(1) Which of Chazal's statements that we covered speak the most to you? Why?
(2) Regarding our connection to the land, which position articulated below do you agree with most and why: a) In order to have a connection to the land, you need to have education and awareness of why sites and cities in Israel are significant; b) You don't necessarily need the education/awareness because some places in Israel just give off vibes of holiness and significance; c) It's a state of mind: in order to establish the special connection, you have to have the right attitude and mind-set
Chazal - Sanctity of Eretz Yisrael
1. Rambam, Laws of Kings, Chapter 5: “Our Sages said: Whoever resides in Eretz Yisrael, his sins are forgiven... Even if he but walked therein four cubits he merits thereby life in the Hereafter. Likewise he that is buried in its soil receives atonement, and it is accounted as if his burial place were the altar of atonement.”
Mrs. Finkelstein: What is the Rambam quoting here? Is the Rambam really saying that all you have to do to get your sins forgiven is to move to the land of Israel? What are the different ways that we can understand this statement?
Rebecca: Since Israel has the Beit Hamikdash and you can bring Korbanot to atone for your sins, therefore, when you are living in Israel, you have the means by which to be forgiven for your sins and you are better able to be forgiven.
Recap of Rebecca: It’s not that if you murder, you get off the hook by stepping on the land, but that the land of Israel has a mechanism for repentance/having your sins forgiven that’s not available outside of the land of Israel.
Jamie: When you're in Israel you are closer to Hashem and you can daven to Him closer and maybe he will forgive you.
Recap of Jamie and Rebecca: Israel provides you with a way of having your sins forgiven.
Sarah: When you live in Israel, you feel a connection to your forefathers and therefore you are more likely to live a Torah life so you will have less sins in the first place and your sins will most likely be of a lower level sin AND because you are living a Torah life, you have a better chance of having your sins forgiven.
The environment in Israel leads you to sin less and lower level sins.
Racheli: You might do a sin but when you are in Israel you have a closer connection to Hashem and you might change your ways to make you a better person.
2. Gemara Ketubot 110: “He who resides in Eretz Yisrael is like to him that has a god and whoever resides outside the Land is as him who has no god.”
Mrs. Finkelstein: What does this mean? Does it really mean that if you live in Israel you have a connection to Hashem and if you don’t live there you don’t have a connection to and relationship with Hashem?
Jamie: It’s not that you don’t have any relationship with Hashem when you are outside of Israel it’s just that you have a closer, stronger and better connection to Hashem in Israel. Like a good wireless connection.
Rebecca: When you are in Israel it is easier to be Jewish and to express your relationship with Hashem.
Alexis: I disagree that you are closer to Hashem when you are in Israel. If you are in shul in Memphis you are still close to Hashem. It’s a state of mind, not a place. You can be in Israel and not be in the right state of mind and not feel any connection.
Racheli: It could offend people, if someone can’t afford to go to Israel.
Mrs. Finkelstein clarification: Jamie and Rebecca are not suggesting that we have no relationship with Hashem outside of Israel but that the relationship in Israel is qualitatively better.
Michelle: You don’t always feel close to Hashem in Israel because there are other religions there. If you are on a beach in Eilat you don’t feel closer to Hashem. It depends where you are in Israel.
Sarah: Some people could feel a connection to Hashem on a beach in Eilat. In Israel you have a bigger chance of developing a connection to Hashem because you are around more like minded people.
Alyssa and Jamie: You need education and awareness to be able to feel that connection to Hashem. If you go to the Kotel and you know the history of it, you have a better chance of feeling a connection to it.
Rebecca: Not true that you need education and awareness; some places in Israel just feel holy and spiritual - they give off vibes even if you don’t know the background and history.
Student Summary: Living in Israel is really important. A person has a special connection to Hashem in Israel. Its a holy place Israel has power and history. It has the power to change us.
3. Gemara Bava Batra 158b: “The air of Israel’s Land makes one wise.”
Mrs. Finkelstein: Based on the other sources that we looked at, what is our question?
