UPDATE: Please also see this post discussing the halachic borders of Eretz Yisrael, with information on how this affects Shemitah:
https://dinonline.org/2021/07/09/the-borders-of-the-holy-land/
https://dinonline.org/2021/07/09/the-borders-of-the-holy-land/
In the post on the God-given borders of Eretz Yisrael according to the Torah (the-original-borders-of-eretz-yisrael-as-defined-by-the-torah-a-stunning-photo-documentary.html), maps have been added for better orientation, plus another photo of the Nur mountain range in southern Turkey, which is the approximate location of Mount Hor & the northernmost boundary of Eretz Yisrael according to the Kaftor V'Ferach.
Like this map:
Like this map:
Additionally, this map shows where the Nile River appears, which is the "Stream of Egypt" mentioned in the Torah according to the Rambam (and upheld by the Lubavitcher Rebbe):
As you can see in the maps above, God-given Eretz Yisrael includes modern-day countries of Lebanon, parts of Syria, and possibly even a bit of Turkey & Egypt.
If we include the areas claimed & settled by the Tribes, then the original boundaries include parts of Jordan too:
If we include the areas claimed & settled by the Tribes, then the original boundaries include parts of Jordan too:
When someone complained to me about the State of Israel not giving up Land to the Arabs, I nicely countered that on the contrary, we've been way too generous.
I explained that according to the Torah itself, a full reclamation of our traditional Land includes Lebanon, plus healthy chunks of Syria and Jordan.
(At the time, I did not know of the opinions that include borders up to Turkey and over to the Nile.)
"So actually, we're being more than generous," I explained good-naturedly. "We've already yielded way too much."
The person looked startled, then gave a little laugh and said, "Oh. You really have! I never thought of it that way."
And I never heard this particular complaint from this person again.
I like this argument because it turns all the accusations on their head.
It also stakes you in a firm position—which is a vital necessity.
One of the arguments on which the Lubavitcher Rebbe always stood firm was the necessity of explaining to the Americans there is no compromise in this area:
https://video-tov.ml/watch/kBTlPB4_8vY (from minute 3:02)
I explained that according to the Torah itself, a full reclamation of our traditional Land includes Lebanon, plus healthy chunks of Syria and Jordan.
(At the time, I did not know of the opinions that include borders up to Turkey and over to the Nile.)
"So actually, we're being more than generous," I explained good-naturedly. "We've already yielded way too much."
The person looked startled, then gave a little laugh and said, "Oh. You really have! I never thought of it that way."
And I never heard this particular complaint from this person again.
I like this argument because it turns all the accusations on their head.
It also stakes you in a firm position—which is a vital necessity.
One of the arguments on which the Lubavitcher Rebbe always stood firm was the necessity of explaining to the Americans there is no compromise in this area:
https://video-tov.ml/watch/kBTlPB4_8vY (from minute 3:02)
"Holding on to the Land does not minimize peace. Quite the contrary—when the other side hears there is consideration to give them something, that brings 'intifada' and all the other negative results...
"These problems exist only because they are hearing them from those who live in the Holy Land that there is room for negotiation, that they have something to gain by it, etc..."
(Other videos exist of the Rebbe explaining that "the Americans"—meaning, the American politicians & officials—must understand there is no compromise in this area, then they won't push for "peace" in this destructive manner. But this is the video available to me.)
Look, the charedi position is basically that we don't like the Israeli government, nor do we like the way the State came into being.
But once what's done is done and the status quo is what it is...
...then you can't just let people kill or traumatize you & your fellow Jews.
There is more to this great oversimplification than that, but it's too much to go into now.
So let's leave it at that for now.
Anyway, even people who refuse to validate the Truth of Torah & who sneer at your reasons will still capitulate in the face of an unwavering stance (which is partly why the Lubavitcher Rebbe insisted on this stance).
After all, no non-Muslim believes in or even holds much respect for anything in Islam or the Koran, yet look at how those same atheists & secularists capitulate in the face of Islam simply because the Muslims refuse to waver.
So I like this argument because I get to say, "What do you mean 'it's not enough'? Our Bible insists that our Land actually includes Lebanon, plus parts of Syria and Jordan. Yet because we Jews are so generous and peaceable, we don't even consider invading or conquering those countries."
That's right! Out of the goodness of our hearts, the Lebanese may keep Lebanon, the Syrians may keep Syria, and the Jordanians may keep Jordan. Peace, man!
Aren't we Jews just so lovely & magnanimous?
So you hold that stance tight—even if they laugh—and then don't bend one inch.
Look, the charedi position is basically that we don't like the Israeli government, nor do we like the way the State came into being.
But once what's done is done and the status quo is what it is...
...then you can't just let people kill or traumatize you & your fellow Jews.
There is more to this great oversimplification than that, but it's too much to go into now.
So let's leave it at that for now.
Anyway, even people who refuse to validate the Truth of Torah & who sneer at your reasons will still capitulate in the face of an unwavering stance (which is partly why the Lubavitcher Rebbe insisted on this stance).
After all, no non-Muslim believes in or even holds much respect for anything in Islam or the Koran, yet look at how those same atheists & secularists capitulate in the face of Islam simply because the Muslims refuse to waver.
So I like this argument because I get to say, "What do you mean 'it's not enough'? Our Bible insists that our Land actually includes Lebanon, plus parts of Syria and Jordan. Yet because we Jews are so generous and peaceable, we don't even consider invading or conquering those countries."
That's right! Out of the goodness of our hearts, the Lebanese may keep Lebanon, the Syrians may keep Syria, and the Jordanians may keep Jordan. Peace, man!
Aren't we Jews just so lovely & magnanimous?
So you hold that stance tight—even if they laugh—and then don't bend one inch.
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