Clinging to the Land

בס“ד Parshat Chayei Sarah 22 Cheshvan, 5778/November 11, 2017 Vol. 9 Num. 10 This week’s Toronto Torah is dedicated by Rabbi Jonathan and Ora Ziring in memory of Rabbi Yisrael Rosen z”l, founder of Machon Zomet, who passed away this past week. The articles in this issue focus on Rabbi Rosen’s thought. Clinging to the Land Adam Friedmann In our parshah, Avraham sends his sacrifice during the Akeidah The second issue he raises is the servant to find a wife for his beloved transformed him into a “complete negative cultural ideology which son, Yitzchak. The servant is offering.” Avraham understood that emerges from consistent trips outside of instructed to travel to Avraham’s this spiritual perfection could not be Eretz Yisrael. Citing Rabbi Shaul homeland and search for a suitable maintained outside of the Land. Yisraeli, he notes that the constant match there. When the servant asks • Rabbi Elazar suggests a second excitement about chutz la’aretz and its what to do if a prospective wife refuses possibility, noting that the wording, wonders constitutes a “debasement of to return to Canaan with him, “Guard yourself, lest…” is interpreted the gift of G-d which is the Chosen Avraham responds forcefully, “Guard throughout the Torah as reference to Land.” Avraham was sensitive to the yourself, lest you return my son a prohibition. Avraham felt that G-d’s fact that the Land ought to be a there.” (Bereishit 24:6) This refusal to exhortation to leave Charan and cherished place, if only because G-d allow Yitzchak to leave the country is travel to Canaan amounted to a had requested that he live there. Given repeated two verses later. Avraham commandment for him and his this, infatuation and overexcitement even seems willing to forgo finding a descendants. Moving out of Canaan about any other land becomes non-Canaanite wife for his son, if the would abrogate that commandment, inappropriate. Avraham sought to instill alternative would be Yitzchak leaving or at least violate its underlying this attitude in his son Yitzchak, and it the land. (ibid. 24:8) What was the purpose. [It is interesting to note that was meant to guide his descendants for basis for this ban? while the first reason given allows all times. room for Yaakov’s ultimate exit from Another question arises from the land, the second reason does not.] Having considered this midrash and Avraham’s language. He warns the Rabbi Rosen’s words, we can now servant against “return[ing]” Yitzchak In an article considering whether answer our second question about the to Mesopotamia, when, in fact, residents of Eretz Yisrael may leave the use of the word “return.” Avraham’s Yitzchak had never been there; country, Rabbi Yisrael Rosen raises two lifelong struggle was to pursue spiritual Yitzchak was born in Canaan. Many possible concerns which shed light on perfection, and, perhaps beyond this, a commentators note this problem. the answers of this midrash. He deep relationship with G-d. He intended Some explain that Yitzchak’s interprets the prohibition against to pass these gains on to this spiritual departure from Canaan could be leaving the country “to wander in the heir, Yitzchak. Had Yitzchak left termed “returning” since he would be world and see it” (see Rashi to Moed Canaan, he would have himself traveling with the servant, who himself Katan 14a) as a warning against open- regressed to a more primitive spiritual had originated from outside the ended trips whose purpose is immersion reality, and more a distant relationship country. (Hadar Zekenim 24:8) in foreign cultures. Taking straight aim with G-d. In this sense, the notion of Alternatively, this would be a “return” at a very common practice amongst “return” applied to him as well. to Avraham’s place of origin. (Rashbam Israeli young adults, Rabbi Rosen 24:8) Perhaps we can suggest an seems to argue that the danger of these Rabbi Rosen understood the importance alternative answer, which will answer trips is spiritual. Like Yitzchak, of G-d’s gift of the land. This is why he the first question as well. residents of Eretz Yisrael are afforded strove to make religious life in Israel one an enhanced opportunity for spiritual which highlights the land’s ability to A midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 24:6) perfection. Leaving the country to spend sanctify, and bring one into contact cites two reasons why Avraham would time under strong outside influences is with the Divine presence. not allow Yitzchak to leave Canaan: very likely to undermine one’s spiritual • One approach relates to Yitzchak’s state. [email protected] spiritual state. Yitzchak’s near- OUR BEIT MIDRASH ROSH BEIT MIDRASH RABBI MORDECHAI TORCZYNER SGAN ROSH BEIT MIDRASH RABBI JONATHAN ZIRING AVREICHIM ADAM FRIEDMANN, YARON PEREZ CHAVERIM NADAV GASNER, COREY KAMEN, JAY KARON, BJ KOROBKIN, COBY Find our upcoming shiurim