Is it really true that the air of Israel makes you wise/smarter/more intelligent?
Sarah: By being with religiously like-minded people, you can see their perspectives on a wide range of issues and that makes you wiser.
Jamie: You’re in a special land so you feel wiser.
Rebecca: By taking in all the history when you are there, you become smarter.
Alyssa: Being in the land makes you want to learn.
Emunah: By being closer to Hashem, you want to learn more.
Mrs. Finkelstein: What are the differences in the answers?
Rebecca: Physical and spiritual.
Mrs. Finkelstein: Different answers: You really do become smarter in Israel vs. You are motivated to learn when you are in Israel. Also, you really do become smarter because you are surrounded by talmedei chachamim.
Rebecca: We can put both together: When you’re in Israel, you are motivated to learn and the motivation to learn leads to more learning/knowledge which really makes you wiser.
4. Avot DeRabbi Natan 28: “Rabbi Shimon ben Eleazar said: A sage who dwells in the Land of Israel but then goes to live abroad diminishes himself, so that one who continues to dwell in the Land is superior to him...”
The sage that stays in Israel is greater/on a higher level than the sage who leaves Israel.
5. Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 8: “Even when there are saintly men and sages outside the Land, and in the Land none but shepherds and cowherds, the year is calculated only on the testimony of the shepherds and cowherds who are within the Land of Israel. More! Even if there are prophets outside the Land, and in the Land none but unlearned men, the year is calculated only on the testimony of the unlearned men within the Land.”
Rebecca: Even if there are Tzadikim (צדיקים) and Talmiday Chachamim (תלמידי חכמים) outside of Israel and only unknowledgable people inside of Israel, we rely for the calendar calculation on the unknowledgable people inside of Israel.
Alyssa: It says that the air in Israel makes us wiser so even the herders are become knowledgeable.
Emunah: The shepherds are still smarter because they are the ones living in Israel.
Rebecca: We trust them because they are directly impacted by the calendar.
Mrs. Finkelstein: What is the theme that runs through all these statements? The benefits of living in Israel and the power of living in Israel. The impact of Israel’s holiness. Living in Israel gives you stature - a higher position. What kind of power? Power to effect change; spiritual power.
6. Midrash Vayikra: “Rabbi Shimon ben-Yochai explained: It is written, Let each land stand and be measured. G-d measured all the lands and could not find a single one worthy to be given to Israel except for Eretz Yisrael.”
this again shows how special the land of israel is.
7. Midrash Bamidbar Rabba 23: “Hashem said to Moshe: The land of Israel is my beloved, the people of Israel are my beloved - I shall bring my beloved people to my beloved land.”
Hashem loves the Jewish people. Hashem loves the land of Israel so he brought “both loves” together.
1. Rambam, Laws of Kings, Chapter 5: “Our Sages said: Whoever resides in Eretz Yisrael, his sins are forgiven... Even if he but walked therein four cubits he merits thereby life in the Hereafter. Likewise he that is buried in its soil receives atonement, and it is accounted as if his burial place were the altar of atonement.”
Mrs. Finkelstein: What is the Rambam quoting here? Is the Rambam really saying that all you have to do to get your sins forgiven is to move to the land of Israel? What are the different ways that we can understand this statement?
Rebecca: Since Israel has the Beit Hamikdash and you can bring Korbanot to atone for your sins, therefore, when you are living in Israel, you have the means by which to be forgiven for your sins and you are better able to be forgiven.
Recap of Rebecca: It’s not that if you murder, you get off the hook by stepping on the land, but that the land of Israel has a mechanism for repentance/having your sins forgiven that’s not available outside of the land of Israel.
Jamie: When you're in Israel you are closer to Hashem and you can daven to Him closer and maybe he will forgive you.
Recap of Jamie and Rebecca: Israel provides you with a way of having your sins forgiven.
