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Yishuv Eretz Yisrael

The Mitzvah of Yishuv Eretz Yisrael is Important. Why?

According to the Rambam, the era of Moshiach comes due to the establishment of a Torah society that naturally creates peace and prosperity.
Thus, a person who contributes to that effort is part of the Jewish venture. A person who does not, does not.
This is why only those buried in Israel are resurected.
The Zohar marks that it is forbidden to bring buried bodies to Israel.
This is because they aim to benefit from the era of moshiach, without making the sacrifices necessary to bring the era of moshiach.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: הוּא אוֹמֵר לַעֲלוֹת, וְהִיא אוֹמֶרֶת שֶׁלֹּא לַעֲלוֹת — כּוֹפִין אוֹתָהּ לַעֲלוֹת, וְאִם לָאו — תֵּצֵא בְּלֹא כְּתוּבָּה. הִיא אוֹמֶרֶת לַעֲלוֹת, וְהוּא אוֹמֵר שֶׁלֹּא לַעֲלוֹת — כּוֹפִין אוֹתוֹ לַעֲלוֹת, וְאִם לָאו — יוֹצִיא וְיִתֵּן כְּתוּבָּה.

§ The Sages taught: If the husband says that he wishes to ascend, i.e., to immigrate to Eretz Yisrael, and his wife says that she does not wish to ascend, one forces her to ascend. And if she will not do so, as she resists all attempts to force her to make the move, she is divorced without receiving her marriage contract, i.e., she forfeits her rights to the benefits outlined in the marriage contract. If she says that she wishes to ascend to Eretz Yisrael and he says that he does not wish to ascend, one forces him to ascend. And if he does not wish to immigrate, he must divorce her and give her the marriage contract.
הִיא אוֹמֶרֶת לָצֵאת, וְהוּא אוֹמֵר שֶׁלֹּא לָצֵאת — כּוֹפִין אוֹתָהּ שֶׁלֹּא לָצֵאת, וְאִם לָאו — תֵּצֵא בְּלֹא כְּתוּבָּה. הוּא אוֹמֵר לָצֵאת, וְהִיא אוֹמֶרֶת שֶׁלֹּא לָצֵאת — כּוֹפִין אוֹתוֹ שֶׁלֹּא לָצֵאת, וְאִם לָאו — יוֹצִיא וְיִתֵּן כְּתוּבָּה.
If she says that she wishes to leave Eretz Yisrael, and he says that he does not wish to leave, one forces her not to leave. And if she does not wish to stay in Eretz Yisrael and resists all attempts to force her to stay, she is divorced without receiving her marriage contract. If he says that he wishes to leave Eretz Yisrael and she says that she does not wish to leave, one forces him not to leave. And if he does not wish to stay in Eretz Yisrael, he must divorce her and give her the marriage contract.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: לְעוֹלָם יָדוּר אָדָם בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲפִילּוּ בְּעִיר שֶׁרוּבָּהּ גּוֹיִם, וְאַל יָדוּר בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ וַאֲפִילּוּ בְּעִיר שֶׁרוּבָּהּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁכׇּל הַדָּר בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל דּוֹמֶה כְּמִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ אֱלוֹהַּ, וְכׇל הַדָּר בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ דּוֹמֶה כְּמִי שֶׁאֵין לוֹ אֱלוֹהַּ. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לָתֵת לָכֶם אֶת אֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן לִהְיוֹת לָכֶם לֵאלֹהִים״.
§ In relation to the basic point raised by the mishna concerning living in Eretz Yisrael, the Sages taught: A person should always reside in Eretz Yisrael, even in a city that is mostly populated by gentiles, and he should not reside outside of Eretz Yisrael, even in a city that is mostly populated by Jews. The reason is that anyone who resides in Eretz Yisrael is considered as one who has a God, and anyone who resides outside of Eretz Yisrael is considered as one who does not have a God. As it is stated: “To give to you the land of Canaan, to be your God” (Leviticus 25:38).
