SHABAT SHALOM
Antique Persian Jewish Sacred Altar From Sheltering A Mirror With Reverse Painting
Editor,
Daveed Fakheri
Love for the Land of Israel Throughout history, the Jewish people were landless. Yet Jews were always aware of their link to the Land of Israel, perhaps because they did not live in a place they could call their own. |
Our Love For The
Land Of Israel
The commandment to bring the redemption
of the Land of Israel reminds us of the
inextricable link between Judaism and Israel.
One of the central paradoxes of Jewish history is that the Jewish people were landless through most of our history. Yet, we were always profoundly aware of our link to the Land of Israel, perhaps because we did not live in a place we could call our own. The intense love between the Jews and their homeland permeated our prayers, our Torah and our hearts. Today's Torah portion speaks directly to the centrality of the Land of Israel in Jewish thought and deed. God instructs the Jewish People, "You must provide for the ge'ulah(redemption) of the land."
Shalom in the Land
Thought for the Week:
The Torah's blessings and punishments are visited upon the people as a whole for Israel's collective obedience or disobedience. This means that righteous people may find themselves suffering for the sin of the wicked, or, conversely, wicked people may find themselves blessed on the merit of the righteous.
Commentary:
I shall also grant peace in the land, so that you may lie down with no one making you tremble. I shall also eliminate harmful beasts from the land, and no sword will pass through your land. (Leviticus 26:6)
When the nation of Israel as a whole is walking in covenant faithfulness, she will experience shalom (שלום) in the land. The Hebrew word shalom is more than just a greeting. It means "peace" and "wholeness." In this context it refers to security from enemies. Moreover, the Torah promises protection from harmful beasts in the land.
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