With all the politics and just the current state of things, it's easy to forget that Eretz Yisrael is actually much bigger than Medinat Yisrael.
We don't need to give up Land for 2 reasons:
1) This is the MAIN and MOST IMPORTANT reason:
We are halachically forbidden from giving Land to those to whom it doesn't belong, particularly to people who despise us and want us dead. Therefore, giving away Land brings harm, not blessing. And needless to say, any reasons stated by Chazal permitting us to give up Land do not in any way apply to the situation we've been in for decades now.
If anything, the whole episode with Bnot Tzelafchad, as mentioned in the recent parshas, bring this point home.
2) We've already given up too much. Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and teeny bit of Turkey (just to name a few) are all squatting on Land that Hashem designated for Jews and command us to settle.
So which nation(s) REALLY need to compromise?
That's right! NOT us.
(Okay, and yes I know that exact boundaries are disputed by Chazal, and that Reuven, Gad, and Menashe II are outside of Eretz Yisrael proper, etc.)
Below are photos of our Tribal Lands. Keep scrolling and enjoy the view!
We don't need to give up Land for 2 reasons:
1) This is the MAIN and MOST IMPORTANT reason:
We are halachically forbidden from giving Land to those to whom it doesn't belong, particularly to people who despise us and want us dead. Therefore, giving away Land brings harm, not blessing. And needless to say, any reasons stated by Chazal permitting us to give up Land do not in any way apply to the situation we've been in for decades now.
If anything, the whole episode with Bnot Tzelafchad, as mentioned in the recent parshas, bring this point home.
2) We've already given up too much. Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and teeny bit of Turkey (just to name a few) are all squatting on Land that Hashem designated for Jews and command us to settle.
So which nation(s) REALLY need to compromise?
That's right! NOT us.
(Okay, and yes I know that exact boundaries are disputed by Chazal, and that Reuven, Gad, and Menashe II are outside of Eretz Yisrael proper, etc.)
Below are photos of our Tribal Lands. Keep scrolling and enjoy the view!
Territory of Reuven - Today known as Madaba, Jordan
Territory of Shimon: Beersheva
The Tribe of Levi's main service: Yerushalayim (here, you can see the place of the Beit Hamikdash, Kodesh Kadoshim, and also Har Hazeitim (Mount of Olives)
Territory of Yehudah: Chevron including Maarat Hamachpelah (Cave of the Patriarchs) - A 1839 painting by David Roberts and Louis Haghe
More of Yehudah's Territory: Kever Rachel (Rachel's Tomb) in Beit Lechem (Bethlehem) - Photo by Irit Levy @ Pikiwiki
Territory of Yissachar: Yizrael (Jezreel) Valley
Territory of Zevulun: Gat Chefer and birthplace of Yonah Hanavi (Today an Arab village called Mashad) Photo: Ali abu Ismail @ Pikiwiki
Territory of Binyamin: Jericho
Territory of Dan: Yaffo
Territory of Dan II: Tel Dan in the far northern Galilee (Photo: Adrian)
Territory of Naftali: Lake Kinneret
More territory of Naftali - Today known as Quneitra, Syria (Photo: Dr. Avishai Teicher @ Pikiwiki)
Territory of Gad - today known as Balqa, Jordan (Photo: Samer425)
Territory of Asher in the Biblical city of Tzidon - Today known as Saida, Lebanon
More of Asher's Territory - Today known as Hatay, Turkey
Territory of Efraim: Shilo
Territory of Menashe I: Shechem
Territory of Menashe II: Today known as Ajloun, Jordan (Photo: Smart Viral)
So please remember the actual boundaries of Eretz Yisrael and the inheritance given to the Jewish people the next time you hear talk of Land for "peace" or covetous people who have no portion in Eretz Yisrael complaining about "their" territorial rights.
May all of Bnei Yisrael be gathered into Eretz Yisrael very soon!
May all of Bnei Yisrael be gathered into Eretz Yisrael very soon!
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