on-line at LYONS, ZACK MINCER, MOSHE OSTRIKER, RONI PEREZ, JOSH PHILLIP, AARON www.torontotorah.com ROSENFELD, MORDECHAI ROTH, DANIEL SAFRAN, EYTAN WEISZ, URIEL WEISZ, BARUCH WISE, YECHIEL ZOBERMAN We are grateful to WOMEN’S BEIT MIDRASH MRS. ORA ZIRING, MRS. ELLIEZRA PEREZ Continental Press 905-660-0311 והורשתם את הארץ וישבתם בה )במדבר לג( Marking the State of Israel’s 70th Year! Israeli Landmarks: Machon Zomet Yaron Perez Machon Zomet was established in 1976 Over the years, Machon Zomet has For 33 years, Machon Zomet also in Alon Shevut, by Rabbi Yisrael Rosen also become a central address for produced Shabbat b’Shabbato, a weekly z”l. The word Zomet, which means anyone involved with the state’s publication available in synagogues all “junction”, is also an acronym for necessary operations on Shabbat. The over Israel. Recently, Machon Zomet Tzivtei Madda uTorah – Faculties of institute provides Shabbat telephones ceased this publication with its 1678th Science and Torah. Rabbi Rosen for the Prime Minister’s Office, issue, due to budget issues. pursued two great goals in his life’s solutions for prisons, and devices for work with Machon Zomet: the IDF and police. In commercial Rabbi Yisrael Rosen z”l was also establishment of “a modern society arenas as well, the institute helps involved with conversion; in 1995 he governed by Torah” and “establishment hotels provide full services on established a division of Machon Zomet of a halachic Jewish state.” Under these Shabbat, and aids farmers in for this purpose, at the request of banners, Machon Zomet operates observance of Shemitah. Rishon l’Zion Rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi- primarily in the realm of halachah and Doron. The division came under the technology, an arena which pushes the In 1980, Machon Zomet began control of the Chief Rabbinate in 2000, boundaries of halachah. publishing Techumin, an annual with Rabbi Rosen remaining as a judge journal addressing halachah and the on its rabbinical court until his Machon Zomet houses research and modern world. It was an outgrowth of retirement in 2011. Machon Zomet development units working in the fields the Torah va’Avodah periodical continues to operate special rabbinical of electronics, computers and published by Rabbi Shaul Yisraeli z”l, courts for conversation of non-Israeli technology. The institute’s engineers a leading halachic authority for non-Jews who are married to Israelis. work to enable use of medical devices Machon Zomet in its early years. on Shabbat and Yom Tov in hospitals Techumin means “boundaries”, “The Zomet Experience” is the Visitors’ and facilities for the disabled and the suggesting the cutting-edge topics Centre at Machon Zomet; the purpose elderly, and they seek halachic addressed in the journal, but it is also is to teach visitors about the activities solutions for the needs of Israel’s an acronym for Torah, Chevra of the institute, bringing them in on the security apparatus. Machon Zomet also uMedinah – Torah, Society and State. real-world problems being addressed certifies appliances for home use, [For more on Techumin, see the Book via the vision of Rabbi Rosen zt”l. For including refrigerators, hot plates and Review in Toronto Torah for Balak example, visitors can study the laws of ovens. 5776 at http://www.yutorah.org/ Shabbat with cutting-edge applications lectures/lecture.cfm/860273.] via advanced media. [email protected] The Zionist Idea: Shabbat in the Jewish State Rabbi Jonathan Ziring “It seems that the question of keeping Shabbat in the Jewish responsa) claim a full solution need not be found until the State was, and still is, the touchstone for the possibility of majority of the state keeps Shabbat, as the reality is that the sustainability of a current Jewish state.” Rabbi Yisrael non-Shomer Shabbat Jews will take care of necessary Rosen (“HaShabbat B’Medinah Yehudit Atzmait”, activities regardless of what the rabbis say. Others, such as B’Chatzotzrot Beit Hashem, pg. 105) Rabbi Shaul Yisraeli (and Rabbi Herzog in later pieces), contend that halachists have to develop theories that can Central to Religious Zionism is the belief that it is possible for work even in a fully halachically committed state. a Jewish state to survive while keeping to the strictures of halachah. One of the challenges that halachic authorities Authorities such as Rabbi Shlomo Goren suggest that the have to contend with is how a Jewish state keeps Shabbat. category of pikuach nefesh, the permissibility of violating As individuals living in a non-Jewish country it is easy for Shabbat to save lives, should be radically reconceived in the Jews to have a day of rest, secure in the knowledge that vital context of a state to allow the inclusion of many activities activities will be taken care of by the non-Jewish society.

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