says that you can tell if someone is a Torah scholar by listening to how he recites berachot (blessings). (Berachot 50a) Clearly, blessings serve to instill proper attitudes and good traits, such as gratitude to God. What is less obvious is that even the detailed laws for berachot reflect central concepts of the Torah. For this reason, Torah scholars are punctilious in their blessings.
The following story gives one example of such an exacting approach towards blessings. In this case, it contains an important lesson about love for the Land of Israel.
"Rabbi Hisda and Rabbi Hamenuna were seated at a meal, and dates and pomegranates were placed before them. Rabbi Hamenuna made the blessing over the dates first. Rabbi Hisda told him, 'Do you not agree that the fruit mentioned earlier in the verse takes precedence for the blessing?' He responded, 'Dates are mentioned second after the word 'land', while pomegranates are mentioned fifth.' Rabbi Hisda exclaimed, 'If only we had legs of iron to always follow you and learn from you!'" (Berachot 41b)
The verse that these two scholars referred to praises the Land of Israel for seven grains and fruits: "It is a land of wheat, barley, grapes, figs and pomegranates; a land of oil-olives and honey-dates." (Deuteronomy 8:8)
Rabbi Hisda thought that the blessing should reflect the order of the produce mentioned in the verse. In this case, pomegranates should come first. Rabbi Hamenuna explained that while the placement in the verse is indeed important, there is an even more important factor: how close the fruit is to the word "land" in the verse. Pomegranates are the fifth produce mentioned after the first time "land" appears in the verse; yet, dates are the second fruit mentioned after "land" appears a second time in the verse. In other words, the position of dates in the verse indicates a greater closeness to the Land of Israel; therefore, this fruit deserves to come first.
The care that Rabbi Hamenuna took in his blessing demonstrated the importance he placed on love for Eretz Yisrael, the land whose unique qualities enables the Jewish people and all of mankind to attain their spiritual goal. One who is closer to the Land, and demonstrates a greater connection to it, comes first for blessing. Such an individual is closer to the perfection to be attained through this special land.
Yet, we may ask: why is "land" mentioned twice in the verse? Why is the produce of Eretz Yisrael broken up into two categories?
There are in fact two types of love for the Land of Israel. Our love of the Land is a function of our spiritual level and awareness. Some people value the Land because of its unique spiritual qualities. They long "to take pleasure in its stones and bestow favor on its dust" in order to fulfill the mitzvot that are connected to the Land. They recognize the blessings the Land holds for the spiritual elevation of the Jewish people and all of the world.
Then there are those who appreciate the land for its material benefits. They recognize its value as a homeland for the Jewish people, and work towards settling and rebuilding the land. This form of devotion to the land, even though it does not take into account the Land's special spiritual qualities, is nonetheless a good and positive trait.
The verse mentions two groupings of produce connected to the word "land", corresponding to these two forms of devotion to the Land of Israel. The first group represents those who love the Land for its elevated, spiritual properties. There are five fruits and grains in this group, corresponding to the Five Books of Moses. This form of devotion to the land stems from the world of Torah, from an awareness of the spiritual goals of the Jewish people and the world.
The second grouping of fruits contains the oil-olive (representing knowledge) and the honey-date (representing material contentment). This group represents those who love the land as a place where the Jewish people can be successful in the material areas: academically, culturally and economically.
Rabbi Hamenuna taught us an important lesson: how great is the love for the Land of Israel, even when this love is limited to its physical benefits. When it concerns the community, all material matters become spiritual; the higher goal will automatically come to pass through the connection of God's people to His land.
Why does the date take precedence before the pomegranate? Even though the pomegranate belongs to the first group, it is fifth in the list. The pomegranate represents those who are aware of the holy qualities of Eretz Yisrael, yet remain distant from the Land. These individuals unfortunately take few practical measures to express their love for the Land.
The date, on the other hand, is near the top of the second group. It represents those who only recognize the material benefits of the Land. Through their efforts, however, they are much closer to the Land, taking practical steps at settling and rebuilding it. Such a person, Rabbi Hamenuna taught, should be strengthened and presented first for a blessing. Devotion to the Land, when promoted in practical, concrete efforts, is a sublime matter. The sages wrote (Sanhedrin 102b) that Omri merited to be king as reward for establishing a city in the Land of Israel, even though his intentions were certainly pragmatic.
Now we can understand Rabbi Hisda's response, "If only we had legs of iron to always learn from you." Rabbi Hisda understood the inner message of Rabbi Hamenuna's teaching. We need "iron legs" - physical power and endurance like iron - in order to be able to receive your powerful spiritual message, and appreciate the importance of the material strength of Israel.
