Yitro: Only Those Who Live In The Land Love G-d

Adapted by Hillel Fendel from an article by Rav Moshe Tzuriel, yeshiva.co

The Torah threatens punishment for idol-worshipers that is only 1/500^th of the reward that the righteous will receive: "Concerning My enemies, I keep in mind the fathers' sins for their descendants, [only] to the 3^rd and 4^th generations. But for those who love Me and keep My commandments, I show love for [at least two] thousands of generations" (Sh'mot 20,5-6). The punishment is for four generations, and the reward for 2,000 generations.

But the question we would like to address is: Why are the righteous termed both "those who love Me" and "those who keep My commandments?" Is not one enough? 

The Ramban cites the Midrash Mechilta, from which we can understand why "those who love Me" is added. The Midrash says in the name of R. Natan that the above verse refers to those who dwell in the Holy Land and give their souls for the observance of mitzvot. For instance, they circumcise their sons, and take the Four Species, and the like, even when the foreign rulers decree death for these "infractions" – because of their love for G-d, which leads G-d to love them in turn. 

But this Midrash is difficult: The law in the Shulchan Arukh is that such mitzvot need not be observed if they carry a penalty of death! When death is threatened if one does not renounce his belief in G-d, this does not justify violating negative mitzvot, such as desecrating the Sabbath or murder – but positive mitzvot need not be observed under such circumstances! Why then does the Midrash speak of one who is willing to take the Four Species and the like even if it will cost him his life? 

The answer is that "if the period of time requires it, and he is a great and pious and G-d-fearing man, and sees that the generation is lax in this, one is permitted to sanctify G-d's name and give his life for the fulfillment of such mitzvot" (Sh. Ar. Yoreh Deah 157,1, Rama and Shach).

That is, when there is a need to educate the people of one's generation because they have become lax in observing the Torah, and this pious man wishes to behave in an extreme manner in order to demonstrate the importance and necessity of fulfilling the mitzvot at any price, he thus performs a great mitzvah. He is showing that there is something more important than the rest of one's life, and that is the observance of G-d's word.

With this, we can understand why the verse above terms the righteous not only "those who keep My commandments," but also "those who love Me." It is because their deeds show that they fulfill the Torah not because they have to, and not because they have been accustomed to doing so, but because of their great love for Hashem. 

But we still must clarify: Why did the Midrash specify that these people who give their lives for Torah reside specifically in Eretz Yisrael? Have there not been numerous cases of true heroism for mitzvot outside the Land over the centuries? 

The renowned Magen Avraham answers: "In the Land, the Gentiles persecuted Jews for keeping the mitzvot – and they could have run away in order to escape the decrees. But they did not; they gave their lives rather than leave the Holy Land! Whereas those who live outside the Land and faced similar decrees, and could have run away but did not do so – are worthy of death for not running away to save themselves." 

This of course requires explanation. The underlying principle is that one who faces death if he observes the Torah is required to run away and save himself. However, the Magen Avraham explains, how is it possible that a Jew in Eretz Yisrael would leave?! Even under such circumstances, every minute of fulfilling the mitzvah of living in the Land is so great and beloved to them that he would not consider leaving, even at the pain of death! In such a case, he is certainly not worthy of death – and yet he gives his life. 

This amazing approach shines a great light on the virtue of our grasp on the Land of Israel today, despite all the dangers we face from without and even from within (see Rav Kook's Letters, Vol. II, p 226). 

Let us proceed: Why does R. Natan in the Midrash Mechilta above say that only those who live in the Land are "those who love Me?" 

The answer is because outside the Land, the primary way of serving G-d is via "fear and awe," yir'at Hashem. But in the Land, it is chiefly via love of G-d. As the Shem MiShmuel writes: 

"The difference between Eretz Yisrael and the Diaspora is that in the Land, our service of G-d is with love and clinging... But in the Diaspora, our service is to 'stray from bad' (Psalms 34,15); we are to bat down the forces of our soul, to cause them to surrender to holiness against their will."

And this is actually written out clearly in the words of Yehoshua bin Nun, when he forged a charter between the nation and G-d as Israel was about to enter the Holy Land for the first time: 

"Just be very diligent heed to fulfill the Torah, which Moshe the servant of G-d commanded you, to love Hashem your God, and to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments, and to cling to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul." (Yehoshua 22,5)

We note that in the words spoken by Moshe to Israel, he makes a very similar point – but he adds one more requirement: "to fear G-d" (D'varim 10,12). Why did Yehoshua not make that stipulation as well? 

The answer is that Moshe was speaking to Israel in general, while Yehoshua was speaking to them specifically in the context of their entry into the Land of Israel. As such, Yehoshua did not have to require of them "fear of G-d," while Moshe, speaking to all future generations, including outside the Land, had to include this.

We now well understand why the term "those who love Me" applies specifically to those who live in the Land. 

Today, like in days of yore, there are lovers of G-d who subject themselves to all sorts of tribulations in order to fulfill the mitzvot, even vis-à-vis various governments that try to force us not to keep the mitzvah of settling the Land. How fortunate are those who stand firmly on behalf of the observance of the Torah commandments! They certainly deserve the title "those who love Me," and they will certainly also merit the reward for "thousands of generations."