This is unquestionably my favorite time of the year. It is a serious time, one of mourning, uncertainty, and intense clarification. The freshness of spring begins to fade into the tiring heat of summer. I inevitably crash after Pesach, and now face the daunting task of creating a space within myself strong enough to contain the light of Torah. All of the learning in these weeks seems to center on the transitional period between Pesach and Shavuot - on B'nei Yisrael's movement from Yetziat Mitzraim to Matan Torah. But before we get to Har Sinai, we have another holiday - Yom Hatzma'ut, Israel's Day of Independence. Though the date on the calendar comes a bit out of sequence in the overall journey (for the sake of this idea, it would be more convenient if it happened after the 6th of Sivan), it is significant that the establishment of the State of Israel is marked in the season of our redemption. Throughout the Torah, we find multiple variations on the theme that G-d brought us out of Mitzrayim in order to bring us to the land (a good land, where we will not lack anything) that He promised to the Forefathers. The two central events in our history, Yetziat Mitzrayim and Matan Torah, thus culminate in our entry into Eretz Yisrael.
The Sfat Emet examines the unique role of Eretz Yisrael in his commentary on Parshat Massei, where we find instructions for coming into the Promised Land. He cites a discussion in the Midrash about the blessing that we say in Birkat Hamazon, "al ha'aretz v'al hamazon" (on the land and on the sustenance). The Sages said that Moshe instituted the blessing "al hamazon" in appreciation for the manna, which was a Divine gift from Heaven. The blessing "al ha'aretz" was composed by Yehoshua upon his entry to Eretz Yisrael. The blessing "al ha'aretz" is greater than "al hamazon," because being in the "aretz" allowed B'nei Yisrael to continue the abundance of bracha through their own actions, whereas the manna was just a temporary gift.
The Sfat Emet says a beautiful thing about Eretz Yisrael: it is "small in size and great in quality." This is because the essence of Eretz Yisrael is its p'nimiut (inner dimension). The privilege and task of the Jewish people is to reveal the light hidden in the land. In doing so, we reveal our own depth. How do we access this inner dimension? One way is by simply being here. With our presence we are fulfilling the mitzvah (found in Bamidbar) to "inherit the Land and dwell in it." A second way is by doing mitzvot in the Land. Mitzvot are the vessels through which we sanctify the physical world. In Mitzrayim, we were almost completely lost in physicality. In contrast, the generation of the midbar (wilderness) existed in the realm of pure spirituality. It wasn't until their entrance into Eretz Yisrael, where physical and spiritual are joined, that the true light of the Jewish nation was revealed.
Another way to access the inner dimension of Eretz Yisrael is to do mitzvot that can only be done in the Land (several of which are mentioned in this week's parsha). Most of these mitzvot are in some way connected to working the land. In Israel, there is no gift of manna; sustenance must be earned through physical labor. This element of revealing the essence of the Land through working the land (not just working in it) has been all but lost to Am Yisrael due to years of exile and to a fascination with modern technology. In my opinion, it is an aspect of our avodat Hashem that is sorely missed. It is Rosh Chodesh Iyar, and the tribe corresponding to the month is Issachar. In Bereshit, Issachar's bracha from Yaakov characterizes him as a donkey bent under a yoke. The traditional interpretation (Rashi and others) is that the tribe of Issachar is bent under the yoke of Torah. Rav Hirsch suggests an alternative portrait - Issachar as the "Jewish land-worker," the real backbone of the Jewish nation.
Obviously, Hirsch's image doesn't negate the centrality of the yoke of Torah. But we are striving for integration during this time, and so I encourage us to remember that we were given the Torah to bring into the Land, and unless we touch the Land deeply, we are not receiving the Torah completely. May we all be blessed to connect to Hashem through the special light of Eretz Yisrael. It is an amazing privilege to be here!