The "Land of Israel", it may refer to either the biblical country or the modern one.

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Why do Israelis keep one day of Yom Tov?

From what I understand, we outside of Eretz Yisrael we keep two days of Yom Tov as a continuation of the minhag that evolved from the time of the Bais Hamikdash when we would not necessarily know when ...
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49 views

Why did it take so long to conquer and divide the land?

We learn that Yehoshua took 7 years to conquer the land and another 7 to divide it. Why did both of these take so long? Conquest (at least from the details of the description in the text) took at ...
7
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1answer
65 views

Source for shuls flying in yemos hamoshiach?

My son mentioned to me that he learned in school that when Moshiach comes all the shuls (and schools?) will miraculously fly to Eretz Yisroel. What is the source of this idea?
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4answers
299 views

Why wasn't the Torah given in Israel?

One might naturally expect that the Jewish people would enter the land and then receive the Torah there. It seems logical to me that the Torah should come from a holy place characterized by the ...
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1answer
63 views

Source for Rav Avraham Yosef's ruling on Ba'alei Teshuva

A friend mentioned, and I read the same here, that Rav Avraham Yosef and/or Rav Ovadiah Yosef ruled that Ba'alei Teshuva in Israel (with no direct masoret of their own) should adopt the Sepharadi ...
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24 views

Setting up municipalities run by Jews in Eretz Yisrael

Even those who are against the State of Israel have no problem with living in the Land of Israel. Is there anything (in Torah, Halacha) that would prevent a group of Jews from coming to Eretz Yisrael ...
5
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3answers
90 views

Which type of government is suitable in the present world according to Jewish Law?

Which type of government is suitable in the present world according to Jewish law? Is democracy allowed in Biblical or in Jewish law? (I came to this question from wondering why the modern state of ...
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0answers
29 views

Not eating chametz in Eretz Yisrael on “Achron shel Pesach”

I heard that there is a letter from the Rebbe Rashab (Chabad) that one shouldn't eat chametz on Achron Shel Pesach when they are in Eretz Yisrael (even if they are keeping only one-day Yom Tov.) I ...
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1answer
44 views

Beracha Achronah on milk

We say a special Beracha Achronah on the seven species that Eretz Yisroel is praised in the Possuk Eretz Zeis Shemen etc. My question is, since Eretz Yisroel is also praised with milk (albeit in ...
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23 views

Holy Cities in Israel

It's almost a colloquialism that there are four holy cities in Israel. If, indeed, there is some significant message derived from the historical importance of these cities that imparts in them some ...
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26 views

Cities' רבנו‏יות's accepting others' food

Years ago, IIRC, I heard the following from a respectable source: By Israeli law, if the רבנות of one city certifies a food as kosher, then the רבנות of any other city must allow that food as an ...
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2answers
102 views

How much can a DNA test help to get Israeli citizenship? [closed]

My friend has found out that he has some Jewish family history according to DNA tests. Could it help him to get Israeli citizenship, or is this fact not considered at all?
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2answers
95 views

How is one allowed to live in Israel?

When Yehoshua came to Israel, he conquered it and divided it among the Jews. This land belongs to them and their descendants. When the Jews were exiled many years later and came back (by the 2nd Beis ...
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3answers
200 views

Does the State of Israel fulfill the coming of the Messiah?

Jews believe that the Messiah has not yet come yet; we see that most of the Jews of the world have already gathered in Israel, so the exile has practically ended. They have constructed a nation of ...
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1answer
197 views

Is it forbidden for the Jews to Establish a Nation of Israel?

I keep on reading about a lot of Orthodox Jewish Rabbis opposed to the building of the nation of Israel as they deem it to be blasphemous and heresy in violation of God's commandment to the Jews. I ...
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2answers
69 views

Specialized Al Hamichya for Eretz yIsrael “Al Michyatah” על מחייתה

We all know the special suffix for Eretz yIsrael products גפנה - "gafna" פירותיה - "peirotiha". Yesterday I saw על מחייתה "Al michyatah" in an Ashkenazi bencher, but I haven't seen that anywhere else ...
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1answer
256 views

Which major gedolim have said Hallel on Yom Haatzmaut and Yom Yerushalayim?