Sarah: When you live in Israel, you feel a connection to your forefathers and therefore you are more likely to live a Torah life so you will have less sins in the first place and your sins will most likely be of a lower level sin AND because you are living a Torah life, you have a better chance of having your sins forgiven.
The environment in Israel leads you to sin less and lower level sins.
Racheli: You might do a sin but when you are in Israel you have a closer connection to Hashem and you might change your ways to make you a better person.
2. Gemara Ketubot 110: “He who resides in Eretz Yisrael is like to him that has a god and whoever resides outside the Land is as him who has no god.”
Mrs. Finkelstein: What does this mean? Does it really mean that if you live in Israel you have a connection to Hashem and if you don’t live there you don’t have a connection to and relationship with Hashem?
Jamie: It’s not that you don’t have any relationship with Hashem when you are outside of Israel it’s just that you have a closer, stronger and better connection to Hashem in Israel. Like a good wireless connection.
Rebecca: When you are in Israel it is easier to be Jewish and to express your relationship with Hashem.
Alexis: I disagree that you are closer to Hashem when you are in Israel. If you are in shul in Memphis you are still close to Hashem. It’s a state of mind, not a place. You can be in Israel and not be in the right state of mind and not feel any connection.
Racheli: It could offend people, if someone can’t afford to go to Israel.
Mrs. Finkelstein clarification: Jamie and Rebecca are not suggesting that we have no relationship with Hashem outside of Israel but that the relationship in Israel is qualitatively better.
Michelle: You don’t always feel close to Hashem in Israel because there are other religions there. If you are on a beach in Eilat you don’t feel closer to Hashem. It depends where you are in Israel.
Sarah: Some people could feel a connection to Hashem on a beach in Eilat. In Israel you have a bigger chance of developing a connection to Hashem because you are around more like minded people.
Alyssa and Jamie: You need education and awareness to be able to feel that connection to Hashem. If you go to the Kotel and you know the history of it, you have a better chance of feeling a connection to it.
Rebecca: Not true that you need education and awareness; some places in Israel just feel holy and spiritual - they give off vibes even if you don’t know the background and history.
Student Summary: Living in Israel is really important. A person has a special connection to Hashem in Israel. Its a holy place Israel has power and history. It has the power to change us.
3. Gemara Bava Batra 158b: “The air of Israel’s Land makes one wise.”
Mrs. Finkelstein: Based on the other sources that we looked at, what is our question?
Is it really true that the air of Israel makes you wise/smarter/more intelligent?
Sarah: By being with religiously like-minded people, you can see their perspectives on a wide range of issues and that makes you wiser.
Jamie: You’re in a special land so you feel wiser.
Rebecca: By taking in all the history when you are there, you become smarter.
Alyssa: Being in the land makes you want to learn.
Emunah: By being closer to Hashem, you want to learn more.
Mrs. Finkelstein: What are the differences in the answers?
Rebecca: Physical and spiritual.
Mrs. Finkelstein: Different answers: You really do become smarter in Israel vs. You are motivated to learn when you are in Israel. Also, you really do become smarter because you are surrounded by talmedei chachamim.
Rebecca: We can put both together: When you’re in Israel, you are motivated to learn and the motivation to learn leads to more learning/knowledge which really makes you wiser.
4. Avot DeRabbi Natan 28: “Rabbi Shimon ben Eleazar said: A sage who dwells in the Land of Israel but then goes to live abroad diminishes himself, so that one who continues to dwell in the Land is superior to him...”
The sage that stays in Israel is greater/on a higher level than the sage who leaves Israel.
5. Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 8: “Even when there are saintly men and sages outside the Land, and in the Land none but shepherds and cowherds, the year is calculated only on the testimony of the shepherds and cowherds who are within the Land of Israel. More! Even if there are prophets outside the Land, and in the Land none but unlearned men, the year is calculated only on the testimony of the unlearned men within the Land.”
