Religious Duty to Settle Israel Remains Vital Beyond Political Conflict

The commandment to settle the Land of Israel is often linked to national struggles over peripheral areas and agricultural settlements in contested territories. However, its deeper significance touches every individual and their daily role in Israeli society, including the ultra-Orthodox community. The Land of Israel holds a central place in Jewish tradition, beginning with Abraham's journey to Canaan and the divine covenants promising the land to the Jewish people. The Torah regards exile from the land as the severest punishment, with the ultimate promise of redemption and return.

Rabbinic literature praises the land extensively, emphasizing that Torah observance in exile is only a temporary state until the return to Israel. The essence of settling the land is transforming the Torah and covenant with God from abstract or personal matters into a living force shaping all aspects of public life. Jewish life in exile influences only family and community, not the broader public sphere, limiting Torah's full purpose. Only in Israel, as a self-governing nation shaping its way of life by Torah, can the Jewish people's ultimate mission be fulfilled.

The integration of Torah with worldly affairs is uniquely realized in Israel, where both sacred service and labor build a society fully guided by Torah values. The Hatam Sofer taught that settling the land includes not only agriculture but also mastering crafts and professions to establish a thriving economy within a Torah framework. Revitalizing barren areas and settling places not fully controlled by Israel are important but not the commandment's ultimate goal.

The true fulfillment of settling the land involves full engagement in all public life spheres with holiness, including the work of religious doctors and engineers who form the economic and social backbone. Historically, many devout Jews contributed to building the land, such as the founders of Petah Tikva, who combined Torah study with practical skills. Today, the commandment continues through settlement in peripheral areas and economic development conducted within Torah values, enabling the full realization of Torah's purpose in Israel.

This article appeared in the Achvata newsletter distributed across Israel. For the newsletter PDF or distribution requests, contact via WhatsApp or email as provided.