Leaving the Land of Israel

 by Rav Tzvi Fishman, https://bringthemhome.org.il

One way of understanding the vital importance of Eretz Yisrael to Jewish life is through the prohibition to leave it. When a Jew leaves the Land of Israel, it is as if he or she is turning their backs on the Shechinah and the Holy One Himself, as our Sages have stated: “A person who lives in Eretz Yisrael is like someone who has a G-d, and a person who lives outside of the Land is like someone who has no G-d, and is considered like someone who worships idols,” (Ketubot 110B).

Ki Tavo: Don't Get Too Comfy in Diaspora

by Baruch Gordon

Baruch Gordon looks at a commentary on a very unique commandment found in this week's Torah reading Ki Tavo.

[3-minute video]

Ki Tavo: The Torah Is a National Precept

by Rav Yehuda HaKohen, visionmag.org

The performance of our Torah's ritual precepts must be contextualized & experienced within the larger meta-narrative of Israel's story & mission.

Q&A: How Can HaShem Judge Us for Sinning When He Created Us Imperfect?

Q. Every year on Yom Kippur we ask the Holy One Blessed be He for forgiveness for not walking on the straight path in the previous year and we thank Him for being merciful and gracious, and for forgiving us for no other reason because we actually don't deserve it.

My question is this - HaShem created us lacking, and moreover, we can never be perfect, we can only progress and be better human beings. So how can HaShem, so to say, be angry at us for sinning? And how could He not forgive us if He made us like that?

And if He really does need to forgive us, then why do we admire the fact that He forgives us, and praise Him and thank Him for the immense kindness He does for us year after year?

Q&A: How Can We Take Advantage of Elul?

Q. How can we take advantage of Elul and not "fall" into the High Holidays each year?