Rebecca: Even if there are Tzadikim (צדיקים) and Talmiday Chachamim (תלמידי חכמים) outside of Israel and only unknowledgable people inside of Israel, we rely for the calendar calculation on the unknowledgable people inside of Israel.
Alyssa: It says that the air in Israel makes us wiser so even the herders are become knowledgeable.
Emunah: The shepherds are still smarter because they are the ones living in Israel.
Rebecca: We trust them because they are directly impacted by the calendar.
Mrs. Finkelstein: What is the theme that runs through all these statements? The benefits of living in Israel and the power of living in Israel. The impact of Israel’s holiness. Living in Israel gives you stature - a higher position. What kind of power? Power to effect change; spiritual power.
6. Midrash Vayikra: “Rabbi Shimon ben-Yochai explained: It is written, Let each land stand and be measured. G-d measured all the lands and could not find a single one worthy to be given to Israel except for Eretz Yisrael.”
this again shows how special the land of israel is.
7. Midrash Bamidbar Rabba 23: “Hashem said to Moshe: The land of Israel is my beloved, the people of Israel are my beloved - I shall bring my beloved people to my beloved land.”
Hashem loves the Jewish people. Hashem loves the land of Israel so he brought “both loves” together.
The statement from Chazal that speaks to me most is #1. It says that one who walks in Israel or is buried in Israel merits life in the next world. As I said during the class discussion, When you live in Israel, you feel a connection to your forefathers. Therefore you are more likely to live a Torah life, so you will have less sins in the first place and your sins will most likely be of a lower level sin. Because you are living a Torah life, you have a better chance of having your sins forgiven. The environment in Israel leads you to sin less and lower level sins.
ReplyDeleteRegarding our connection to the land of Israel, I believe that it's a state of mind: in order to establish a connection, you have to have the right attitude and mind-set. If you go to the Kotel, even if you don't know the history behind the wall, you can see that other people feel very attached to the wall. If you go to the Kotel with a closed mind, you won't feel anything. All you'll see is a big stone wall with people praying around it. If you are truly in the right mind-set, you will see that this wall is a major remnant of our history and feel that when you pray at the wall, you are connected to your ancestors who came to worship at the Beit Hamikdash centuries ago.
The statement from Chazal that spoke to me the most was #1. Summarizing it, it says that once you reside in Israel or Palestine, all your sins will be forgiven. I also says even if you just walk 4 cubic meters you will live there for ever and after. Also if you are buried there all your sins will be forgiven. This shows how holy the land is because one you step foot on the soil all your sins are forgiven. This statement really shows how Israel is the chosen land of Hashem.
ReplyDelete“The air of Israel’s Land makes one wise.” This quote is a very true statement to me. From personal experience, when I was in Israel, all the facts that I had every learned about the country were even more true when I got there. See the history of everything just makes you think. Because Israel is the chosen and holy land, you just feel closer to Hashem there. Standing right next to the Kotel was this feeling of Hashem literally standing right over you. So its not the you just get wiser it is that you become more spiritual.
The statement from Chazal that speaks to me the most is the third. It says that "The air of Israel's land makes one wiser". Literally, this doesn't make much sense. I interpret this as the atmosphere/vibe of Israel, makes one want to learn. Seeing all of the learning taking place and the history being made, can make someone want to take part in it. The atmospere of Israel is like no other place. There is no other place that is filled with Jews learning and ispiration. Being in Israel can make someone wise. The inspiration is Israel is all one needs to be motivated to learn.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both points A and C. They are very similar and both come from the same idea. When you're in Israel you aren't going to be swept off your feet by a magical cloud and shown the history of Israel while the sky changes colors. You have to know the history and the background of the various historical sites in Israel. To many the Kotel looks like an old wall that should have been knocked down a long time ago. To the Jews, the Kotel is the closest we can get to Beit HaMikdash, and to Hashem. Also, there is a certain state of mind you should be in when visiting/being in Israel. Without the knowledge or the right state-of-mind, you won't be able to fully appreciate what Israel has to offer us.
