Rosh HaYeshiva, Machon Meir
Our sages called the Book of Bamidbar, “Chumash Pekudim” [The Book of Tallies], because of the two censuses mentioned in it. The first took place at the start of Israel’s trek through the desert “on the first day of the second month [Iyar] in the second year of their exodus from Egypt” (Bamidbar 1:1). The second took place prior to their entering the Land “in the Plains of Moav on the Jordan River facing Jericho” (26:63). Between these two censuses were forty years of walking through a desert amidst difficult trials and crises.
Only those worthy to enter Eretz Yisrael reached the “finish line” in the Plains of Moav, as it says, “Of these [counted in the plains of Moav], there were none who had been counted by Moshe and Aharon in the Sinai Wilderness. G-d had said of them, ‘They will surely die in the Wilderness,’ and not a man was left of them, except for Calev ben Yefuneh and Yehoshua bin Nun” (66:64-65). Rashi comments: “none were left who were counted previously, for the men had all died because of the sin of the spies. As for the women, the decree of the spies had not been applied to them, for they loved the Land. The men had said, ‘Let us choose a leader and return to Egypt’ (14:4), but the women had said, ‘Give us a holding in the Land’ (27:4). This is why the episode of Tzelafchad’s daughters was juxtaposed to the section regarding the census. Those daughters loved the Land and they were as righteous as Yosef, who likewise loved the Land and asked to be buried there. Whoever loves the Land is righteous and worthy of praise.” (Rashi on 27:1).
In every generation, there are people who love the Land and are worthy of praise. During our 2,000 year exile, there were Jews who loved the Land and moved there with great self-sacrifice. Amongst them were great Torah giants like Rambam, Ramban, Rabbi Yosef Karo, the Ari, the Ohr HaChaim, the disciples of the Vilna Gaon, the disciples of the Ba’al Shem Tov, and many more who moved to the Land despite all difficulties and dangers.
About 150 years ago, a great change transpired. At that time, not just rabbis and great saints moved to the Land of Israel, but the Jewish masses as well, religious and irreligious, from all the communities of the Diaspora. All expressed their great love for the Land by moving there and settling it. They were the pioneers going before the camp. They established the first farming settlements and communities, both private and communal. They reaped great merit, and likewise brought great merit to all of Israel through their love and affection for Eretz Yisrael. It was through their merit that we have been privileged to establish the State of Israel in our times.
Currently, those who continue to bear the banner of love for Eretz Yisrael are the settlers of Yehuda and Shomron, who love the Land and risk their lives for it. There are those who have an unrelenting ambition to establish an Arab state in the very heart of our Land and to banish the Jews from there. Despite their efforts, the love and affection of the settlers of Yehuda and Shomron continue and shall continue further. Great waters will not be able to extinguish that love.
In the desert, those who loved the Land survived - the women, as well as Calev and Yehoshua - and they were privileged to go up into Eretz Yisrael and to settle it. So too in our day, those who love Eretz Yisrael and risk their lives for their people and their land are the ones who will emerge victorious in the struggle over our exclusive right to Eretz Yisrael. They shall continue to lead the nation once the present leadership passes. Then, “those redeemed by G-d shall come back to Zion in joy, enveloped in everlasting happiness” (Yeshayahu 35:10).
Besorot Tovot and Shabbat Shalom,
Looking forward to complete salvation,
With the Love of Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael.
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