Eretz Yisrael Yomi

The real meaning of tithes: Sanctifyinng material things

We understand the prayers that God grant children, sufficient rain and fertile animals, but why pray that the fruit of the Land be tasty?

Why Moshe was not privileged to be buried in Eretz Yisrael

Read an unbelievable story about Rav Maimon and the Rogatchover about claiming to be born in Eretz Yisrael.

Bloodshed and corruption defile the Land

The alleged corruption revealed in the past few days in Israel should remind us of Torah admonitions about conditions for retaining the land

The Amoraim's great love for Eretz Yisrael - and the Imrei Emet

Young religious Zionist Torah scholars: 'Davka those Amoraim who made aliya are the ones the Talmud quotes on the deep love of the land.'

Pinchas: Dividing Eretz Yisrael by lottery

Young Israeli Torah scholars: The connection between the land alloted each tribe and the tribe is substantive and above human comprehension.

'How goodly are your tents, Jacob, your dwellings, Israel'

Jacob (Ya'akov) and Israel (Yisrael) are not alternative names, but two levels of approach to the same mission. Which level are we on today?

Redemption: First return to Eretz Yisrael, then doTeshuva

Ezekiel: The Redemption may come not as the reward for changing our ways, but in order to end the desecration of His Holy Name in galut.

Why were they punished so severely for the sin of the spies?

Young religious Zionist Torah scholars on the parasha: The spies led to a rebellion against God and against Eretz Yisrael simultaneously.

The trumpets' call for Jewish unity

The greatest demonstration of Jewish unity is when every Jew, no matter where he is, feels the pain and suffering of less fortunate Jews.

Revelation of the essence of G-d’s Name

Young Rel. Zionist scholars: When Am Yisrael reaches perfection by developing its Land and building the Temple, G-d’s Name is complete.

Bamidbar: The intrinsic significance of 600,000 Israelites

The Vilna Gaon said as quoted in Kol haTor, “The essence of the ingathering of exiles requires no fewer than six hundred thousand." Why?

Behar (Israel): Instilling belief and faith in God

Torah from young Religious Zionist Torah scholars: A story about Rav Mordechai Eliyahu zts"l shows God's blessings timed for our benefit.

Kedoshim: In Eretz Yisrael, the means are as worthy as the ends

Young Religious Zionist Torah scholars on the Parasha: In Eretz Yisrael we feel the joy and the sense that nothing is lacking in our lives.

Pesach and Eretz Yisrael

Young religious Zionist Torah scholars: Is there a substantive connection between the mitzva of Pesacḥ and Eretz Yisrael?

"Tevel” – the Land of Israel is affected by everything

Young Israeli Torah scholars: Rabbi Kook z”tl writes that wars raging anywhere in the world influence Am Yisrael.

How does the Beit Hamikdash differ from the Mishkan?

Young religious Zionist Torah scholars explain:They were the same on the surface, except for one crucial concept.

Perpetual sacrifice

Jerusalem stood by virtue of the Tamid offering, the perpetual sacrifice which corresponds to the Holy City and its characteristics.

Shelamim: Peace to Am Yisrael and to the world

Shelamim means whole. Peace is completeness, harmony, the feeling that one thing complements another, and both are equal parts of a whole.

The soul of Eretz Yisrael

Young religious Zionist Torah scholars:Other lands do not have a soul; do not possess a life force or express something living. .

God stood and measured the Earth

Young Israeli religious Zionist Torah scholars: G-d was not looking for a land large enough for His nation, He was acting as a matchmaker.

Stones from the Jordan River

Young Israeli Religious Zionist scholars: The stones from the Jordan were a mezuzah for all of Am Yisrael as they entered the Holy Land.

The Beit Hamikdash enlightens the world

Young Israelii Relgious Zionist Torah scholars write on Eretz Yisrael, Am Yisrael and Torah Yisrael in the spirit of HaRav Kook.

Rabbi Zera’s impulsivity

Dvar Torah from young religious Zionist Torah scholars:' Are Jews impulsive?.Only when it is the rational way to behave...'

Honoring parents

The reward for honoring one’s parents holds only in Eretz Yisrael; it is not the individual’s length of days, but that of the entire nation.

The goal - Eretz Yisrael

Young religious Zionist Torah scholars: 'Once again, we delve into the mitzvot which apply only in the Land; Shemitta, teruma, maaser etc'

As if the land were given to you today

The Torah wants us to refrain from relating to the Land as an inheritance, but it is in fact an inheritance, so why not?

Why the Land of Israel is part of Grace after Meals

Why it is necessary to mention Eretz Yisrael when we thank God, Who provides our daily food. Is eating connected to appreciating the Land?

To a land flowing milk and honey

Why 'bribe' us with material things? Because the physical qualities of the Land facilitate observance of Torah in the most perfect manner.

MIKETZ

Everything that happened to Joseph happened to Zion

Alhough the Gemara states that only 3 men are the fathers of Israel, nonetheless, Yoseph has the leadership aspect of paternity of Israel,

The angels of Eretz Yisrael

Without question, Yaacov was in great need of the angels who accompanied and protected him, but why not the same ones everywhere?

