למה מוכנים לוותר על א”י? כי כופרים בעובדה שהקב”ה נתן לנו אותה

Authored by: העורך Editor

שמות ל”ד י”א-י”ב:

שמר לך את אשר אנכי מצוך היום הנני גרש מפניך את האמרי והכנעני והחתי והפרזי והחוי והיבוסי. השמר לך פן תכרת ברית ליושב הארץ אשר אתה בא עליה פן יהיה למוקש בקרבך.

פירוש הרב אברבנאל:

[בהשמטת ההקדמה]

(יא-יב) ואמר הנני גורש מפניך וגו׳ להגיד שכיון שהוא יתברך גורש מפני ישראל את האמורי ושאר האומות אין ראוי שישראל יכרות ברית עמהם. כי מדרך המוסר בהיות שר ואדון עוזר לאדם מה ולוחם מלחמותיו ומגרש את אויביו אין ראוי שישלם האיש בעל הריב עמהם מבלי רשות ומצות האדון העוזר אותו וע״כ בהיותו יתברך מגרש אויביו אין ראוי שיכרות להם ברית כי יהיה זה חלול כבודו יתברך כל שכן שהאהבה והברית עמהם לא תצלח. כי אחרי שהם לקחו את ארצם מידם אין ספק שתמיד יבקשו רעת ישראל. וזה אמרו אשר אתה בא עליה רוצה לומר כי כיון שאתה ישראל באת אל הארץ ההיא ולקחת אותה מידי יושביה והם עשוקים וגזולים ממנה איך ישמרו לך ברית אהבה אבל יהיה בהפך כי יהיה למוקש בקרבך כלומר שכאשר תקראנה מלחמה יתוספו על שונאיך וילחמו בך וגם יהיה למוקש מצד אחר והוא בתתם לפניך מכשול העבודת אלילים.

[ראיתי שהובא הנ”ל בשם ס’ אור הרעיון.]

‘Living in the Land’ Now In the Bookstores!

Living in the Land: Firsthand Accounts from Bnei Torah and Their Families

Now in seforim stores in Israel and the U.S.
Can be ordered online in the U.S. from Mosaica Press.
Description, from the back cover:

Fifty frum olim describe the joys, challenges, and opportunities of making the move to Eretz Yisrael, as well as the resources and strategies that made for success.

“Personal stories of yeshivish families that have successfully fulfilled the mitzvah of settling in Eretz Yisrael…practical…well-written, informative…a valuable inspiration…guide and companion…”

– Rav Zev Leff
“A compelling compilation of individuals and families who have demonstrated that settling in Eretz Yisrael is both doable and rewarding.”
– Rav Michel Twerski“An important book that should be in every Jew’s library.”

– Rabbi Berel Wein
“Conveys the message that Eretz Yisrael can be your home…”
– Rav Yitzchak Breitowitz
Whether you are a Jew living in chutz la’aretz, a potential oleh, or already a resident of Eretz Yisrael, this book is sure to open your eyes, widen your horizons, and bring you to a renewed appreciation of life in the Land.
—
I’d be more than happy to give a complimentary copy to anyone connected to a media outlet (including private blogs and the like)  who would be willing to write a review. Please email me privately.
Shoutout to all those from our very own Avira D’Eretz Yisroel forum who helped make this happen, including those who contributed their stories, wrote/were interviewed, and sponsored copies of the book. All my profits from the book and future donations through the campaign page (here) will go towards marketing this book and/or towards a future volume.
—
Yoel Berman 053-3191618 יואל ברמן

Halachic Positions Influenced by ‘Private Ambition and Personal Interests’?!

Authored by: העורך Editor

Quoting an interview with Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Auerbach, rabbi of Ramat Chen for close to fifty years:

At one point in our discussion, the Rebbe put his hand on my shoulder. “I wanted to ask: Have you been involved in the current debate taking place among the rabbis of Eretz Yisrael?” In those days, a heated Halachic controversy had erupted on some serious questions concerning Jewish matrimonial law and conversion to Judaism. Some rabbis had taken a “lenient” position on these issues, while other, more charedi authorities were more traditional.

…

Clarifying his questions, the Rebbe added: “I know that there are some rabbis in Israel who have become involved in politics, and their Halachic positions must be treated with caution, since they may be politically motivated. But I also know that your uncle, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman, has nothing to do with politics. That’s why I’d like to know his position.”

I told the Rebbe that I was very close with one of the rabbis at the heart of the debate, and because of all the controversy, I turned to my uncle for his views on the matter. He told me that he, too, had been personally acquainted with the same rabbi as a young man; they had both been considered prodigies, and they have studied together for a time. “His Halachic views,” my uncle asserted of this rabbi, “are mixed with private ambition and personal interests.”

When I pressed my uncle, he refused to elaborate: “I have told you what I needed to say; anything more is gossip. I don’t want to speak about it any further.”

Interestingly, on my return to Israel, I gave my uncle a detailed account of my audience with the Rebbe. When I mentioned what the Rebbe had said of him – that he was apolitical, and that his Halachic views were devoid of ulterior motives – he gave a slight nod. I know that my uncle had great respect for the Rebbe – he would occasionally hand me one of the Rebbe’s published talks and say that I would benefit from learning it – but he didn’t know how well the Rebbe knew him. When I told him how deeply affected I had been from my audience with the Rebbe, he gave another gesture with his head, acknowledging how fortunate I had been to meet him.

Read the rest here…