וְכֹל שֶׁאֵינוֹ דָּר בָּאָרֶץ אֵין לוֹ אֱלוֹהַּ? אֶלָּא לוֹמַר לָךְ: כׇּל הַדָּר בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ כְּאִילּוּ עוֹבֵד עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה. וְכֵן בְּדָוִד הוּא אוֹמֵר: ״כִּי גֵרְשׁוּנִי הַיּוֹם מֵהִסְתַּפֵּחַ בְּנַחֲלַת ה׳ לֵאמֹר לֵךְ עֲבוֹד אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים״, וְכִי מִי אָמַר לוֹ לְדָוִד לֵךְ עֲבוֹד אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים? אֶלָּא לוֹמַר לָךְ: כׇּל הַדָּר בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ — כְּאִילּוּ עוֹבֵד עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה.
The Gemara expresses surprise: And can it really be said that anyone who resides outside of Eretz Yisrael has no God? Rather, this comes to tell you that anyone who resides outside of Eretz Yisrael is considered as though he is engaged in idol worship. And so it says with regard to David: “For they have driven me out this day that I should not cleave to the inheritance of the Lord, saying: Go, serve other gods” (I Samuel 26:19). But who said to David: Go, serve other gods? Rather, this comes to tell you that anyone who resides outside of Eretz Yisrael is considered as though he is engaged in idol worship.
רַבִּי זֵירָא הֲוָה קָמִשְׁתְּמִיט מִינֵּיהּ דְּרַב יְהוּדָה דִּבְעָא לְמִיסַּק לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, דְּאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה: כׇּל הָעוֹלֶה מִבָּבֶל לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל עוֹבֵר בַּעֲשֵׂה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר:
§ The Gemara relates: Rabbi Zeira was avoiding being seen by his teacher, Rav Yehuda, as Rabbi Zeira sought to ascend to Eretz Yisrael and his teacher disapproved. As Rav Yehuda said: Anyone who ascends from Babylonia to Eretz Yisrael transgresses a positive mitzva, as it is stated:
״בָּבֶלָה יוּבָאוּ וְשָׁמָּה יִהְיוּ עַד יוֹם פׇּקְדִי אוֹתָם נְאֻם ה׳״. וְרַבִּי זֵירָא — הָהוּא בִּכְלֵי שָׁרֵת כְּתִיב.
“They shall be taken to Babylonia and there they shall remain until the day that I recall them, said the Lord” (Jeremiah 27:22). Based on that verse, Rav Yehuda held that since the Babylonian exile was imposed by divine decree, permission to leave Babylonia for Eretz Yisrael could be granted only by God. The Gemara asks: And how does Rabbi Zeira interpret that verse? The Gemara answers that Rabbi Zeira maintains that that verse is written about the Temple service vessels, and it does not refer to the Jewish people, as the previous verse states: “Thus says the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that remain in the house of the Lord” (Jeremiah 27:21). Consequently, Rabbi Zeira sought to ascend to Eretz Yisrael.
וְרַב יְהוּדָה? כְּתִיב קְרָא אַחֲרִינָא: ״הִשְׁבַּעְתִּי אֶתְכֶם בְּנוֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַים בִּצְבָאוֹת אוֹ בְּאַיְלוֹת הַשָּׂדֶה וְגוֹ׳״.
The Gemara asks: And how does Rav Yehuda respond to this argument? The verse is clearly referring to the Temple vessels, not to the people. The Gemara answers that another verse is written: “I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and by the hinds of the field, that you not awaken or stir up love, until it please” (Song of Songs 2:7). Rabbi Yehuda derived from here that no act of redemption should be performed until a time arrives when it pleases God to bring about the redemption.

