The Tribulations of Exile are Caused by Dwelling

Outside the Land


In light of the above, it is not hard to find the reasons for all the suffering we have undergone throughout our history in Exile.  Clearly, it is all because of the sin of living abroad, outside the Land of Israel, which caused the division and separation between tzedek and tzedakah.  So wrote Rabbeinu Peretz, one of the Tosafists: 43

For Hashem will smite them a mighty blow, in order that they repent of their ways and return with the Divine Presence from the house of bondage into and inside the House of the King.


The Kisei Rachamim 44 explains that the Kingdom has respite only in the Land of Israel.  And elsewhere 45 he writes, "the Divine Presence is imprisoned with them – and about this it is said, 'A prisoner cannot free himself from captivity.'"


The Holy Zohar writes: 46
G-d created them as one singular nation in the world, as is written, Who is like Your people Israel, one nation in the land, 47 and they desired Him and bound themselves up with Him, as is written, 48 כי יעקב בחר לו י-ה.


The holy Mikdash Melech explains:

Even though Israel is below in This World, surrounded by the kelipah (husk), still and all, G-d arranged that the external forces should not have control over Israel, as they merit to dwell in the Land of Israel, where [these forces] have no control.  In addition, the Holy Temple is directly aligned with Creation's Hall of Sapphire Brick, which is the secret of Yesod, thus that Israel is always in the grasp of and influenced by the middle-line lights, essential lights.

And this is based on the above verse, one nation in the land – the land of Israel, which is referred to simply as the land,  which equals 49 291, or three times [97], in the secret understanding of the three elements daat, tiferet and yesod… Israel desired Him and bound themselves up with Him, meaning they accepted the abundance of desire… and rose up to the level of the secret of Yesod.


Whoever can grasp the above and yet still remain outside the Land, his soul will cry in secret for preventing the unification of the three elements – daat, tiferet and yesod. But he who understands will comprehend that "It is the glory of G-d to conceal a thing." 50


Similarly, the Zohar states: 51

Come and see, the verse I am my beloved's and his desire is for me. 52 It means this: First I must arouse myself to my beloved, and then his desire will be for me; first I must make the effort to find a suitable place for G-d, and then He will want to be with me.


  1. 43.Maarechet HaElokut, page 111; see there at length

  2. 44.Sefer HaTikunim, page 189a

  3. 45.page 37b

  4. 46.beginning of Terumah, page 126a

  5. 47.Shmuel II 7,23

  6. 48.Tehillim 135,4

  7. 49.in gematriya, a numerological system by which Hebrew letter is assigned a numeric value

  8. 50.Mishlei 25,2

  9. 51.Lech Lecha, page 88b

  10. 52.Shir HaShirim 7, 11




FOOTNOTES

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