- Shemitah and Other Mitzvot –— Unique Mitzvot Only Applicable in Israel
Narrative:
Living in Israel allows one to fulfill special mitzvot like Shemitah, Terumot and Ma’aser, which can only be observed in the Holy Land.
Biblical Source:
כי תבואו אל הארץ אשר אני נותן לכם, ושבתה הארץ שבת לה”
“When you come into the land that I give you, the land shall observe a sabbath for Hashem.”
— Vayikra (Leviticus) 25:2
Talmudic Source:
כל המצוות התלויות בארץ אינן נוהגות אלא בארץ
“All land-dependent mitzvot apply only in the Land of Israel.”
— Kiddushin 36b
- Torah Study in the Holy Land — Learning Torah in Israel Is on a Different Level
Narrative:
Torah study in Israel is unparalleled, as the land itself enhances one’s understanding and connection to divine wisdom.
Biblical Source:
כי מציון תצא תורה ודבר ה› מירושלים
“For from Zion shall go forth the Torah, and the word of Hashem from Jerusalem.”
— Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 2:3
Talmudic Source:
אין תורה כתורת ארץ ישראל
“There is no Torah like the Torah of Eretz Yisrael.”
— Vayikra Rabbah 13:5
Rabbi Paul Bloom lives in Jerusalem with his wife Ettie. Paul is President of the Israel Inspiration Initiative and is on the Board of the New York / Israel Chamber of Commerce. He is the CEO of PDB Futurecom International and is a retired CTO of IBM Research’s Communication Sector.
