A Bold Prediction
In January 1990, I served as a scholar-in-residence at a shabbaton at the Young Israel of West Hempstead, held by the organization “Tehilla”—which was a forerunner to “Nefesh B’Nefesh” in facilitating aliyah. At that time, Israel was experiencing significant economic difficulties due to the massive influx of Russian Jews who made aliyah, taking advantage of the Soviet Union’s fall. Fueling the concern was an article the New York Times (which in those days was not as blatantly hostile to Israel as it is now) printed in its then-very popular Sunday magazine, painting a bleak picture of Israel due to the great wave of Russian immigration.
Also serving as a guest speaker at the shabbaton was an Orthodox professor of economics at Bar Ilan University, who was serving as a visiting professor at Yeshiva University that year.
Many participants asked the professor how there would be jobs after moving to Israel if so many people were moving to the country, competing for the same work.
The professor first responded that in every large aliyah, since Jews began returning in large numbers to Eretz Yisrael in the 1880s, economic difficulty ensued for a short while. However, each large aliyah led to an economic boom in the long run. The professor predicted that the same would apply to the great Russian aliyah.
Eretz HaTzvi
Then the Orthodox professor invoked the Gemara (Gittin 57b) that dramatically states that Eretz Yisrael stretches: “With regard to Eretz Yisrael, it is written: ‘Land of the deer (see Jeremiah 3:19). Just as the skin of a deer cannot hold its flesh, for after the animal is skinned, its hide shrinks, so too—with regard to Eretz Yisrael—when it is settled, it expands, but when it is not settled, it contracts.’” The professor concluded by boldly predicting that the great Russian aliyah would lead to a great Israeli economic surge.
In Retrospect
Thirty-five years after this speech, the professor’s prediction came true beyond anyone’s wildest dreams! The great Russian aliyah helped fuel the drive to Israel becoming a great economic powerhouse, the “startup nation.”
Eretz Yisrael’s Productivity
We find a similar phenomenon regarding Eretz Yisrael’s productivity. The Ramban (Vayikra 26:15)—writing in the 13th century—explains the Torah’s (ad. loc. pasuk 32) informing us that if and when we are exiled, our enemies will fail in the land: “This is a great proof and promise to us, as there is nowhere else in the world a land that was beautiful and productive and inhabited for so long and yet currently desolate. Since we were forced out of the land, it has accepted no nation, and they all tried to settle it but met with no success.”
Of course, beginning in the 1880s, when Jews started returning to Eretz Yisrael in large numbers, the land once again yielded rich and abundant produce. Once again, our presence in Eretz Yisrael triggers the land’s “expansion” and flourishing.
Divine Expansion of Our Efforts
Moreover, we find a similar phenomenon regarding all matters of kedusha. The task of shemirat mitzvot appears daunting, but when we make an effort, Hashem makes it easier and more achievable. Indeed, Chazal (Yoma 38b) teaches that “haba letaher, mesayin lo—if one comes to purify, Hashem assists him.” Similarly, Shir Hashirim Rabba (5:2) states, “My children, open for me an opening of teshuva the size of the point of a needle, and I’ll open for you doorways which are large enough that wagons can enter.” When we make the leap, Hashem expands Eretz Yisrael, makes it productive and facilitates our full Torah observance.
Conclusion
Eretz Yisrael’s economic and agricultural boom in the wake of the arrival of waves of olim is a dramatic enactment of Chazal’s description of being an “eretz tzvi, a stretching land.” What dramatic testimony to the veracity and acute accuracy of Chazal’s teaching!
Rabbi Jachter serves as the rav of Congregation Shaarei Orah, rebbe at Torah Academy of Bergen County and a get administrator with the Beth Din of Elizabeth. Rabbi Jachter’s 18 books may be purchased at Amazon and Judaica House.