וְרַבִּי זֵירָא — הָהוּא שֶׁלֹּא יַעֲלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּחוֹמָה. וְרַב יְהוּדָה? ״הִשְׁבַּעְתִּי״ אַחֲרִינָא כְּתִיב.

And Rabbi Zeira maintains that the oath mentioned in that verse means that the Jews should not ascend to Eretz Yisrael as a wall, i.e., en masse, whereas individuals may immigrate as they wish. The Gemara asks: And what does Rav Yehuda reply to this? The Gemara answers that this command is derived from another verse in which “I adjure you” (Song of Songs 3:5) is written.
אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: כׇּל הַדָּר בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל שָׁרוּי בְּלֹא עָוֹן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּבַל יֹאמַר שָׁכֵן חָלִיתִי הָעָם הַיּוֹשֵׁב בָּהּ נְשׂוּא עָוֹן״. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רָבָא לְרַב אָשֵׁי: אֲנַן בְּסוֹבְלֵי חֳלָאִים מַתְנֵינַן לַהּ.
Rabbi Elazar said: Anyone who resides in Eretz Yisrael dwells without transgression, as it is stated: “And the inhabitant shall not say: I am sick; the people that dwell there shall be forgiven their iniquity” (Isaiah 33:24). Rava said to Rav Ashi: We learned this promise with regard to those who suffer from sickness. The phrase “I am sick” indicates that they are the ones who are forgiven their sins.
אָמַר רַב עָנָן: כׇּל הַקָּבוּר בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּאִילּוּ קָבוּר תַּחַת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ. כְּתִיב הָכָא: ״מִזְבַּח אֲדָמָה תַּעֲשֶׂה לִּי״, וּכְתִיב הָתָם: ״וְכִפֵּר אַדְמָתוֹ עַמּוֹ״.
Rav Anan said: Anyone who is buried in Eretz Yisrael is considered as though he is buried beneath the altar. It is stated here: “An altar of earth [adama] you shall make for Me” (Exodus 20:21), and it is stated there: “For He does avenge the blood of His servants, and renders vengeance to His adversaries, and atones for the land of [admato] His people” (Deuteronomy 32:43). This teaches that one who is buried in the earth of Eretz Yisrael is considered as though he is buried beneath the altar in the Temple.
אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאָסוּר לָצֵאת מֵאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְבָבֶל כָּךְ אָסוּר לָצֵאת מִבָּבֶל לִשְׁאָר אֲרָצוֹת. רַבָּה וְרַב יוֹסֵף דְּאָמְרִי תַּרְוַיְיהוּ: אֲפִילּוּ מִפּוּמְבְּדִיתָא לְבֵי כוּבֵּי. הָהוּא דִּנְפַק מִפּוּמְבְּדִיתָא לְבֵי כוּבֵּי, שַׁמְתֵּיהּ רַב יוֹסֵף. הָהוּא דִּנְפַק מִפּוּמְבְּדִיתָא לְאַסְתּוֹנְיָא, שְׁכֵיב. אֲמַר אַבָּיֵי: אִי בָּעֵי הַאי צוּרְבָּא מֵרַבָּנַן, הֲוָה חָיֵי.
§ Rav Yehuda said that Shmuel said: Just as it is prohibited to leave Eretz Yisrael and go to Babylonia, so too, is it prohibited to leave Babylonia for any of the other lands. Rabba and Rav Yosef both say: Even to go from Pumbedita to Bei Kuvei, which is located beyond the border of Babylonia proper, is not permitted. The Gemara relates: A certain man left Pumbedita to live in Bei Kuvei, and Rav Yosef excommunicated him. A certain man left Pumbedita to live in Astonia, which also lay beyond the borders of Babylonia proper, and he died. Abaye said: Had this Torah scholar wanted, he would still be alive, as he could have stayed in Babylonia.
אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: מֵתִים שֶׁבְּחוּץ לָאָרֶץ אֵינָם חַיִּים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְנָתַתִּי צְבִי בְּאֶרֶץ חַיִּים״ — אֶרֶץ שֶׁצִּבְיוֹנִי בָּהּ מֵתֶיהָ חַיִּים, שֶׁאֵין צִבְיוֹנִי בָּהּ — אֵין מֵתֶיהָ חַיִּים.
§ Rabbi Elazar said: The dead of the lands outside of Eretz Yisrael will not come alive and be resurrected in the future, as it is stated: “And I will set glory [tzvi] in the land of the living” (Ezekiel 26:20). This teaches that with regard to a land which contains My desire [tzivyoni], its dead will come alive; however, with regard to a land which does not contain My desire, i.e., outside of Eretz Yisrael, its dead will not come alive.

וְרַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר מֶמֶל, הַאי ״נוֹתֵן נְשָׁמָה לָעָם עָלֶיהָ״ מַאי עָבֵיד לֵיהּ? מִיבְּעֵי לֵיהּ לְכִדְרַבִּי אֲבָהוּ. דְּאָמַר רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ: אֲפִילּוּ שִׁפְחָה כְּנַעֲנִית שֶׁבְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל מוּבְטָח לָהּ שֶׁהִיא בַּת הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. כְּתִיב הָכָא: ״לָעָם עָלֶיהָ״, וּכְתִיב הָתָם: ״שְׁבוּ לָכֶם פֹּה עִם הַחֲמוֹר״ — עַם הַדּוֹמֶה לַחֲמוֹר.

