Eretz Yisrael In The Parashah
by Moshe D. Lichtman


If the Land of Israel plays such an important role in Judaism, why do so many Jews still choose to live in the Diaspora?

To answer this question, and help the reader find his own answers, the author analyzes every reference to Eretz Yisrael in the 54 Torah portions read on Shabbat and the Jewish Holidays. Culling from the vast storehouse of Rabbinic literature, he shows us that living in the Holy Land is more than a dry, halachic question. It is a fulfillment of the deep yearnings of millennia of Jews – to come to the Land in order to perform all of God’s commandments, especially those that depend on the Land.

This is the true meaning of Zionism: loving and yearning for Zion – an ideal that all of our sages, throughout the generations, espoused.

The author demonstrates the overriding importance of Eretz Yisrael to our religion and unabashedly encourages Diaspora Jews to at least consider making God’s Chosen Land their permanent dwelling place.

ERETZ YISRAEL: “THE PEG UPON WHICH THE ENTIRE TORAH HANGS!”
(R. Ya’akov Emden)
Is the Land of Israel really one of the cornerstones of Judaism? If so, why do so many religious Jews still live elsewhere, even though the gates of our Land are opened wide? Eretz Yisrael in the Parashah reveals what the Torah, as well as the greatest of our Sages, have to say on the matter. It will give you a newfound love and appreciation for the Land that God chose for His beloved nation.

“Seeing that we are more disgraced than any other generation, for we have despised the gift of the Land – it is certainly a great and timely mitzvah, as well as a pressing need, to add another work onto the Oral Law in honor of the value and importance of Eretz Yisrael… [Therefore], I commend my dear friend, R. Moshe Lichtman (may he live), who ‘jumped in’ and merited performing this important mitzvah. May it be God’s will that this book benefit the public [and help] infuse the value and importance of Eretz Yisrael into the hearts of its readers.”
Rabbi Hershel Schachter Rosh Yeshiva,
Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary

“At long last, a sefer in English that highlights the centrality of the Land of Israel not only in the weekly parsha, but in every holiday as well. Rabbi Lichtman uses the Torah text as well as the classic commentaries, Midrashim, and even Chassidic divrei Torah to help enrich our understanding of the role Eretz Yisrael plays in our history as a people and in our lives today. This is a worthy addition to everyone’s library and a wonderful source book for the Shabbos table.”
Rabbi Yaacov Marcus
Founder, Yeshivat Reishit Yerushalayim
Rabbi Emeritus Young Israel of Staten Island

Born and raised in Elizabeth, N.J., Rabbi Moshe Lichtman studied in several Yeshivot in Israel, including Beit Midrash LeTorah, the Gruss Kollel, Sha'alvim, and the Meretz Kollel in Mevaseret Tzion. He received rabbinic ordination (semichah) from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University. He also holds an MS in Jewish Education from YU's Azrieli Institute. Rabbi Lichtman made aliyah in 1991 and has taught in numerous post high school programs in Israel ever since. These include the Mevaseret Institutions, Be'er Miriam, and Yeshivat Yesodei HaTorah. He is probably best known for his landmark translations of Eim HaBanim Semeichah, An Angel Among Men (a biography of the first Chief Rabbi of Israel, R. Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook zt"l), and A Question of Redemption. He currently resides in Beit Shemesh with his wife and seven children.

454 pages
Trim Size: 6.5 x 9.5
Hard Cover:
$21.95
 ISBN:
1-932687-70-X
 Quantity:
Publication Date: September 2006

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