Love for Israel
– In Memoriam of Mr. David M. Warren (Menachem
Dovid ben Harav Yosef Z’L)
“Like those practices in the land of
Egypt which you (Children of Israel)
have lived, do not do; and like those
practices of the land of Cana’an
(Israel), to which I will bring you, do
not follow their statutes.” (Leviticus
18:3)
Rashi (1040 – 1105) teaches that the
Torah chooses Egypt and Canaan because
the Egyptians and Canaanites were
notoriously degenerate. Israel is warned
to keep far away from such a lifestyle.
However, the Kli Yakar is not satisfied
with this interpretation because it does
not explain the reference to the
additional words “the land of Egypt
which you have lived” and “the land of
Canaan to which I will bring you.”
The Kli Yakar explains that some of the
Jewish people did not want to leave
Egypt and be subject to a new lifestyle.
And among those who left, some
complained at the first sign of struggle
for food and some even wanted to return
to Egypt. “If we would have died in the
hands of G-d back in Egypt . . . where
we ate bread until we were satisfied.”
(Exodus 16:3)
Then, after the twelve spies reported
about the Land of Israel, most of the
Jewish People did not want to enter.
“Why does G-d want to bring us to this
land to die by the sword . . . It would
be better if we return to Egypt.”
(Numbers 14:3).
The Kli Yakar (Rabbi Shlomo Ephraim
Luntschitz, Prague; 1550 – 1619)
understands that these additional words
of “which you have lived” and “to which
I will bring you” add an additional
warning. Not only must we avoid the
lifestyles of degenerate people but we
most also yearn to live a Torah
lifestyle in Israel. The Torah can only
be fully observed in the Land of Israel.
At least sixty-five percent of G-d’s
Torah commandments are dependent on the
Land of Israel, from temple services to
agricultural laws. The reality is that,
absent the Land of Israel and its Holy
Temple, we cannot live a complete Torah
lifestyle. Therefore, not being
improperly influenced by the society is
not enough. We must also desire to be in
Israel in its glory.
This interpretation revolutionizes the
ideology of Torah Zionism. We love the
land and wish to return, not from a
desire to be a “nation among nations” or
reconnect to our heritage, but from G-d’s
commandment to yearn to live a complete
Torah lifestyle in Israel.
As of yet we will sit at our Passover
Seder and be reminded that we no longer
have the celebratory sacrifice (Korban
Chagiga) and the Paschal Lamb (Korban
Pesach). Just before we read the Ma
Nishtana, we say “Now we are slaves (to
the influences and surroundings), next
year we will be in the land of Israel.”
Every day, we yearn for our return to
the Land of Israel and the rebuilding of
the Holy Temple. Every day, we yearn for
the opportunity to fulfill all of the
Torah’s commandments. A worthy thought
as we conclude the Seder with “LeShana
Haba’ah Berushalayim Habenuya” (Next
year in Jerusalem).
Shabbat Shalom
May everyone have a zissen pesach - chag
kasher v’sameach.
