Page 2 - HaMizrachi #14 2019 Chayei Sarah USA

ISRAEL AND US

Rabbi David A. Israel

This Land is
www.mizrachi.org
office@mizrachi.org
+972 (0)2 620 9000 My Land
Chairman
Mr. Harvey Blitz
Chief Executive he Torah, at length, describes Are the nations of the world really
Rabbi Doron Perez
the negotiations between going to look to Chumash for proof of
Educational Directors TAvraham and Ephron regarding the Jews’ right to the Land of Israel?!
Rabbi Reuven Taragin
Rabbanit Shani Taragin the purchase of a burial plot for
Avraham’s wife, Sarah. After a long Rav Ya’akov Moshe Charlap, in his
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and tough negotiation, Ephron sells book Mei Marom, asks if the Midrash
Avraham Ma’arat HaMachpela, a cave really believes that the world will rec-
located in the valley of Hebron. ognize the Jewish claim to Israel based
PUBLISHED BY THE MIZRACHI WORLD MOVEMENT on the story of Creation? His answer
HaMizrachi seeks to Editorial Team Why didn’t the Torah just write that stresses the wording of the verse which
spread Torat Eretz Daniel Verbov Rashi quotes: ֹו ּ מ ַ ע ְ ל די ִּג ִ ה וי ָ ׂש ֲ ע ַ מ ַ חֹ ּ כ, “He
Yisrael throughout Esther Shafier Avraham purchased the land as it did
the world. in the case of Ya’akov purchasing the told His people the power of His Cre-
HaMizrachi also Creative Director ation;” the verse here refers to “His
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contains articles, land of Shechem?
opinion pieces and Jonny Lipczer people,” the Jewish nation, rather than
advertisements One type of land is sdeh achuza, which to the gentiles.
that represent the Graphic Designer
diversity of views Hadas Peretz remains with a family forever; another
and interests in our is sdeh kinyan, which returns to the When the world questions our right
communities. These Production and to the Land of Israel, we Jews must
do not necessarily Advertising Manager original owner in the Jubilee year.
reflect any official Avraham inquires about purchasing believe that we have a moral right to
position of Mizrachi Meyer Sterman the Land. Not only did G-d promise
or its branches. production@mizrachi.org land as a sdeh achuza. Ephron agrees us the Land and bring us into the Land
to sell him a sdeh kinyan. In the end,
If you don’t want to keep HaMizrachi, you can double-wrap it (as He has done so again in our day),
before disposal, or place it directly into sheimos. Avraham agrees to this type of sale. but Avraham actually purchased parts
However, by the end of the story, the
www.rza.org of the Land. Indeed, this is also true in
office@rza.org Torah adds that the burial site of Sarah the current era when Jews purchased
212-465-9234 becomes a sdeh achuza. the lands that the early pioneers built,
Presidium worked and harvested.
Dr. Ernest Agatstein Similarly, the well-known first Rashi
Rabbi Leonard Matanky in Chumash offers proof of rights of
HAMIZRACHI Martin Oliner As Religious Zionists, we must be ever
PATRONS ownership of Eretz Yisrael. The Mid- vigilant to believe and spread this mes-
National Chairman rash asks: why does the Torah begin
Martin and Reva Mr. Seymour Shapiro sage, first and foremost among our
Oliner with the story of Creation? If the fellow Jews. If our brothers and sisters
Executive Vice-President Torah is meant to tell the story of the
Friends of Mr. Jack Rabbi David A. Israel struggle to accept G-d’s promise, we
Nagel z’’l Jewish people and provide us with must share with them the purchase of
Lynn and Joel Mael CHICAGO the halachot by which we live, should lands by our forefathers. If that is too
& Family it not have begun much later, from
www.rzc.us far in the past, we must share with
Mr. and Mrs. David office@rzc.us the Exodus from Egypt? In the future, them information on our purchase of
Rubin 847-674-9733 claims the Midrash, others will ques- lands long before 1948. G-d shared
Rosalyn and President tion the Jewish people’s right to the the power of His Creation with His
Stephen M. Flatow Dr. Oren Lakser Land of Israel (sound familiar?) and we people. It is now up to us.
Aileen and Pace Executive Director will be able to refer them to the story
Cooper Rabbi Jerold Isenberg
Rose and Bruce of Creation. 1 Mei Marom 33.
Newman LOS ANGELES This proves that G-d created the world 2 Psalms 111:6.
The family of Leila office@rzla.org and apportioned lands to whichever
Bronner z’’l 209-286-7141 nation He deemed appropriate. He Rabbi David A. Israel is the Executive
Isaac and Evelyn President gave B’nei Yisrael the Land of Israel. Vice-President of Religious Zionists of
America–Mizrachi
Blachor Dr. Yakov Agatstein

2 | Many of the photos in this edition have been provided by the Jewish Community of Hebron