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FOUR CUBITS TO ETERNITY

"Whoever walks a distance of four cubits in the Land of Israel is assured of being a member of the World to Come."  This statement cited in the name of Rabbi Yochanan is based on the passage (Yishayahu 42:5) in which Hashem is described as forming the Land (Israel) and "giving life to those who walk in it."  Our Sages saw such a powerful link between the land of Israel and the World to Come that one of them even declared that resurrection of the dead will take place only in the land of Israel, and the remains of those buried elsewhere will have to roll to Israel through tunnels created for them. (Kesuvos 111a)

"For behold, in those days and at that time, When I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land."  Joel 3:1-2

As Joel predicted the Nations of the World have "divided up my Land." While a part of me cries, the other part laughs. As the first part of Joel's prophesy came true, the second part will come true. For these heinous acts, they will stand in judgment.

STONES OF SUBSTANCE

When Rabbi Chanina Hagadol went from Babylon to Israel there were no signposts or border guards to indicate that he had reached his destination. But he had his own litmus test. He would pick up stones and feel their weight. As long as the stones were still too light he would cast them aside with a sense of disappointment that he had yet not reached his goal. When he finally picked up some stones of real substance he declared that these were "Land of Israel Yisrael stones," and he kissed them in fulfillment of King David's words (Tehillim 102:15) "Your servants hold dear her stones."

(Midrash Tanchuma, Parshas Shlach - quoted by Tosefos in Kesuvos 112a)

SHARE IN THE LAND

Why does the Torah (Bereishis 33:19) bother to inform us that Yaakov purchased the plot of land in Shechem where he pitched his tent, and how much he paid for it? This is to reveal to us the importance of the land of Israel. A share in the land of Israel is considered as valuable as a share in the World to Come.  (Rabbi Avraham Ibn Ezra, Commentary on the Torah)

KISSING THE EARTH

"For Your servants hold dear her stones and cherish even her dust." (Tehillim 102:15) The touching scene of Jews kissing the earth upon their arrival in Israel has its roots in the words of King David and in the actions of our Talmudic Sages. Rabbi Abba kissed the rocks at the port of Acco. Rabbi Chiya bar Gamda rolled in the dust of the land. Rabbi Chanina went even further by repairing the roads so that his beloved country would not have a bad reputation with those who traveled upon them.  (Kesuvos 112)

Once when Rabbi Gamliel, Rabbi Eleazer, the son of Azaria, Rabbi Judah, and Rabbi Akiba were walking together, they heard the shouts and laughter and joyous tones of a multitude of people at a distance. Four of the Rabbis wept; but Akiba laughed aloud.

"Akiba," said the others to him, "why do you laugh? These heathens who worship idols live in peace, and are merry, while our holy city lies in ruins; weep, do not laugh."

"For that very reason I laugh, and am glad," answered Rabbi Akiba. "If God allows those who transgress His will to live happily on earth, how infinitely great must be the happiness which He has stored up in the world to come for those who observe His commands."

Upon another occasion these same Rabbis went up to Jerusalem. When they reached Mount Zophim and saw the desolation about them they rent their garments, and when they reached the spot where the Temple had stood and saw a fox run out from the very site of the holy of holies four of them wept bitterly; but again Rabbi Akiba appeared merry. His comrades again rebuked him for this, to them, unseemly state of feeling.

"You ask me why I am merry," said he; "come now, tell me why you weep?"

"Because the Torah tells us that a stranger (one not descended from Aaron) who approaches the holy of holies shall be put to death, and now behold the foxes make of it a dwelling-place. Why should we not weep?"

"You weep," returned Akiba, "from the very reason which causes my heart to be glad. Is it not written, 'And testify to me, you faithful witnesses, Uriah, the priest, and Zachariah, the son of Berachiahu?' Now what has Uriah to do with Zachariah? Uriah lived during the existence of the first Temple, and Zachariah during the second. Know you not that the prophecy of Uriah is compared to the prophecy of Zachariah. From Uriah's prophecy we find, 'Therefore for your sake Zion will be plowed as is a field, and Jerusalem will be a desolation, and the mount of Zion shall be as a forest;' and in Zachariah we find, 'They will sit, the old men and women, in the streets of Jerusalem.' Before the prophecy of Uriah was accomplished I might have doubted the truth of Zachariah's comforting words; but now that one has been accomplished, I feel assured that the promises to Zachariah will also come to pass, therefore am I glad."

"Thy words comfort us, Akiba," answered his companions. "May God ever provide us comfort." Maccoth 24:2

There was once a man who pledged his dearest faith to a maiden, beautiful and true. For a time all passed pleasantly, and the maiden lived in happiness. But then the man was called from her side, he left her; long she waited, but he did not return. Friends pitied her and rivals mocked her; tauntingly they pointed at her, and said, "He has left you; he will never come back." The maiden sought her chamber, and read in secret the letters which her lover had written to her, the letters in which he promised to be ever faithful, ever true. Weeping she read them, but they brought comfort to her heart; she dried her eyes and doubted not.

A joyous day dawned for her; the man she loved returned, and when he learned that others had doubted and asked her how she had preserved her faith, she showed his letters to him, declaring her eternal trust.

Israel, in misery and captivity, was mocked by the nations; her hopes of redemption were made a laughing-stock; her sages scoffed at; her holy men derided. Into her synagogues, into her schools went Israel; she read the letters which her God had written, and believed in the holy promises which they contained.

God will in time redeem her; and when He says:-- "How could you alone be faithful of all the mocking nations?"

She will point to the law and answer:-- "Had not Thy law been my delight, I should long since have perished in my affliction."

For Jews, the obligation to redeem the Land is a biblical imperative. Arabs are willing to sell and Jews must take this opportunity to buy.