Eretz Chemda

On Thursdays I teach 6 periods. Five down, one to go. That sounds terrible. I wish to cherish my classes, and often enough I do. Today's classes were filled with sweet moments such as a debate over whether or not the land of Israel has an emotional, almost human side to her.

Amy said that Israel is a land that spits out it's inhabitants, in possession of an almost human element. Jordana feels that in the end it is still a land, not a human being. Rav Kook, I told my tenth graders, writes at the start of Orot, that Israel is not a land like any other land. She is not just a place for the Jewish People to live. She is a part of the Jewish People.

This brought to my mind the statement of Chazal that - Yisrael, Torah, VeKudsha Brich Hu, Chad (something like that) - the Jewish People, Torah, and The Holy One Blessed Be He are one. Rav Kook stressed the idea that the land of Israel is linked to this unity as well.

Rav Kook told of a man who dated a woman and finds her unattractive. Another man met her and found her to be wonderful and was moved to marry her. The explanation of this is that the woman did not like the first man so she showed her negative side to him. She was interested in the second man and therefore showed him her beauty. Rav Kook says that there are people whom Israel embraces and others whom she rejects. My teacher, Rabbi Nachman Kahane says this explains why some people move to Israel today and it works and for some it doesn't take. The land has emotions and accepts some people while turning others away.

How blessed am I that I get paid to discuss these ideas?

Modeh Ani Lefanecha Hashem Elokai...