Which major gedolim, especially at the times at which the events occurred, but in general too, have said Hallel for Yom Haatzmaut and Yom Yerushalyim? The definition of a major gadol is, of course, ...
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0answers
47 views

Why don't we distribute Ma'aser Rishon or Ma'aser 'Ani nowadays?

Produce grown in the Land of Israel has to have Teruma, two of three different kinds of Ma'aser, and Terumat Ma'aser removed, as described in this OU Kosher article. Of these five separations, three - ...
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1answer
111 views

Can a pedestrian cause a Jewish driver to stop for him to cross the road on Shabbat?

In many places Israel [to date], cars are driven by Jewish drivers.[presumably Tinokot Shenishbu] When crossing the road in Israel on Shabbat : Can one do so in a way that the driver has to slow ...
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1answer
50 views

What is special about Tzfat?

The city of Tzefat seems to be a magnet for torah scholars and kabbalists for many hundreds of years. Why is that?
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1answer
231 views

What is the appropriate response of someone outside Israel during a war?

During a war or large scale military operation what are some of the best things for a person living in chutz l'arertz to do? Is saying tehillim and doing extra chesed enough? Should a person run to ...
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2answers
299 views

A Convert taking on customs of ashkanazim or sephardim

When someone converts is there any determining factor on what minhagim (customs) they will take upon themselves in terms of Ashkanazim or Sephardim? Should it be dependent on the Beis Din they ...
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1answer
119 views

V'Sain Tal U'Matar for someone from Eretz Yisrael in Chutz L'Aretz (and vice versa)

In Eretz Yisrael we start saying V'Sain Tal U'Matar on the 7th of Cheshvan. If someone from Eretz Yisrael will be in America on the 7th of Cheshvan and will be flying back to Eretz Yisrael a few days ...
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3answers
148 views

Good place in Israel for English-speakers

I currently live in Neve Yaakov, but it's getting expensive. Does anyone know of a good community in Israel for English-speakers, with a diversity of people, yet with a strong sense of community (not ...
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162 views

Why did Israeli sportsmen keep their hats on during their national anthem?

Last year I was at the international softball tournament and I noticed that players from Israel took off their baseball caps during the other teams anthems (as is common courtesy), but kept them ...
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2answers
96 views

Why is Eretz Yisrael called “Eretz Tzvi”?

Why is Eretz Yisrael called "Eretz Tzvi"? What does this mean exactly? Why? and Where does it say this?
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77 views

Who will be the new Posek Ha-Dor? [closed]

A generation of leadership has been vanishing with the passage of time. Concurrently, divisiveness has spread us out so thin that terms like "posek ha-dor," which imply Jewish unity, seem very hard to ...
5
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1answer
111 views

If the Canaanites occupied the land in Moses’ day, why would Moses write that they were in the land then?

What does the Torah imply when it notes 'the Cannannites were then in the land' (Gen. 12:6)? It seems to suggest they were in the land then (when the tale took place) but not now (when the book was ...
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0answers
83 views

Can anyone corroborate this story? [closed]

I've heard it said that during one of the wars waged against the state of Israel, the Israeli army had a pitiful airforce, comprised of two rickety old planes, which held two people. When they ran out ...
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0answers
71 views

Is one allowed to use electricity on Shabbos in Israel?

I have heard that some don't use electricity made by the Israeli Electric company on Shabbos and only use generators. However, I have seen people who do use public electricity on Shabbos. What are ...
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2answers
122 views

One day yom tov for someone who spends every chag in Israel?

I met someone who lives outside of Israel almost full-time and who told me that, because he's in Israel for each of the shalosh r'galim every year, he keeps only one day yom tov. Is this (the ...
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1answer
80 views

When is one allowed to eat a fruit from Eretz Yisroel without giving trumah?

When is one allowed to eat a fruit from Eretz Yisroel without giving trumah? When I was in Israel we picked pomegranates directly off the trees and eat them. I was told this was okay because it had ...
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2answers
378 views

Why do we give tzedakah money to someone to pass along in Israel?

Reuven is planning a trip to Israel. Shimon, knowing this, gives Reuven money for tzedakah with the expectation that Reuven will distribute it when he gets to Israel. Reuven and Shimon both ...
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32 views

May an individual become jew? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Is it possible for a Gentile to convert to Judaism? I was wondering to know if a person from non Jewish parent can become a Jew? Will he/she be recognized by other Jews ...
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3answers
204 views

Praying at Amukah = Finding a mate. Since when?

