See the Good Land

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Va'etchanan: See the Good Land
by Moshe Kempinski

Where all things become intertwined.

My recent return from a short visit to Canada helped clarify an interesting question regarding Moshe Rabbeinu and this land. While we were overseas, we were able to spend some good quality time with dear family and friends. I again felt that sense of being refilled and of feeling whole and complete.We spent time in places whose physical beauty was both dramatic and serene. We prayed and studied in the synagogues and study halls that were filled with devout and sincere fellow Jews. I was also moved when I was given the opportunity to speak to committed Jews at a fundraiser for the expelled Jews of Gush Katif.


Yet, when the plane touched the earth of the Land of Israel I again felt that surging sense of being infused with exhilaration. I again felt that sense of being refilled and of feeling whole and complete.


Moshe Rabbeinu in the Torah portion of Va'etchanan declares:
And I beseeched HaShem at that time, saying: "O HaShem G- d, Thou hast begun to show Thy servant Thy greatness, and Thy strong hand; for what god is there in Heaven or on Earth that can do according to Thy works, and according to Thy mighty acts? Let me go over, I pray Thee, and see the good land that is beyond the Jordan, that goodly hill-country, and Lebanon." (Shmot/Exodus 6:2)


Our sages even relate that this prayer was repeated 515 times, a number equivalent to the gematria (numerology) of the word Va'etchanan ("and I beseeched").


Why?

Moshe was the man who had entered Heaven. Here was the man who stood before the burning bush. This was the man who was called by G-d "my faithful servant." What glorious sight could there be left to see, even in the beautiful hills of the land , after one has experienced eternity? What more was there to see in "the good land" after he has already been shown "Thy greatness, and Thy strong hand"?


Moshe Rabbeinu had walked the Earth and and wandered amidst the angels in Heaven, yet he so passionately yearned to go over into the good land.


Why?


I, together with many fellow Jews, worked hard to maintain my spiritual connection alive and active throughout my stay in Canada. With HaShem's help, the efforts at drawing spiritual strength from the Heavens met with success, but it was then I understood our master teacher, Moshe. Herein lay the difference. According to the writings of our mystical teachers, the further one stands from the source of spirituality, the more segregated and separated things become. On the other hand, the closer one gets to the source of all things spiritual, the more all things become intertwined and melded. This is true of the knowledge and awareness of G-d, but it is also true of the land of Israel, "from out of Zion shall come the word of G-d." (Isaiah 2:3) It is this melding The further one stands from the source of spirituality, the more segregated and separated things become.and intertwining that makes life in this country so filled with spiritual possibilities, while at the same time allowing for the dangers of pitfalls and confusion. That is why the walk in this land is such a delicate journey on a very fragile path. Yet, the glorious spiritual riches dwarf the real and present dangers.


This, then, was the reason for that great rush and exhilaration I felt upon landing home in Israel. In Chutz Le’aretz, in the exile, spirituality needs to constantly be drawn from the outside in. In Israel, the feeling is dramatically different. In this "goodly land" the task involves revealing and unleashing the powers that are hidden within each individual, from the inside out. This in no way belittles the incredible power of spirituality wherever it is revealed. But it does point to the unique character of this small, embattled land.


Moshe Rabbeinu may have wandered between Heaven and Earth; yet, he so clearly understood the power of a land wherein Heaven meets Earth. He understood the circuitous ways and fragile bridges that this land affords; yet, he also sensed that the connection between Heaven and Earth may be the purpose of creation.


He very probably also knew about the opportunity that would be presented in our generation to every one of his people's descendants.


14 Av 5768 / 15 August 08