And His land will atone for His people \ Rabbi Rabbi Yitzchak Korn
Ha'azinu
The Shiur was given in 5763
And His Land Will Atone for His People
Rabbi Rabbi Yitzchak Korn
Written by the Rabbi
Dedicated to the memory of
Amram son of Sultana
The closing words of Ha'azinu's song, “Vekhiper admato amo,” “And His land will
atone for His people,” teach us that the land of Israel can achieve atonement for the
people of Israel. This is why Chazal emphasize the importance of burial in Eretz
Israel. Connecting the word “admato” mentioned in our verse with “mizbe’ah adama,”
“earthen altar,” the Talmud goes as far as to say that burial in the land of Israel is
equivalent to burial under the altar, the site of atonement. Due to its inherent holiness
as God's land, all of Eretz Israel is equated to the place of the altar.
The first to insist on burial in the Land of Israel was our forefather, Jacob. Jacob
wished to be buried in Eretz Israel, not only for the personal spiritual benefit that he
would derive, but also for a much more profound reason. The Meshekh Hokhmah
argues that Jacob wished to prevent the assimilation of his offspring into Egyptian life
and culture. Jacob impressed the centrality of Eretz Israel upon the national psyche
of his descendants. Many Jews throughout the generations, who were unable to
come to Israel during their lifetimes, echoed Jacob's sentiments and instructed that
they be buried there. They too wanted to impress upon their own families and
communities that they are but temporary dwellers in a foreign land.
In Midrash Mishlei, Rabbi Levi's version of the derashah regarding “vekhiper admato
amo” reads in a slightly different manner. He says that anyone who lives in Eretz
Israel, even for a single hour, and dies there, is destined to inherit the world to come.
According to Rabbi Levi, burial alone does not do the trick; living in the land is
essential. The Talmud relates Rabbi Elazar's reaction to the death of Ulla, his
student, outside of Eretz Israel: “You, Ulla, should die in an unclean land!” Hearing
that Ulla's coffin had arrived, Rabbi Elazar declared: “Receiving a man in his lifetime
is not the same as receiving him after his death.”
Jacob was unable to return to live in Israel, but his descendants living in our present,
unique times, are welcome to return. May we all merit to live long lives in the Land of
Israel.
1
And His land will atone for His people \ Rabbi Rabbi Yitzchak Korn
Ha'azinu
-------------------------This is a weekly column contributed by Aloh Naaleh an organization devoted to
motivating Jews to make Aliya.
Aloh Na'aleh
POB 4337, Jerusalem 91042
Tel: 972-2-566-1181 ext. 320 ~ Fax: 972-2-566-1186
Email: aloh-naaleh@aaci.org.il
E-mail : beitel@yeshiva.org.il
For more Shiurim from the site: www.yeshiva.org.il
2