The Divine Nature of the Land of Israel

For the land that you are going in order to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, from where you came out, where you sowed your seeds, and watered it with your foot, as a garden of herbs; but the land, that you go over to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, you will drink water as the rain of heaven comes down; a land which G-d your G-d cares for; the eyes of G-d your G-d are always upon it, from the beginning of the year until the end of the year.
(From this week's Torah portion, Ekev, Deuteronomy 11: 10-12)

Tavor Stream in Israel's North

The Land of Israel is unlike any other lands. The rules of nature do not apply here. Back in Egypt, there was no rain, but the Nile always flowed and irrigation provided a steady source of water for the crops. But when you are always looking down at the Nile, it is easy to forget G-d. All the other lands closely resemble Egypt. While most receive their water from rainfall, the rain is dependable - just like the Nile. You don't have to pray for it.

The Land of Israel is different. In Israel, you must pray for rain. The Land of Israel is situated along a meteorologically unstable latitude that keeps us guessing about rainfall. And it is not only rainfall or lack thereof that keeps the eyes of the Jews in the Land of Israel fixed steadily on heaven. The Land of Israel is situated on a strategic and volatile geographic axis. All the great conquerors traversed the Land. The kings of Israel would never know which side to take in wars that crossed Israel's borders. In politics, as well, the Land of Israel leaves you no choice but to raise your eyes heavenward, to remember Who is running the world and to experience the fact that, " the eyes of G-d your G-d are always upon it, from the beginning of the year until the end of the year."

One of the first things a Jew learns in the Land of Israel is that nature here is supernatural. In Israel, faith in G-d is the pre-eminent law of nature. G-dless leadership in Israel simply cannot succeed here for long. That is why we have elections every two years and that is why any government that is not faith-based serves on borrowed time.

At Manhigut Yehudit, we are patiently preparing ourselves for the next round and are confident that the Divine laws of nature unique to this Land will prevail and triumph.

Shabbat Shalom,

Moshe Feiglin

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