Parshas Shlach 5774

Love It

The famous Steipler ZT”L asked, “What was the big Aveira—what was so wrong— with what the Meraglim said? They said it how it was! They saw people dying, and that is what they reported.”

The Steipler answered that it was the fact that they did not have an appreciation for the land. Had they loved the land, they would have been able to see the good, and would not have noticed the other things happening. Just like when two people love each other, they may notice something that feels very wrong. If one person sees that he might be getting hurt as a result of the person he loves, he won’t see it that way, he will say to himself, “I know he means it for my good.” The Meraglim did not love Eretz Yisroel and that is why they were not Zocheh to it. Yet, we see that all the women came in to Artzeinu Hakedosha, because they had a love for the land.

My Dear Friends, some of us have the opportunity to be living in this sacred land. We must appreciate every moment, even if sometimes it seems tough, financial strains, people with hard attitudes to deal with, it is all part of the package. IF we love the land, none of the other pettiness will bother us, and we will have the Zechus of being Mekayeim the Mitzvah of Yishuv Eretz Yisroel. The Ramban points out that there are only two Mitzvos that a person can do with his entire body, Sukkah and Yishuv Eretz Yisroel. According to those who hold Mitzvos Tzrichos Kavanah, that one needs to focus on the Mitzvah, then at least once a month, we should tell Borei Kol Olamim, The Shomer Yisroel, how much we appreciate this present He is giving us to be able to dwell within these sacred borders.

Let us all be Zocheh, to the Coming of Mashiach and the words Urei Btuv Yerushalayim Kol Ymei Chayecha— to see the good of Yerushalayim, all the days of our lives— to become a real part of our essence.

Good Shabbos,
Zevi