Distinctiveness of the Land of Israel
In the Torah, the land of Israel is described as rife with produce and resources, a land where following God’s commandments is rewarded and flaunting them can cause expulsion. Unlike Egypt, biblical Israel was a land almost entirely dependent on rain, and the Israelites would be more dependent on God when living there. Poets and scholars have long yearned to be in the land of Israel, and its merits and holiness have been extolled across many genres.
Notable Sources
All Sources
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A Land of AbundanceTANAKH
A Land of Abundance
TANAKH
As the Israelites prepare to enter the land of Israel, Moses contrasts their desert conditions with what they will encounter in the land of Israel. The book of Deuteronomy describes the various and plentiful food and resources available in the land of Israel.
The Primacy of the Land of IsraelTALMUD
The Primacy of the Land of Israel
TALMUD
The ancient rabbis described the land of Israel as the original point of creation. The Babylonian Talmud asserts that this distinctive nature continues in the way the land is watered.
The Sacred Land's Intolerance for SinMIDRASH
The Sacred Land's Intolerance for Sin
MIDRASH
The Torah states that the land of Israel will eject inhabitants who defile the land. The Sifra, an ancient midrash on the book of Leviticus from the land of Israel, explains this metaphor with a parable.
The Spiritual Advantage of the Land of IsraelTALMUD
The Spiritual Advantage of the Land of Israel
TALMUD
The ancient rabbis considered living in the land of Israel to have particular religious significance. The Babylonian Talmud discusses the spiritual advantage of living in the land of Israel as opposed to living anywhere else.
Yearning for the Divine Presence in IsraelLITURGY
Yearning for the Divine Presence in Israel
LITURGY
Several liturgical poems are recited specifically on Tisha B’Av, mourning the loss of the Temple. Rabbi Judah HaLevi, a medieval philosopher and poet, expresses longing for the land of Israel in one of these poems.
The Spiritual Connection to Ancestral SoilJEWISH THOUGHT
The Spiritual Connection to Ancestral Soil
JEWISH THOUGHT
The land of Israel holds spiritual significance as a religious idea, not solely as a landmass. Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, a 20th-century philosopher and rabbi, discusses the significance of the land of Israel and its role in Jewish identity.
Divine Oversight in the Land of IsraelCOMMENTARY
Divine Oversight in the Land of Israel
COMMENTARY
The land of Israel is contrasted with Egypt. Rabbi Francis Nataf, a contemporary scholar, discusses the significance of these differences and their implications for the Israelites.
The Spiritual Mystery of the Land of IsraelKABBALAH
The Spiritual Mystery of the Land of Israel
KABBALAH
Many rabbinic texts describe Abraham’s quest to know God. The Zohar, a foundational work of Jewish mysticism, describes Abraham’s quest as it relates to the land of Israel and his process of coming to that land.
Promise and PerilTANAKH
Promise and Peril
TANAKH
As the Israelites prepare to enter the land, Moses sends spies to scout it. The book of Numbers records the spies’ reports about the land's produce and inhabitants.
Israel's Spiritual ProtectionJEWISH THOUGHT
Israel's Spiritual Protection
JEWISH THOUGHT
Moses was not allowed to cross into the land of Israel. Rabbi Yehuda Rosanes, the 18th-century chief rabbi of the Ottoman Empire, discusses the reason for this through the lens of the spiritual power of the land.
Israel's Exclusive Role in Sacred OfferingsMISHNAH
Israel's Exclusive Role in Sacred Offerings
MISHNAH
The Mishnah, the first codification of Jewish law from the early third-century land of Israel, outlines a hierarchy of holiness, beginning with the land of Israel. The rabbis outline which sacred offerings come from the land of Israel and not other lands.
Jerusalem's Role in Lunar ObservationsHALAKHAH
Jerusalem's Role in Lunar Observations
HALAKHAH
In ancient times, a new month began when the new moon was sighted in Jerusalem; witnesses would testify before the Sanhedrin, and the news would circulate through a system of fire signals. Although by the time of Rambam, the Jewish calendar was fixed, he notes the importance of the land of Israel with regard to determining the calendar in his famed 12th-century code of Jewish law.
Yearning for the Holy LandCHASIDUT
Yearning for the Holy Land
CHASIDUT
In Chasidic thought, the land of Israel is a place of holiness and blessings. Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, in his collection of ethical teachings, Sefer HaMiddot, explores the spiritual connection to the land of Israel and its impact on one's life, regardless of physical proximity.