There is no greater clarion call for each and every Jew to make Aliyah to Eretz Yisrael than Parshat Lech Lecha. “Hashem said to Avram: ‘Go for yourself from your land, from your relative’s, and from your father’s house to the Land that I will show you.
Joseph Frager MD – The Air of Israel is Oxygen for the Soul
Arutz Sheva-Israel National News
‘ “(Breishit 12:1) As the Ramban points out over and over again starting in this Parsha, “Everything that occurred to the Patriarchs is a sign (or portent) for their descendants”(Breishit 12:6). Just as Abraham made Aliyah so too shall we. The Ramchal brought down in Kitvei Ramad Vali (181) explains that Abraham could not fulfill his spiritual destiny outside of Eretz Yisrael.
In Ur Kasdim, it was impossible to gain a clear understanding of G-d Almighty because the “impure air” of the Chutz Learetz prevented any ability to perceive G-d on a deeper level. The air of Eretz Yisrael the Ramchal says “makes people wiser”. That is why G-d added the phrase “Land which I will show you”.The Ramchal says this means only in Eretz Yisrael can I show you all you wish to see and where you Abraham will attain a clearer, and deeper understanding of G-d and his “operating system”.
Only in Eretz Yisrael would Abraham gain insight into his own self which was rooted in the attribute of Chesed. The Land of Israel too is built upon the attribute of Chesed. The Kuzari makes the point in a similar vein that the Jewish People and the Land of Israel are intertwined and bring out the best in each. He compares it to the planting of grapes in the right soil which produces the best product-the best grape. Abraham needed the Land of Israel and the Land of Israel needed him. Each helped the other rise to the highest level. He further elaborates that the Land of Israel is the only place Korbanot can be brought and Nevuah can be attained. Only with the level of Kedusha of Eretz Yisrael can a Korban be brought and Nevuah processed. The Meshech Chochma also mentions that Eretz Yisrael is the only place that the level of Kedusha is such that a Korban can be brought.
The Beit Hamikdash is the Gateway to Heaven and has the highest Kedusha allowing Korbanot to be brought there. All in all, the air of Eretz Yisrael is Oxygen for the Soul. Every Jewish Soul yearns to be in Israel. This week (4th of Chesvan-Parshat Lech Lecha) marks the 850th Year since the Rambam(Maimonides) visited Jerusalem(according to some even the Temple Mount) and (on the 6th of Cheshvan) the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron. The Rambam wanted desperately to stay but could not.
The natural environment for the Jewish Soul is in Israel. It is where the Soul can flourish the most in this world. Abraham could not achieve the heights of his spiritual success anywhere else. He could not give birth to Isaac in any other land. It is why Isaac never left the land of Israel even for a minute. We should all follow Abraham’s Lead. Shabbat Shalom (Special thanks to my Rebbe Rabbi Dr. Elazar Hurvitz S’HLITA and to my Beloved Brother and Rebbe Rabbi Dr. David Frager, S”HLITA for their Inspiration and Encyclopedic Knowledge)
Joseph Frager MD – The Air of Israel is Oxygen for the Soul
