Page 28 - HaMizrachi #9 Yom HaAtzmaut 5779

Mrs. Shira Smiles

Creating our Connection

TO THE
LAND OF ISRAEL

hen we talk about Yom then asked if they could create papers of all its inhabitants. We know that
HaAtzmaut, the question to say that they were from Palestine, and throughout history, none of the nations
W we need to ask ourselves is he responded that it was permitted. It that conquered the Land of Israel
where we are in our relationship to the wasn’t dishonest, because this Gemara were able to settle it, as the agriculture
Land of Israel. It’s a day we can celebrate implies that anyone who desires to refused to cooperate with them. Had
in various ways, but it behooves us to see Israel is considered to have been there been an actual sustained presence
make it a day of introspection. born there. Every Jew is intrinsically there, strangers would have consumed
connected to the Land of Israel, even its goodness and food and the rights
How close are we in our desire to learn, without having ever set foot there. and claims of the Jewish people would
to live and to settle in the Land of Israel? have been nullified. Therefore, the Land
Rav Moshe Wolfson writes that the Parashat Re’eh (11:12) describes of Israel did not betray its people. It
centrality of the Land of Israel is clear the Land of Israel as a place that is
from the beginning of time, as our Sages constantly under G-d’s scrutiny. It’s the remained faithful to them and awaited
teach us that the world was created from difference between a parent who only its redeemer. When the possibility came
the Land of Israel and the rest of the desires to speak to a child once a year to return to the Land that withheld its
world spread out from there. In addition, to one who desires to speak to his or treasure from strangers and guarded
Adam, the first human being, was her child every day, a few times a day. them for us, how could the Jews not
created from the earth of the Land of The Siftei Chaim writes that Divine fulfill the commandment and run with
Israel. We have a magnetic pull towards Providence is much stronger in Israel, joy and enthusiasm to build and settle
the Land. because of this deep closeness He has there?
with us there. It’s a connection of the This Yom HaAtzmaut, we must come
And of Zion it shall be said “This man love and closeness between the Jewish
and this man were born in her and [G-d] people and the Land of Israel. into contact with the Land, hear its song,
will establish her. Rabbi Meisha, the and remember that the Land of Israel
grandson of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi, The Netivot Shalom writes that just has been waiting for us. We need to see
says, both those born there and those as in time, the Shabbat gives light and and understand what a blessing Israel is
who long to see her (Ketuvot, 75a). meaning to the whole week, the Land for us. The challenge from a distance is
of Israel animates the rest of the world. to open ourselves up beyond falafel, blue
During the British rule of Palestine, Israel is the land where we can have and white, and a dollar commitment. We
there was a quota of how many Jews prophecy and where we can feel and must connect to Israel emotionally and
could come from each nation into tap into the feeling of closeness and spiritually, so that while we may be living
Israel. There was a group of Jews from specialness to G-d. elsewhere, we feel the reality that our
Romania who wanted to emigrate to true home is only in Israel.
Israel but the quota from Romania had Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, in his Kol
already been filled. They asked Rav Dodi Dofek, writes that when the Torah
Chaim Sonnenfeld if they could lie and (Lev. 26:33) says that G-d will bring the Mrs. Shira Smiles is a sought-after
create papers that said they were from Land into desolation, our Sages interpret international lecturer, a popular
Czechoslovakia, whose quota had not this as a good thing, because our seminary teacher, and an experienced
yet been filled. He said they could not, enemies will not find any gratification curriculum developer
because it would be dishonest. They in the Land since it will be desolate sasmiles@gmail.com

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