Our sages called the Book of Bamidbar"Chumash Pekudim" (the "Book of Tallies") because of the two censuses mentioned in it. The first took place at the start of Israel's trek through the desert "on the first day of the second month [Iyar] in the second year of their exodus from Egypt." (Numbers 1:1) The second took place prior to their entering the Land "in the Plains of Moab on the Jordan River facing Jericho." (26:63) Between these two censuses were forty years of walking through a desert amidst difficult trials and crises.
Only those worthy to enter Eretz Yisrael reached the "finish line" in the Plains of Moab, as it says, "Of these [counted in the plains of Moab], there were none who had been counted by Moses and Aaron in the Sinai Wilderness. G-d had said of them, 'They will surely die in the wilderness,' and not a man was left of them, except for Caleb ben Yefuneh and Joshua bin Nun." (66:64-65)
Rashi comments: "There were none who had been counted previously, for the men had all died because of the sin of the spies. As for the women, the decree of the spies had not been applied to them, for they loved the Land. The men had said, 'Let us choose a leader and return to Egypt,' but the women had said, 'Give us a holding in the Land.' This is why the episode of Tzelafchad's daughters was juxtaposed to the section regarding the census. Those daughters loved the Land and they were as righteous as Joseph, who likewise loved the Land and asked to be buried there. Whoever loves the Land is righteous and worthy of praise." (Rashi on 27:1)
In every generation, there are people who love the Land and are worthy of praise. Over the course of the 2,000 year exile, there were Jews who loved the Land and moved there with great self-sacrifice. Amongst them were great Torah giants like Rambam, Ramban, our master Rabbi Yosef Karo, the Ari, the Ohr HaChaim, the disciples of the Vilna Gaon, the disciples of the Ba'al Shem Tov, and many more who moved to the Land despite the difficulties and dangers.
About 150 years ago, a great change transpired. At that time, not just rabbis and great saints who loved the Land moved to it, but the Jewish masses as well, religious and irreligious, from all the communities of the Diaspora. All expressed their great love for the Land by moving there and settling it. They were the pioneers going before the camp. They established the first farming settlements and communities, both private and communal. They reaped great merit, and likewise brought great merit to all of Israel through their love and affection for Eretz Yisrael. It was through their merit that we have been privileged to establish the State of Israel in our own times.
Today, those who continue to bear the banner of love for Eretz Yisrael are the settlers of Judea, Samaria and Gaza, who love the Land and risk their lives for it. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has an insane, unrelenting ambition to establish a murderous Arab state in the very heart of the land of our life's blood, and to banish the Jews from their land. Despite his efforts, the love and affection of the settlers of Gaza, Judea and Samaria is continuing and shall continue further. Great waters will not be able to extinguish that love.
In the desert, those who loved the Land survived ? the women, together with Caleb and Joshua ? and they were privileged to go up into Eretz Yisrael and to settle it. So too, in our day, those who love Eretz Yisrael and risk their lives for their people and their land are the ones who will emerge victorious in the struggle over our exclusive right to Eretz Yisrael. They shall continue to lead the nation once the present leadership passes. Then, "those redeemed by G-d shall come back to Zion in joy, enveloped in everlasting happiness." (Isaiah 35:10)
Only those worthy to enter Eretz Yisrael reached the "finish line" in the Plains of Moab, as it says, "Of these [counted in the plains of Moab], there were none who had been counted by Moses and Aaron in the Sinai Wilderness. G-d had said of them, 'They will surely die in the wilderness,' and not a man was left of them, except for Caleb ben Yefuneh and Joshua bin Nun." (66:64-65)
Rashi comments: "There were none who had been counted previously, for the men had all died because of the sin of the spies. As for the women, the decree of the spies had not been applied to them, for they loved the Land. The men had said, 'Let us choose a leader and return to Egypt,' but the women had said, 'Give us a holding in the Land.' This is why the episode of Tzelafchad's daughters was juxtaposed to the section regarding the census. Those daughters loved the Land and they were as righteous as Joseph, who likewise loved the Land and asked to be buried there. Whoever loves the Land is righteous and worthy of praise." (Rashi on 27:1)
In every generation, there are people who love the Land and are worthy of praise. Over the course of the 2,000 year exile, there were Jews who loved the Land and moved there with great self-sacrifice. Amongst them were great Torah giants like Rambam, Ramban, our master Rabbi Yosef Karo, the Ari, the Ohr HaChaim, the disciples of the Vilna Gaon, the disciples of the Ba'al Shem Tov, and many more who moved to the Land despite the difficulties and dangers.
About 150 years ago, a great change transpired. At that time, not just rabbis and great saints who loved the Land moved to it, but the Jewish masses as well, religious and irreligious, from all the communities of the Diaspora. All expressed their great love for the Land by moving there and settling it. They were the pioneers going before the camp. They established the first farming settlements and communities, both private and communal. They reaped great merit, and likewise brought great merit to all of Israel through their love and affection for Eretz Yisrael. It was through their merit that we have been privileged to establish the State of Israel in our own times.
Today, those who continue to bear the banner of love for Eretz Yisrael are the settlers of Judea, Samaria and Gaza, who love the Land and risk their lives for it. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has an insane, unrelenting ambition to establish a murderous Arab state in the very heart of the land of our life's blood, and to banish the Jews from their land. Despite his efforts, the love and affection of the settlers of Gaza, Judea and Samaria is continuing and shall continue further. Great waters will not be able to extinguish that love.
In the desert, those who loved the Land survived ? the women, together with Caleb and Joshua ? and they were privileged to go up into Eretz Yisrael and to settle it. So too, in our day, those who love Eretz Yisrael and risk their lives for their people and their land are the ones who will emerge victorious in the struggle over our exclusive right to Eretz Yisrael. They shall continue to lead the nation once the present leadership passes. Then, "those redeemed by G-d shall come back to Zion in joy, enveloped in everlasting happiness." (Isaiah 35:10)