The Gemara asks: And what does Rabbi Abba bar Memel do with this verse “He gives breath to the people upon it”? The Gemara answers: He requires that verse for that which was taught by Rabbi Abbahu. As Rabbi Abbahu said: Even a Canaanite maidservant in Eretz Yisrael is assured a place in the World-to-Come. It is written here: “To the people [la’am] upon it,” and it is written there: “Abide you here with [im] the donkey” (Genesis 22:5). This verse in Genesis is traditionally interpreted to mean: A people [am] that is similar to a donkey, from which it may be inferred that even the members of this people merit a share in the world to come.
״וְרוּחַ לַהוֹלְכִים בָּהּ״, אָמַר רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: כׇּל הַמְהַלֵּךְ אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל מוּבְטָח לוֹ שֶׁהוּא בֶּן הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא.
With regard to the aforementioned verse “And spirit to they who walk there” (Isaiah 42:5), 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.
וּלְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, צַדִּיקִים שֶׁבְּחוּץ לָאָרֶץ אֵינָם חַיִּים?! אָמַר רַבִּי אִילְעָא: עַל יְדֵי גִּלְגּוּל. מַתְקֵיף לַהּ רַבִּי אַבָּא סַלָּא רַבָּא: גִּלְגּוּל לְצַדִּיקִים צַעַר הוּא! אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: מְחִילּוֹת נַעֲשׂוֹת לָהֶם בַּקַּרְקַע.
The Gemara asks: And according to the opinion of Rabbi Elazar, will the righteous outside of Eretz Yisrael not come alive at the time of the resurrection of the dead? Rabbi Ile’a said: They will be resurrected by means of rolling, i.e., they will roll until they reach Eretz Yisrael, where they will be brought back to life. Rabbi Abba Salla Rava strongly objects to this: Rolling is an ordeal that entails suffering for the righteous. Abaye said: Tunnels are prepared for them in the ground, through which they pass to Eretz Yisrael.
וְהָיָ֣ה ׀ בְּאַחֲרִ֣ית הַיָּמִ֗ים נָכ֨וֹן יִֽהְיֶ֜ה הַ֤ר בֵּית־יְהֹוָה֙ בְּרֹ֣אשׁ הֶהָרִ֔ים וְנִשָּׂ֖א מִגְּבָע֑וֹת וְנָהֲר֥וּ אֵלָ֖יו כׇּל־הַגּוֹיִֽם׃ וְֽהָלְכ֞וּ עַמִּ֣ים רַבִּ֗ים וְאָֽמְרוּ֙ לְכ֣וּ ׀ וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה אֶל־הַר־יְהֹוָ֗ה אֶל־בֵּית֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יַעֲקֹ֔ב וְיֹרֵ֙נוּ֙ מִדְּרָכָ֔יו וְנֵלְכָ֖ה בְּאֹרְחֹתָ֑יו כִּ֤י מִצִּיּוֹן֙ תֵּצֵ֣א תוֹרָ֔ה וּדְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה מִירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ וְשָׁפַט֙ בֵּ֣ין הַגּוֹיִ֔ם וְהוֹכִ֖יחַ לְעַמִּ֣ים רַבִּ֑ים וְכִתְּת֨וּ חַרְבוֹתָ֜ם לְאִתִּ֗ים וַחֲנִיתֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙ לְמַזְמֵר֔וֹת לֹא־יִשָּׂ֨א ג֤וֹי אֶל־גּוֹי֙ חֶ֔רֶב וְלֹֽא־יִלְמְד֥וּ ע֖וֹד מִלְחָמָֽה׃ {פ}

In the days to come,
The Mount of GOD’s House
Shall stand firm above the mountains
And tower above the hills;
And all the nations
Shall gaze on it with joy. And the many peoples shall go and say:
“Come,
Let us go up to the Mount of GOD,
To the House of the God of Jacob;
That we may be instructed in God’s ways,
And that we may walk in God’s paths.”
For instruction shall come forth from Zion,
The word of GOD from Jerusalem. Thus [God] will judge among the nations
And arbitrate for the many peoples,
And they shall beat their swords into plowshares
And their spears into pruning hooks:
Nation shall not take up
Sword against nation;
They shall never again know war.

