לזכות רפואה שלימה אחינו כל בית ישראל הנתונים בצרה ובשביה
Parshat Eikev continues with Moshe Rabbeinu’s overall recounting of the Jews’ journey over the previous 40 years; towards the end of the Parshah, we encounter the second paragraph of Keriat Shema’a [Devarim 11’ 13’], beginning with the words “Ve’hayah I’m She’moa etc.”, whereby the Jews are promised glorious rewards for the fulfillment of the Mitzvot. The last Possuk of this paragraph states [Devarim 11’ 21’], if the Jews follow the Torah and perform the Mitzvot, then:
“So that you and your children will have lengthy days, in the land that Hashem swore to your fathers to assign to them, as long as there is a heaven over the earth”.
R’ Yochanan, in the Talmud [Berachot 8A], based on the above Possuk, questions how it is possible to find elders amongst the Jewish people outside of the land of Israel! Does the Possuk not state that a necessary factor for having lengthy lives is one’s living in the land of Israel? The Talmud explains that Reb Yochanan was satisfied with the answer that lengthy days was the reward for those Jews in Bablonyia who would arrive early and stay late at the local Synagogue. This echoes another statement in the Talmud [Megillah 29], that details how the spaces that Jews have dedicated to holiness during their exile will ultimately merit to be brought back to Israel during the time of the great redemption. On a deeper level, the Gemara is explaining that those very structures have the status of Eretz Yisroel, and therefore those who are committed to the upkeep and services of said institutions will be given credit as if they themselves dwell in Israel-therefore, the above quoted Possuk is completely applicable, and R’ Yochanan understood how Jews who lived outside of Israel could merit lengthy days. A similar idea is found in the Ramban in his introduction to Sefer Shemot, where the Ramban explains that the Jews’ were considered fully redeemed upon Hashem giving them the Torah—even though they were not yet in Eretz Yisrael! It would appear that the Ramban is relying on this concept, and therefore areas that are dedicated to the preservation of our Mitzvot and Torah traditions are considered part and parcel of the land of Israel.
Coming a few weeks after the tragic day of Tisha’a Ba’av, where we recall the destruction of G-d’s holy temples, a small measure of comfort can be gleaned from the above idea. For although we lack the purest version of the Beit HaMikdash [may it be built speedily in our days], in the interim we can elevate ourselves in our synagogues and Battei Midrashim [Torah study halls].
Dedicated in memory of all those who have perished and sacrificed for Am Yisrael.
Have a Great Shabbas.