Chapter 24
To Dwell in the Land is to Take Shelter Beneath
the Divine Presence
page 37
Every single person who fears G-d and who is in awe of His word, and yet still lives outside the Land of Israel, must shed a river of tears for having distanced the close and brought near that which is far, and for having blocked Divine abundance from reaching Israel – diverting it to the Gentiles instead. For it is known that one who dwells in the Land is as one who takes shelter beneath the holy Divine Presence, as the righteous commentator Rabbeinu Bachye writes (Parashat Haazinu):
He who dwells in the Land of Israel is living in the King’s palace that is called G-d’s Land, G-d’s Inheritance. And every area that is outside the Land is known in the Bible as “outside” and “tents of evil,” while the Sages call these areas “land of idol- and star- worship.” The land outside the Land of Israel, in its very earth and air, is impure and defiles others; but the Holy Land is the height of the righteous, as King David wrote, “I will walk before G-d in the lands of life”, 98 and in Isaiah it is written, “He who takes shelter in Me will inherit the Land and the mountain of My holiness”. 99
The Gaon Yaavetz wrote in his commentary to the Siddur:
Israel is called “G-d’s inheritance,” and the Land is His inheritance, and the Torah is dependent upon both – on the Nation of G-d and on the inheritance of G-d. And whoever discards one, in truth is also discarding the second.
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98.Psalms 116,10
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99.Isaiah 57
FOOTNOTES
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