וכן עוד תמצא קצת הנביאים נבאו מדת זמן אחת ואחר כן נפסקה הנבואה מהם ולא התמידה להם בעבור מקרה שנתחדש. ולא היא הסיבה העצמית הקרובה בהפסק הנבואה בזמן ה׳גלות׳ בלא ספק, כלומר: ׳עצלות׳ או ׳עצבות׳ שיהיה לאדם בענין מן הענינים, יותר רע מהיותו עבד נקנה נעבד לסכלים הזונים, אשר קבצו העדר הדיבר האמיתי ותגבורת כל התאוות הבהמיות – ׳ואין לאל ידך׳. ובזה יעדנו רע והוא אשר רצה באמרו: ״ישוטטו לבקש את דבר יי ולא ימצאו״; ואמר: ״מלכה ושריה בגוים אין תורה גם נביאיה לא מצאו חזון מיי״; וזה – אמת מבואר העילה כי הכלי כבר נתבטל. והוא הסיבה גם כן בשוב הנבואה לנו על מנהגה ׳לימות המשיח – מהרה יגלה – כמו שיעד.
There were also persons who prophesied for a certain time and then left off altogether, something occurring that caused them to discontinue prophesying. The same circumstance, prevalence of sadness and dulness, was undoubtedly the direct cause of the interruption of prophecy during the exile: for can there be any greater misfortune for man than this: to be a slave bought for money in the service of ignorant and voluptuous masters, and powerless against them as they unite in themselves the absence of true knowledge and the force of all animal desires? Such an evil state has been prophesied to us in the words, “They shall run to and fro to seek the word of God, but shall not find it” (Amos 8:12); “Her king and her princes are among the nations, the law is no more, her prophets also find no vision from the Lord” (Lam. 2:9). This is a real fact, and the cause is evident; the pre-requisites [of prophecy] have been lost. In the Messianic period—may it soon commence—prophecy will therefore again be in our midst, as has been promised by God.

The days of the Messiah, however, is the time when rulership will return to Israel and that they will go back to the land of Israel and that this king will be very great, and the seat of his rulership will be in Zion (Jerusalem). His fame will grow and his mention will be among all of the nations, [even] more than King Shlomo. And all of the peoples will make peace with him and all of the lands will serve him, due to his great righteousness and due to the wonders that will come about though him. And anyone that comes against him, God, may He be elevated, will deliver into his hand. And all of the [relevant] verses in Scripture testify to his success and our success with him. And nothing about existence will change from what it is now, except that rulership will return to Israel. And this is the language of the sages (Sanhedrin 91b), "There is no difference between this world and the days of the Messiah except for the subjugation by the nations alone." And there will be in his days rich and poor, strong and weak, in relation to each other.

But it will be very easy in those days for people to find their sustenance; to the point that with a little effort that a person exerts, a great output will result. And this is what they said (Shabbat 30b), "In the future the land of Israel will produce loaves of bread and woolen garments"; since people say that when a person finds something prepared and ready, "So-and-so found baked bread and cooked food." And the proof to this is that which is stated (Isaiah 61:5), "and foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vintners," to show that there will [still] be planting and reaping. And therefore this sage who said this statement to his student got angry when [the latter] did not understand his words and thought that it was as its simple meaning. And he responded to him according to his understanding and that answer was not a true answer. And the proof that he did not respond to him with a true answer is that he brought a proof from (Proverbs 26:4-5), "Do not answer a fool according to his folly[... Answer a fool according to his folly]."

And the great objective that will occur in those days is that we shall rest from the subjugation by the nations which prevents us from the performance of all of the commandments; and that wisdom will grow, as it is stated (Isaiah 11:9), "since the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord." And the wars will cease, as it is stated (Micah 4:3), "and nation will not lift up sword against nation." And great wholeness will be found in those days and we will merit through it to life in the World to Come. But the Messiah will die and his son will reign in his place, and [likewise] his grandson. And the prophet has already elucidated his death: "He will not tire and will not be crushed until he puts justice in the world"(Isaiah 42:5). And his rulership will extend for very many days and the lives of people will also lengthen. Since when worries and troubles are removed, the days of a man are lengthened. And one should not wonder that his rulership will last for thousands of years, since the sages said about the gathering of good, that when it gathers, it will not quickly separate.

And we do not desire and hope for the days of the Messiah because of the multitude of produce and wealth and not [since] we will ride on horses and not [since] we will drink wine accompanied by types of song, as ones of confused intellect imagine. But [rather] the prophets and pious ones desired the days of the Messiah - and their longing for it grew - because of what will be in it from the gathering of the righteous and the proper administration and wisdom, and from the righteousness of the king and his great uprightness, and the heft of his wisdom and closeness to God, as it is stated (Psalms 2:7), "the Lord said to me, 'You are my son, I conceived you today'"; and the performance of all of the commandments of the Torah of Moshe, our teacher - peace be upon him - without negligence and laziness and without duress. As it is stated (Jeremiah 31:33), "And they will not continue to teach a man [to his brother and a man to his fellow] saying, 'Know the Lord,' since they will all know me, from their small ones to their big ones";