A Thought on Yom Ha'atzmaut

A few years ago, just before Yom Ha’aztmaut, the Modern Orthodox world lost a Torah giant, with the passing of Rav Aaron Lichtenstein, zt”l. Rav Lichtenstein was an ardent religious zionist and inspired thousands of people with his Torah and his love for Israel. I thought it appropriate to share some of his Torah on Israel in celebration of Medinat Yisrael’s 71st birthday. The following d’var torah is based on a shiur delivered by one of Rav Aaron’s students, Rav Moshe Taragin.

The Torah teaches us that Yaakov Avinu describes the land of Israel in two ways:

1. Eretz migurei aviv - the land that my forefathers inhabited

2. Eretz Canaan - the land of the Canaanites.

Rav Aaron asked: Why would the Torah need two different descriptions? What is each adding to the other? Why exactly would someone want to live in the homeland of his parents?

Rav Aaron suggested two possibilities:

1. Yaakov wanted to return to live with family and make up for time away from his father. Yaakov spent many years living in the house of Lavan and felt that in order to maintain his lineage properly, he would have to return to the land of his father.
2. Yaakov understood that the land of Israel has an inherent kedusha; a special sanctity that one cannot find anywhere else in the world. He sought to grow closer to his Creator and felt that the land of Israel was the only place to do that.

Rav Aaron pointed out that Yaakov was fortunate that he could accomplish both of these ideals - maintaining both his lineage and the path to ideal spirituality -  by living in Israel. He understood that his children and subsequent generations would not be as fortunate to have this convergence. This is why he chose to describe the land of Israel in two ways. He wanted to teach us that even if our parents do not live in Israel and that aspect of maintaining lineage is not applicable to us, the kedusha of Israel is reason enough for us to strive to live there. For those who are not able to make the leap and live in Israel, at the very least we should all have an internal magnetic draw to Israel. Recognizing the spiritual exaltedness of Israel is crucial.

Who could visit Israel and without being drawn closer to Hashem? Rav Aaron would say that when we visit Israel, it cannot be the same feeling as when we visit, let’s say, California, for example. Israel is the land that Moshe Rabbeinu and Aaron Hakohen wanted so desperately to reach, even though they were not given that opportunity. For those of us who have traveled to Israel numerous times, we must appreciate the zechut of being able to step into the holy land.

Rav Aaron discussed three main aspects that created his love for Israel and his desire to be there:

1. Religious uniqueness of living in Israel
2. Standing in the presence of Hashem
3. Continuity of living in Israel

Let’s discuss each of the three aspects in a bit more detail:

1. Religious uniqueness of living in Israel

1. Performance of mitzvot: One cannot fulfill all 613 mitzvot by living in the diaspora. There are many mitzvot, mostly in the agricultural realm -such as Terumot and Maasrot, that only apply in the land of Israel.
2. There is mitzvah of Yishuv Eretz Yisrael. There is actually a commandment to live in Israel. Obviously, the only way to fulfill this is to move and live in the Holy Land.
3. Rav Aaron also was fond of quoting the Ramban who says all mitzvot are really only applicable in Israel. He says that what we do in the Diaspora is really just practice for when we are able to return to Israel. Rav Aaron quotes his Rebbi Rav Yizchak Hutner zt”l who had the practice whereupon landing in Israel, he would don his tefillin for a 2nd time that day, as if to show that his putting on tefilin earlier that day in the diaspora did not count in the same way.

2. Standing in the Presence of Hashem
1. It is common knowledge that the resting place of Hashem’s presence, His shechina, is in Israel. The Beit Hamikdash is the center of our universe and it is the ideal place to experience the shechina.
2. Rav Aaron quotes the Rambam in Hilchot Taanit, who discusses what to do when a land experiences drought. The Rambam quotes the Talmud which says that our response is to fast in the merit that Hashem should bring rain. But for some reason, the Rambam repeats himself and says that when the land of Israel experiences a drought, you should fast as well. Why the need for repetition? Rav Aaron explained that when there is no rain in the United States or in another country, it is very difficult. It can cause agricultural and economic issues. However, when there is a drought in Israel, that is an act of Hashem turning his back on us- a much bigger problem.
3. Israel is the epicentre of Jewish life. Although other Jewish communities are important, the vital center of Am Yisrael is only in Israel. If the Jewish people want to be part of the action, here in Israel is where it is.

3. Continuity of Jewish living is in Israel

Despite the fact that we have a fixed Jewish calendar, only the Jews living in Israel have the authority to designate the new moon, which determines when our weeks, months and Jewish holidays take place. We need Jews living in Israel so that Jewish life around the world can exist. The Rambam says that there will always be a group of Jewish people living in Israel to ensure our existence as Jewish people will continue indefinitely.

Rav Aaron concludes by reiterating that even those of us who, for personal or professional reasons, must live in the diaspora, at the very least we should feel this emotional and halachic pull towards Israel, a bond that exists within ever Jew.