Many people, I'm sure, have heard of the famous segulah for finding one's soulmate: praying at the grave of Yonasan ben Uziel in Amukah, Israel. I'm not asking if this works, or why it would work, or ...
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35 views

P'nei Eretz Yisrael, P'nei Shabbat Kodesh?

Once I was in the land of Israel (in Beit Shemesh), and the mazmin was leading birkat hamazon. He said birshut maranan verabanan verabotai, birshut hakohanim, and birshut p'nei eretz yisrael. Is ...
2
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1answer
57 views

Are there any concerns about levitical cities today?

We currently do not observe the property aspects of the yovel year because, as I understand it, it's not practical until the ingathering of the exiles. (We don't own all the affected land now so ...
10
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1answer
290 views

What halachot does an American traveling to Israel have to be made aware of?

I'm planning to go to Israel for the first time, b"h, in just over a month. I'll be going on an organized trip and then I hope to stay until after tisha b'av. What halchot do I need to know about? (I ...
4
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1answer
59 views

Why do they replace one טל for another in shmoneh esre in Israel?

Why, in Israel, do they get rid of ותן טל ומתר in barech aleinu but then add מוריד הטל in ata gibor? If it's the end of the season for טל (which, maybe i'm wrong, but I don't think there an end to ...
2
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1answer
118 views

Why “Sim shalom” at mincha on Shabas?

Using an Israeli sidur (prayer book) nusach Ashk'naz recently, I saw that it had "Sim shalom" for mincha of Shabas (including Shabas yom tov, but not weekday yom tov), even though it had "Shalom rav" ...
4
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1answer
166 views

Shir Hashirim - when there is no Shabbos Chol HaMoed Pesach

Usually Shir HaShirim is said on Shabbos Chol Hamoed Pesach. This year where there is no Shabbos Chol Hamoed the Minhag in Chutz L'Aretz is to read it on Shabbos Achron Shel Pesach. In Eretz Yisroel ...
4
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1answer
205 views

In Israel, what do you do if Isru Chag of Pesach is on Shabbat?

In Israel, if Isru Chag of Pesach is on Shabbat, when do people reacquire their chametz that they sold on Pesach? Do they acquire it retroactively after the holiday is over, OR do they not acquire it ...
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1answer
86 views

Walled from the times of Joshua: Why Joshua?

The Halacha is that those who live in a city that was walled in the times of Yehoshuah reads on a different day. The question is why from Yehoshuah (Joshua) when the commentaries explain it they speak ...
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1answer
110 views

How does the Rabbanut Harashit work?

Who picks the Chief Rabbi of Israel/Cities? Is it a vote of all citizens/Shuls/Politicians or all of the above? Who picks the lower Dayanim on the Rabbanut Beis Din? Is it the "Chief Rabbi" or some ...
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129 views

The size/shape of biblical Israel

Based on this Tosafot in Bava Metzia 28a (D"H Chamisha Asar Yom), Eretz Israel is a square (400 sq. Parsah), and the distance between Jerusalem and the Jordan river is 1/39th the distance between ...
3
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1answer
59 views

Archeological finds related to King Hezekiah's closing a wellspring under Jerusalem?

The Gemara says that King Hezekiah (Chizkiyahu) closed one of the springs of water in (under?) Jerusalem, so the Assyrian army wouldn't be able to use it. Do we have any guesses what exactly that ...
4
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2answers
94 views

Tal UMatar - for whom?

According to the build-up in this question the point of Tal UMatar is to pray for good rains in one's local area. The same seems to be assumed in other questions and especially a couple of different ...
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4answers
155 views

What defines a “Jewish State” according to Rav Kook?

This question is only According to the opinion of R' Kook, who says that modern day Israel "would be considered the quasi-Kingdom of Israel". What component of the modern-day state would give it ...
7
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1answer
126 views

Kissing the land of Israel

Many people kiss the earth when they arrive in Israel, particularly if they are making 'Aliyah or if it's their first time visiting the Holy Land. Is there anything wrong with this? Should it be ...
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1answer
58 views

Israeli Chazzan outside of Israel says “tal umotor” at the right time for him but not us

We know that the shaliach tzibbur must follow the local custom even to the extent of his own silent Amidah . What should be done, then, when a resident of Israel who is acting as shaliach tzibbur ...

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