Israel Forever - A Passion for the Land

When the five daughters of Tzelofchad approached Moshe to ask for a portion in the land that Jews were to inherit they demonstrated the great love that Jewish women had for Eretz Yisrael.

This scene described in this week's Torah portion is pointed out by our Sages as a sharp contrast with the negative attitude of the men whose lack of enthusiasm for entering the Land condemned an entire generation to death in the wilderness over a span of forty years.

Love of the Land has certainly become an integral part of the Jewish personality ever since then. Jews who demonstrate that love through settling in Israel or supporting it are the ones who guarantee the success of Israel forever.

===================================== By Rabbi Mendel Weinbach, Dean, Ohr Somayach Institutions

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