| |
Chapter Two: Inhabitants of the Land, part 1
Translation and commentary by Rabbi David Slavin
Know that each and every parcel of land was granted to
the nation that was best suited for that land. This is hinted at in the verse,
"And I shall give the land of Ar to the children of Lot as an inheritance"
(Deut. 2:9). That implies that that parcel of land is destined for the children
of Lot. Similarly, we see G-d allocating the area of land, known as the Mountain
of Seir, to Esau, as in the verse "As an inheritance to Esau, I have given the
Mount of Seir" (Deut. 2:5). Chazal explained that just like he, Esau, was ruddy,
so too his land is reddish. Thus again indicating how the land is appropriate
for he who was destined to dwell therein.  | | " He who lives outside the Land is as if he serves idolatry" | | |
The reason for the suitability of a land to its nation
is because of the compatibility of the ministering angel ruling those people to
that piece of land. So too the very souls of those people stem from the
kelipa (spiritual husk) that represents that parcel of land. This leads us
to observe three types of correlations: the relation of the nation, of the
physical land, and of the ministering angel to the soul and providence.
This is hinted to in the verse, "That they should save you from a
forbidden woman, a strange woman" (Proverbs 7:5). The hint is from the letters
spelling "forbidden woman" spell "that the Sar (the ministering angel)",
the ruler of that country. For he who lives outside the Land is as if he serves
idolatry (cf. Gemara Ketubot 110a), as will be explained.
This concept is surely similar with the Jews and Eretz
Yisrael. The level of their Neshama, their Torah, and their relationship
with G-d, is dependent upon their presence in the Land of Israel. For the very
soil of Eretz Yisrael is holy and the Jewish people are holy, their souls are
holy and their Torah is holy as well as their G-d is holy for He is their
minister. Not only that, but just like Eretz Yisrael and its abundant mitzvot
have no comparison with the other countries of the world and the mitzvot
that could be performed therein, the same is true that the Torah, the code of
life of Eretz Yisrael, has no comparison with the legal codes and statutes of
the other nations of the world. About this it is written, "And you shall not do
any of these abominations (the laws of the pagans)" (Lev. 18:26) and "For all of
those abominations..." (ibid. 27) and "Let not the land disgorge you, as it had
vomited out..." (ibid. 28). | | " The completeness of the soul is dependent upon which portion of land it dwells in" | | |
Behold the holy Torah and Eretz Yisrael have a unique
relationship. So too the Jewish people have a unique deep spiritual relationship
to the land of Israel. This can be seen from the prophet Ezekiel (chapter 48)
dividing up the land between the twelve tribes, granting each tribe the parcel
of land best suited for its needs. This was accomplished by each tribe bordering
the place from where the soul of his tribe emanates from. Thus each mitzvah
performed in Eretz Yisrael ascends and adorns each of the borders in
relationship to the soul of each tribe. In this way, the completeness of the
soul is dependent upon which portion of land it dwells in. And the fulfillment
of the land is dependent upon the souls that dwell there in accordance with its
existence.
The essence of this is that Zion is the point of the
original creation (Gemara Yoma 54b.) For, from that point the rest
of the world unfolded. That point of course is associated with the Shechina.
There are twelve boundaries emanating from that central point. They are the
mystery of the measurements of the land and the sanctuary as recounted by the
prophet Ezekiel (ch. 48). The Jews take shelter under the edges of the
out-spread wings of the Shechina that extend to the entire border of
Eretz Yisrael. Yet, just as the Shechina is not complete so long as the
Holy Temple is incomplete, so too the Shechina is incomplete so long as
Eretz Yisrael is not complete to the extent of its true borders, which are from
the river of Egypt until the Euphrates. That completion is dependent upon its
being inhabited by Jews, each according to the place that is most befitting him;
this is because G-d had promised Abraham ten lands as an inheritance to his
descendents. Those ten lands correspond to the attribute of malchut that
is nesting in the realm of Asiya, for she is incorporated by ten
sefirot of her own.
To return to the previous article in this series on the Land of Israel,
The Goodness of the Land, Part 2 click here
To continue on to the next article in this series on the Land of Israel,
Vanquishing the "Lower 7" click here
Visitor Comments: 1
,8/10/2003
Shalom Haverim!
Mazel
|
|
|
|
