Israel is the heart of the Torah, the heart of Creation, the heart of mankind. The Torah itself hints at that. It begins with the words "In the beginning," and ends with the word "Israel". Between these two words, "beginning" and "Israel", lies the whole Torah. Likewise, the Torah starts with the letter bet and ends with the letter lamed, the letters of the word lev - heart - hinting at Israel's centrality.
As Rashi explains: "'In the beginning [b'reshit] G-d created...': The unique expression 'b'reshit' [which can alternately be rendered 'for the sake of the Beginning'] calls for an exposition. The world was created for the sake of the Torah, which is called 'the beginning of G-d's path' (Proverbs 8:22), and for the sake of Israel, who are called 'the beginning of G-d's produce (Jeremiah 2:3).'"
The Torah and Israel are one. As our sages said, "G-d and Torah and Israel are one."
An answer to why the world was created is found at the start of the Torah. G-d created the world for the sake of Israel, for only through them can the Kingdom of Heaven, G-d's benevolent will, and G-d's glory on earth be revealed. The revelation of divine bounty in the world is conditional on the rebirth of the Jewish People in Eretz Yisrael. As G-d said to Abraham, father of our people and of all mankind: "Go forth to the land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation? You shall be a blessing? all the families of the earth will be blessed through you." (Genesis 12:1-3) That blessing will obtain when the Jewish People, with their benevolent souls, illuminate the entire world with the light of love and faith.
Today, how fortunate we are to be living in the generation of our people's rebirth in Eretz Yisrael. The Jewish People truly are "the heart of the nations" (Kuzari 2:36), and this is being revealed more and more. True, a difficult route lies ahead, fraught with struggles and battles from within and without, yet ultimately, the virtues of our people shall be revealed. When that happens, "every breathing thing will proclaim, 'The L-rd G-d of Israel is King, and His kingdom rules over all.'" (Shemoneh Esreh prayer of Rosh Hashanah)
As Rashi explains: "'In the beginning [b'reshit] G-d created...': The unique expression 'b'reshit' [which can alternately be rendered 'for the sake of the Beginning'] calls for an exposition. The world was created for the sake of the Torah, which is called 'the beginning of G-d's path' (Proverbs 8:22), and for the sake of Israel, who are called 'the beginning of G-d's produce (Jeremiah 2:3).'"
The Torah and Israel are one. As our sages said, "G-d and Torah and Israel are one."
An answer to why the world was created is found at the start of the Torah. G-d created the world for the sake of Israel, for only through them can the Kingdom of Heaven, G-d's benevolent will, and G-d's glory on earth be revealed. The revelation of divine bounty in the world is conditional on the rebirth of the Jewish People in Eretz Yisrael. As G-d said to Abraham, father of our people and of all mankind: "Go forth to the land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation? You shall be a blessing? all the families of the earth will be blessed through you." (Genesis 12:1-3) That blessing will obtain when the Jewish People, with their benevolent souls, illuminate the entire world with the light of love and faith.
Today, how fortunate we are to be living in the generation of our people's rebirth in Eretz Yisrael. The Jewish People truly are "the heart of the nations" (Kuzari 2:36), and this is being revealed more and more. True, a difficult route lies ahead, fraught with struggles and battles from within and without, yet ultimately, the virtues of our people shall be revealed. When that happens, "every breathing thing will proclaim, 'The L-rd G-d of Israel is King, and His kingdom rules over all.'" (Shemoneh Esreh prayer of Rosh Hashanah)