Similarly on the national level, we need "iron legs" - powerful means to build up the physical aspects of the nation. Then we will have the spiritual strength to raise up a courageous national spirit. "And we will learn from you." We will follow your path of Torah, and merit the Land through love and peace and inner strength. "Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit." (Zachariah 4:6)
[Based on Ein Aya vol. II, pp. 186-7; Olat Riya vol. I, pp. 374-7]
The following story gives one example of such an exacting approach towards blessings. In this case, it contains an important lesson about love for the Land of Israel.
"Rabbi Hisda and Rabbi Hamenuna were seated at a meal, and dates and pomegranates were placed before them. Rabbi Hamenuna made the blessing over the dates first. Rabbi Hisda told him, 'Do you not agree that the fruit mentioned earlier in the verse takes precedence for the blessing?' He responded, 'Dates are mentioned second after the word 'land', while pomegranates are mentioned fifth.' Rabbi Hisda exclaimed, 'If only we had legs of iron to always follow you and learn from you!'" (Berachot 41b)
The verse that these two scholars referred to praises the Land of Israel for seven grains and fruits: "It is a land of wheat, barley, grapes, figs and pomegranates; a land of oil-olives and honey-dates." (Deuteronomy 8:8)
Rabbi Hisda thought that the blessing should reflect the order of the produce mentioned in the verse. In this case, pomegranates should come first. Rabbi Hamenuna explained that while the placement in the verse is indeed important, there is an even more important factor: how close the fruit is to the word "land" in the verse. Pomegranates are the fifth produce mentioned after the first time "land" appears in the verse; yet, dates are the second fruit mentioned after "land" appears a second time in the verse. In other words, the position of dates in the verse indicates a greater closeness to the Land of Israel; therefore, this fruit deserves to come first.
The care that Rabbi Hamenuna took in his blessing demonstrated the importance he placed on love for Eretz Yisrael, the land whose unique qualities enables the Jewish people and all of mankind to attain their spiritual goal. One who is closer to the Land, and demonstrates a greater connection to it, comes first for blessing. Such an individual is closer to the perfection to be attained through this special land.
Yet, we may ask: why is "land" mentioned twice in the verse? Why is the produce of Eretz Yisrael broken up into two categories?
There are in fact two types of love for the Land of Israel. Our love of the Land is a function of our spiritual level and awareness. Some people value the Land because of its unique spiritual qualities. They long "to take pleasure in its stones and bestow favor on its dust" in order to fulfill the mitzvot that are connected to the Land. They recognize the blessings the Land holds for the spiritual elevation of the Jewish people and all of the world.
Then there are those who appreciate the land for its material benefits. They recognize its value as a homeland for the Jewish people, and work towards settling and rebuilding the land. This form of devotion to the land, even though it does not take into account the Land's special spiritual qualities, is nonetheless a good and positive trait.
The verse mentions two groupings of produce connected to the word "land", corresponding to these two forms of devotion to the Land of Israel. The first group represents those who love the Land for its elevated, spiritual properties. There are five fruits and grains in this group, corresponding to the Five Books of Moses. This form of devotion to the land stems from the world of Torah, from an awareness of the spiritual goals of the Jewish people and the world.
The second grouping of fruits contains the oil-olive (representing knowledge) and the honey-date (representing material contentment). This group represents those who love the land as a place where the Jewish people can be successful in the material areas: academically, culturally and economically.
Rabbi Hamenuna taught us an important lesson: how great is the love for the Land of Israel, even when this love is limited to its physical benefits. When it concerns the community, all material matters become spiritual; the higher goal will automatically come to pass through the connection of God's people to His land.
Why does the date take precedence before the pomegranate? Even though the pomegranate belongs to the first group, it is fifth in the list. The pomegranate represents those who are aware of the holy qualities of Eretz Yisrael, yet remain distant from the Land. These individuals unfortunately take few practical measures to express their love for the Land.
The date, on the other hand, is near the top of the second group. It represents those who only recognize the material benefits of the Land. Through their efforts, however, they are much closer to the Land, taking practical steps at settling and rebuilding it. Such a person, Rabbi Hamenuna taught, should be strengthened and presented first for a blessing. Devotion to the Land, when promoted in practical, concrete efforts, is a sublime matter. The sages wrote (Sanhedrin 102b) that Omri merited to be king as reward for establishing a city in the Land of Israel, even though his intentions were certainly pragmatic.
Now we can understand Rabbi Hisda's response, "If only we had legs of iron to always learn from you." Rabbi Hisda understood the inner message of Rabbi Hamenuna's teaching. We need "iron legs" - physical power and endurance like iron - in order to be able to receive your powerful spiritual message, and appreciate the importance of the material strength of Israel.
Similarly on the national level, we need "iron legs" - powerful means to build up the physical aspects of the nation. Then we will have the spiritual strength to raise up a courageous national spirit. "And we will learn from you." We will follow your path of Torah, and merit the Land through love and peace and inner strength. "Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit." (Zachariah 4:6)
[Based on Ein Aya vol. II, pp. 186-7; Olat Riya vol. I, pp. 374-7]