Providence Shines Upon Israel

“It is a land that HaShem your G-d seeks out constantly (Doresh Otah), the eyes of HaShem your G-d are upon it from the beginning of the year until its end” (Devarim11:12). Rabbeinu B’chayei writes that one should not misconstrue the true meaning of this verse as indicating that this Derisha, or divine Hashgacha, is limited to the borders of the Holy Land. G-d’s eyes surely survey the world in its entirety. This verse means to stress that this Derisha, or divine providence, begins from the holy land, and only then it spreads out from here to the rest of the universe.

The Ohr HaChayim adds an important caveat to the above. The verse states “Hashem Elokecha Doresh”, G-d your Lord, seeks out the land. G-d’s divinity, he writes, is spread out over the Land of Israel as a direct result of the fact that the People of Israel reside within it. When the people are exiled from their land, and the Shechina is no longer felt amongst them, the Land, too, is no longer to be so exalted.

The Ohr HaChayim’s point regarding the source of the holiness of the land – tracing and linking the Land’s holiness to the Jewish presence within it – brings to mind an amazing truism of Jewish national history. Jewish presence causes the land to flourish, while our absence leads to its desolation. The source of this contention is found in Vayikra 26:32: “I will bring the land into desolation and your enemies, who dwell in it, shall be astonished at it.” As Rashi explains “Our enemies will never find solace in our land because it will be desolate” and the Ramban adds that this is a guarantee that throughout the ages our Land will never be hospitable towards our enemies.

If the desolation can be directly attributed to the lack of Jewish population, it is no wonder that the continuous ingathering of the exiles over the past hundred years has so dramatically caused the picture to change. In Devarim 8:9 the Torah states that in coming to the Land we are assured of the blessings of abundant natural resources and food supplies. “A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it…”

We have long become accustomed to the fact that modern day Israel not only provides for its own agricultural needs, but even exports vast quantities of fruits, vegetables and flowers to foreign markets. If we no longer feel amazement at this, than we should at least pause to note how as the Jewish presence continues to grow, the prospects of a prosperous flourishing Eretz Yisrael are being multiplied before our own eyes. This is perhaps most strikingly evident in the recent discovery of vast quantities of natural gas off Israeli shores. When fully developed, the Leviathan gas field, promises to provide all of the gas that Israel could ever use, as well as large quantities available for export. Egypt, which up until recently sold energy to Israel, may soon become our customer. G-d seeks out this land. Jews the world over have witnessed, and personally experienced, the Almighty’s Hashgacha over this tiny land.

Yes, it is certainly true that most such miracles can be explained as the result of natural causes. And yet, even many non-religious people sense that the continued existence of our people in this land is to be traced back to one source, to the Holy One above. If indeed Israel’s success waxes and wanes with the growth of its Jewish population, it follows then, that if we want to fulfill our share in contributing to Israel’s continued success; if we want the Land to grow and flourish and enhance the power of the Shechina here in Eretz Yisrael, we must encourage those who tarry in the Galut to finally make the move! Someone once told Rav Kook: “G-d willing, I will move to the land of Israel”. “G-d is certainly willing”, Rav Kook replied. “What really matters is that you be willing, too…” (Shivchei Ha’Ra’ayah, p. 208).

RABBI YERACHMIEL RONESS was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. After serving as a congregational Rabbi and as a Hillel Director in New York City, he made Aliyah in 1983 with his wife Dina and their five young children.

Ever since, Rabbi Roness has dedicated his life to promoting Aliyah. First, as Rabbi of the Jewish Agency’s Absorption Centers, and subsequently as the executive director of the Aloh-Naaleh organization.

This article was taken from Rabbi Roness’s new book: Aloh Na’aleh – Eretz Yisrael and Aliyah in the Weekly Parshah.  The book is for sale on Amazon.