Masei
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week’s parsha the delineation of the borders of Eretz Yisrael. This section begins with the pasuk (Chapter 34, Pasuk 2), Tzav es Bnei Yisrael V’Amartah Aleihem Ki Atem Ba’im el Ha’aretz Canaan Zos Ha’aretz Asher Tipol Lachem B’Nachalah L’Gevuloseha. Hashem tells Moshe to command Bnei Yisrael that they are going to enter Eretz Yisrael which will fall to them as an inheritance according to its borders.
The Sfas Emes teaches that the holiness of Eretz Yisrael was not something which is self evident, rather it became revealed only when Bnei Yisrael entered it. This is hinted at when Hashem tells Avraham Avinu (Bereishis, Chapter 12, Pasuk 1), El Ha’aretz Asher Ar’eka. Go to the land which I will reveal to you. When you Avraham Avinu go to Eretz Yisrael then I will reveal to you its holiness. And since the land is unique in that it contains holiness, there need to be clear borders and boundaries of where that Kedushah is contained. Eretz Yisrael is like the clearly defined vessel which holds within it this holiness. This is why it was so essential for the Torah to clearly list the borders of Eretz Yisrael in our parsha.
As we mentioned, Hashem first revealed this holiness to Avraham Avinu in the beginning of parshat Lech Lecha. This process is continued when Yaakov Avinu returns to Eretz Yisrael after spending years working by Lavan in Chutz L’Aretz. When he returns the pasuk says (Bereishis, Chapter 33, Pasuk 18), Vayichan es Pnei Ha’ir. Just as Chazal teach in the beginning of parshat Vayeitzei that when Yaakov left Beerhseva the splendor and the glory left with him, conversely when Yaakov returned to Eretz Yisrael the glory and splendor returned with him. This is the meaning of Vayichan, the “chein” of Eretz Yisrael came back with the return of the tzaddik. And this is what we explained above that only when Bnei Yisrael entered Eretz Yisrael was the holiness of the land revealed.
Chazal learn that Yaakov came back right before Shabbos and darshen on the very same words of this pasuk, Mikan She’kavah Yaakov Techumin. Yaakov kept Shabbos and more precisely he established the mitzvah of Eiruv Techumim. Once Yaakov entered Eretz Yisrael and brought with him the Kedushah of Eretz Yisrael, there needed to be proper borders for the holiness. This is why he established Eiruv Techumim and clearly delineated the borders of the Kedushah of Eretz Yisrael.
The same process takes place on Shabbos. Every Shabbos there is a special light and Kedushah which comes down to us. This is the concept of the Neshamah Yesirah, the extra dose of spirituality felt among Bnei Yisrael. Eiruv Tehcumim is necessary to give the appropriate borders to the special Kedushah of the Shabbos. Again, all matters of Kedushah need to be properly defined, whether the borders of Shabbos or the borders of Eretz Yisrael. And all of these came together when Yaakov Avinu returned to Eretz Yisrael.
Chazal teach in the Gemara in Berachos that the bracha of Havdalah on Motzei Shabbos is in the fourth bracha of Shemoneh Esreih, the bracha of Da’as. This is because there needs to be knowledge and understanding in order to make distinctions. Similarly, when we have clear knowledge and Divine understanding, then there need to be proper boundaries of distinction. As we read in Bereishis by creation (Chapter 1, Pasuk 4), Vayar Elokim es Ha’Ohr Ki Tov Vayavdeil Elokim. The ultimate expression of Divine light is in the distinction between light and dark and holy and profane.
When Bnei Yisrael entered Eretz Yisrael they received a Neshamah Yeseirah similar to the Neshamah Yeseirah we receive on Shabbos. And when Bnei Yisrael are in Eretz Yisrael there is an Achdus similar to the unity we experience on Shabbos. And in the merit of the Achdus of Bnei Yisrael in Eretz Yisrael, Goy Echad Ba’Aretz, may we continue to create the Kedushah of Eretz Yisrael. And instead of reading on Tisha B’Av (Eichah, Chapter 1, Pasuk 6) Vayeitzei Mibas Tziyon Kal Hadarah, may we only experience Vayichan es Pnei Ha’ir, and merit the coming of Mashiach and the ingathering of the exiles in Eretz Yisrael, Goy Echad Ba’Aretz.
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