The virtue of burial in Eretz Yisrael

We have been privileged to have the remains of righteous people brought to Israel for reburial. Why is this important?.

What does a baby's brit have to do with the Land of Israel?

Brit mila and Torah study are especially great mitzvot, therefore, dwelling within the Land is especially connected to them.

Where did the dove find a leafy olive tree after the Flood?

If only Noach, his family and animals of each species were saved from the Flood in order to establish a new world, whence the leafy tree?

When Moses declines to lead Grace after Meals

At the Redemption, Moses will be asked by God to “take the cup of wine and say Grace.” But he will reply “I cannot say Grace."

Ha'azinu: The special quality of Moshe Rabbeinu’s vision

Am Yisrael’s leadership upon entering the Land was in the hands of Yehoshua, but it remained rooted in the spiritual leadership of Moshe.

Shmitta: A taste of the Days of Mashiach

Dvar Torah from Rel. Zionist yeshiva students: In Messianic times, the choice will not be between good or evil, but between good and better.

Why the Shechina dwelt in Benjamin's portion of Eretz Yisrael

The Mechillta asks this question and provides two answers.They symbolize a deeper message telling the reasons for Hashem's preference.

The double violation of stealing land in Eretz Yisrael

Young religiois Zionist Torah scholars:"S’fat Emet writes that every Jew has his own portion of Eretz Yisrael which is rooted in his soul."

The importance of Border Towns protecting Eretz Yisrael

Young religious Zionist scholars: Protecting Israel's border towns trumps Shabbat observance even if there is no immediate threat to life .

There is a difference in sanctity West and East of the Jordan

Young religious Zionist Torah scholars write weekly on Eretz Yisrael: Why Moshe wanted to cross the Jordan when the east bank was also ours.

The Torah cautions against sinning in Eretz Yisrael

Young religious Zionist Torah scholars write weekly Torah thoughts centering on the uniqueness of the Land of Israel.

The Amoraim's love for Eretz Yisrael

Those whom the Gemara presents as great lovers of Eretz Yisrael, were not “sabras” born in the Land, but sons who returned to her from afar.

Ya’akov and Yisrael – Two levels

The quality of “Ya’akov” allows Jews to survive in times of suffering while the quality of “Yisrael” symbolizes independence. Op-ed..

The Levites' portion

Torah from Rel. Zionist yeshivas: Why did the Levites not receive a portion in Eretz Yisrael and in the spoils of war like their brethren?

Rebellion against God and against Eretz Yisrael

'Torah of Eretz Yisrael' from Religious Zionist yeshiva students: The sin of the spies was their perspective on what they saw in the Land.

Remembering G-d in times of trouble and in times of rejoicing

Young students in Religious Zionist yeshivas: The symbol of Jewish unity is when every Jew, everywhere, feels the pain of suffering Jews

Shir Hama’alot and the sanctity of Eretz Yisrael

We walk in tears, but “our mouths will fill with laughter”- at the time of redemption, the joy hidden within Am Yisrael will burst forth.

Eretz Yisrael: Finding the good hidden within the bad

Torah from religious Zionist yeshiva students: The early pioneers did not see swamps in Eretz Yisrael, they saw potential farm land.

Shelamim - a peace offering for the world

Young religious Zionist Torah scholars explain the connection between the Shelamim offering, internal peace and world harmony.

Heavenly Eretz Yisrael

'May our eyes see Your return to Zion'- may G-d open our eyes to be conscious of and see the stages of the return to Zion and Jerusalem.

Rabbi Zera simply had to enter Eretz Yisrael - right away

He could not find a ferry, so he crossed the Jordan, then a mighty river, on a rope bridge so as not to miss the chance to enter the land.

Changing seasons in Eretz Yisrael

Torah thoughts on Eretz Yisrael from young Religious Zionist yeshiva students:In Eretz Yisrael, even seasonal changes have deep meaning.

As if the land were given to you today

The Land must be meaningful to us as a great and timelss gift which has just been received - with joy and a willingness to work hard..

Why do Jews want to be buried in the Land of Israel?

Rabbi Kook saw the Land and the Nation as a single entity; and their connection that of different limbs of the same body to each other.

The Israelites’ real estate holdings in Egypt

Religious Zionist yeshiva students on the week's Torah reading: The Israelites acquired land in Egypt, causing some to desire to remain.

Everything that happened to Joseph happened to Zion

Young Relgious Zionist scholars write on the Land of Israel: 'Why does the midrash compare Joseph's life to the events that occur to Zion?'

Strengthening the connection between the Jews and the Holy Land

Ove and above sustaining life, the air of the Holy Land uplifts the individual soul while its earth spurs our national development.

A Portion in Eretz Yisrael is a portion of the World to Come

The connection to Eretz Yisrael binds the individual soul to the collective, eternal soul of Israel with a strong bond.

The varied names of Eretz Yisrael

The choice of different names and their use for a person or object conveys love for unique characteristics. So it is with our land.

A Covenant of love and a Covenant of commitment

Torah thoughts from young scholars in Religious Zionist yeshivas: Brit Milah and Torah Study - our part of Abraham's Covenant with God.