Chapter Four, part 1: Righteous, and in the Land

Translation and commentary by Rabbi David Slavin

While residing in Eretz Yisrael, the tzadik will receive and supply the world with more benefits rather than his living in  Chutz LaAretz. Also the death of a tzadik in Eretz Yisrael damages the world more than the damage caused by his dying in Chutz LaAretz.

" Eretz Yisrael is the heart of the world, for it is the portal to heaven"

The essence of this is, that Eretz Yisrael is the heart of the world ( Zohar I:183 b), for it is the portal to heaven. Just like the heart is the source of life for the body and it divides and spreads out life force to all the parts of the body. So too when Eretz Yisrael is healthy with tzadikim dwelling therein, then the life force and bountiful influence of health spreads out to all residents of the world.

The creation of Eretz Yisrael is through tzadikim, for they draw down to the land life force and all other divine influences. That is what is meant by the verse, "Exult Israel in your Maker, the children of Zion rejoice in their King" (Psalms 149:2). In other words, when shall all of the nation of Israel, who live in Chutz LaAretz, exult in their good deeds (as the Targum says -- "The joy of the house of Israel in their actions")? When the children of Zion -- the tzadikim living in the city of Zion --shall rejoice in their King, i.e. when they cause a supernal union of  tiferet and  malchut. Only then can the divine influence descend, first to them then to the rest of the world.

" Prayers of Chutz LaAretz can not ascend ... without the help of the prayers of the tzadikim in Eretz Yisrael"

Furthermore, all the prayers of Chutz LaAretz can not ascend to heaven without the help of the prayers of the tzadikim in Eretz Yisrael. That is why the first letters of the words, "B'nai Tzion Yagilu -- The children of Zion shall rejoice" (ibid.) spell tzvi. For those who are rejoicing are in the Land of the Tzvi ("the land of loveliness"), i.e. Eretz Yisrael--they cause joy for the entire world.

Yet if, heaven forbid, there is no one to make that supernal union in Eretz Yisrael, then all the actions of those Jews in Chutz LaAretz are for naught. Even their prayers are impotent, for they can't ascend. This is because the peace and tranquility of the whole world is dependent upon the tranquility and peace of the tzadikim in Eretz Yisrael.

" The only way that any divine influence enters the world is through Eretz Yisrael"

This is what is meant by the verse, "Yismach Tzadik Ba'Hashem-- Rejoice, oh righteous in G-d" (Psalms 64:11). The first letters spell tzvi; this means that through the actions and unions of the tzadikim in Eretz HaTzvi, and their taking refuge in G-d out of love, only then can "The upright in heart will be glorified" (ibid.)-- those faithful ones in Chutz LaAretz shall be glorified. And they will say this must have been caused by the ways of the upright ones of Eretz Yisrael who are called the heart. For the unifications performed in Eretz Yisrael benefit the entire world. For the only way that any divine influence enters the world is through Eretz Yisrael. This is what was meant by the statement of Chazal, "The rest of the world is nourished from the remnants of Eretz Yisrael" (Ta'anis 11a). In other words, as we have explained that Eretz Yisrael provides for the whole world like the heart provides life force to the entire body. (As the doctors have said, from the clearest and purest blood, the heart is nourished, which then in turn provides life force to the rest of the body; second is the brain, which is nourished by the purest blood left over, then the liver, then the rest of the organs and limbs according to their level.) Thus the rest of the world receives its nourishment (via Eretz Yisrael), each place according to its individual level.

Nonetheless, at the time of the destruction of the Holy Temple, because of our sins, the flow of the divine influence was severed. Subsequently the rest of the limbs steadily diminish and wither, since the heart is no longer healthy and is not receiving sustenance. This situation is akin to a fast day. For this reason there is no day since the destruction of the Holy Temple whose curse is greater then the day that preceded it. This is simply because as we get farther from the destruction the degree of diminishment increases. The effect of a fast day is the heart not receiving any new nourishment. Hence it must draw nourishment out of the limbs and other organs to survive. They are ready and willing to sacrifice their own sustenance, fearing that if the heart were to die, so would they. That is why they provide their own blood to the heart. They realize the vital circumstance, and don't want the heart's demise. So it is that since the time of the destruction of the holy Temple, Eretz Yisrael is nourished by the remnants of Chutz LaAretz. For Eretz Yisrael has no existence without the small amounts of tzedaka that it receives from its limbs -- those Jews in Chutz LaAretz.

" The tzadikim residing in Eretz Yisrael are the channel for all the divine influence to enter this world."

The tzadikim residing in Eretz Yisrael are the channel for all the divine influence to enter this world. The reason is simple, for this divine influence is of spiritual nature, and it would be impossible to descend into the physical realm if it were not for the tzadikim that manifesting their spirituality - their portion of G-d within them. It is through their  Torah learning and good deeds that the divine influence can descend against its nature. These tzadikim are greatly assisted in their function if the area they live in is pure. This is like a wick; the more free of dirt or other impediments, the smoother the flow of fuel to the flame. The tzadikim are the bearers of the flame. For through them we can be attached to that spiritual light whose nature is heaven-bound.

To return to the previous article in this series on the Land of Israel, The Land and the Covenant, click here

To continue on to the next article in this series on the Land of Israel, The Righteous Seventy-Two, click here

Rabbi Nathan Schapira , an honored member of an emin

Rabbi David Slavin is an American long-time stude

TOP OF ARTICLE	E-MAIL ARTICLE PRINT ARTICLE