Why does God tell Avraham that he will bring him to “the Land that I will show you”? Why not just say where it is? Why not say “Israel”? Why keep it a secret? The Mei Shiloach explains that G-d told Avraham that he will take him to “the place that I will show you,” because Israel is “the land that I will show you.” An essential component of the mystery and excitement of spiritual discovery of Israel is what “I will show you.” Meaning, the true vitality of Israel is not the geography, not the politics, and not the food, rather it is experiences life and meaning in a new way. It is an experience that can only be felt but never precisely described. Israel is the land that “needs to be seen” not just described.
א"ר ירמיה בר אבא א"ר יוחנן כל המהלך ארבע אמות בארץ ישראל מובטח לו שהוא בן העולם הבא
Rabbi Yirmeya bar Abba said that Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Anyone who walks four cubits in Eretz Yisrael is assured of a place in the World-to-Come.
מכילתא דרבי ישמעאל, יתרו, עמלק
שלשה דברים נתנו על תנאי, ארץ ישראל ובית המקדש ומלכות בית דוד, חוץ מספר תורה ובריתו של אהרן שלא נתנו על תנאי.
Mechilta d'Rabbi Yishmael, Yitro, Amalek
Three things were given conditionally: the Land of Israel, the Temple, and the Kingship of the House of David. But the Torah and the Covenant of Aaron were given unconditionally.
והוא צורך העבודות האלהיות והמצות התוריות ההכרחיות לקנין השלמות להיותם בארץ הנבחרת ההיא
In the service of G-d, it is impossible for the Jewish nation to reach perfection anywhere outside the Chosen Land.
הָיָה עוֹמֵד בְּחוּץ לָאָרֶץ — יְכַוֵּין אֶת לִבּוֹ כְּנֶגֶד אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְהִתְפַּלְלוּ אֵלֶיךָ דֶּרֶךְ אַרְצָם״.
One who was standing in prayer in the Diaspora, should focus his heart toward Eretz Yisrael, as it is stated: “And they shall pray to You by way of their land which You have given to their fathers” (I Kings 8:48).
- Irwin Cotler, MP