The statement from Chazal that speaks to me the most is number one. Number one is saying how if you are in the land you will live there forever. Chazal goes on to say how if you step on the land all your sins will be forgiven. Chazal concludes by saying if you are buried in the land then all of your sins will be forgiven.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the points b and c. Point b is saying how you do not have to be knowledgable and educated about the land to have a connection to it. I agree with that because if someone doesn't know about the land they should still have a connection to it. Point c is saying that you have to have the right mind set to be connected to the land. I agree with that because if your not in the right mindset you will not have a good connection to the land.
The statement from Chazal that speaks to me the most is the third statement. The third statement from Gemara Bava Batra 158b says "The air of Israel’s Land makes one wise”. From this we could take that if a simpleminded person goes to Israel, he will instantly become smart. A deeper meaning to this quote is that being in the land or being closer to Hashem makes you want to learn more. If we are in Israel, we would also be surrounded by talmedai chachamim and that would also inspire/encourage us to learn. You could also just be motivated to learn since you are in the holy land and you might be inspired by the fact that Israel is the land that was chosen for us.
ReplyDeleteRegarding to our connection to the land, I agree with point C, It's a state of mind: in order to establish the special connection, you have to have the right attitude and mind-set. No matter where you are in the world, you have to be motivated and have to have the right attitude to accomplish anything. Being in Israel, you feel a connection to the land and it motivates you to learn. I also agree with point A, that in order to have a connection to the land, you need to have education and awareness of why sites and cities in Israel are significant. In order to appreciate the land and be motivated by it, we have to know the significance of it. Having the knowledge and the mind-set to learn in Israel, you can have a full connection to the land.
The one that strucks me the most is Gemara Ketubot 110 which explains that a person who lives in Israel has a connection to God, but a person who lives in different areas of the world don't have a connection with God. I think this statement makes people feel bad about not living in Israel. Some poeple cannot leave their hometown to go to Israel but still want a connection with God. A person in Israel could be unloyal to God and not care about the mitzvot so much. And a person living in New York could be doing all the mitzvot and learning Torah. I don't think it is fair to say that they don't have a loyalty to Hashem.
ReplyDeleteI believe that in order to have a better connection to the land, you need to have education and awareness of why sites and cities in Israel are significant. You need to know the history and the geography of the land to realize the significance of Israel as a Jewish state. It is also important to go to the land and see for yourself how special the land is.
The one that speaks to me the most is the first one it is saying that a person who does a sin can recover and do teshuva easier when they are in Israel. I like this one because, Israel is very close to me and I feel better when in Israel. i feel that if I were to live or visit Israel I may be a better person
ReplyDeleteI agree with c) It's a state of mind: in order to establish the special connection, you have to have the right attitude and mind-set the most because if you are in Israel and you have no idea how special it is or you really don't want to be there you won't feel the special connection between you and G-d when you are in the land and how specail the land is.
The statement from Chazal that speaks to me the most is the second statement. It was definitely difficult to chose between all of the choices, but this choice really seemed to stick out and make sense to me. It seems that Hashem does connect to everyone wherever they are but while being in the holy/promised land, Hashem would probably be more connected to you, while you are more connected to Him.
ReplyDeleteWhen people hear this statement, it makes them strive more to live in the land of Israel and it makes them want to have this better connection with God in a better place. i believe that in order for you to have a better understanding of the land and why you should be there is to live there and be surrounded by Torah and Mitzvot 24/7. Even if you don't think you are doing a mitzvah, you still are by living in Israel.
I honesty didnt connect with any of these because i dont agree with them i think inorder to be forgiven from your sins does no depend were you are if you daven and ask for forgivness you are forgiven not that you walk in the land of Israel and your forgiven so if a bomber walks in the land of Israel is he forgiven ? no.
ReplyDeletec) It's a state of mind: in order to establish the special connection, you have to have the right attitude and mind-set. I agree with this statement because in order to have a special connection you should be thinking about having a special connection and wanting to have it!