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We say three times a day, "Sound the great shofar for our freedom... and gather us together from the four corners of the earth."

Does "gather us together from the four corners of the earth" mean that Hashem, Himself, will transport us to Eretz Yisrael miraculously or does one need to go to an airport and board a plane?

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  • Why would this be any different from any other blessing in the Amidah which asks for help in various areas, e.g. health, wealth, etc. but doesn't absolve a person of personal responsibility?
    – mevaqesh
    Nov 10, 2016 at 19:19

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Rambam writes (Hilkhot Teshuva 9:10) that his predecessors (cf. Berakhot 34b)[i] write that there is no difference between this era, and the coming epoch, except foreign subjugation (which will be lifted):

וכבר אמרו חכמים הראשונים, אין בין העולם הזה לימות המשיח אלא שיעבוד מלכייות בלבד.

Accordingly, there would be no mass miraculous transportation to Israel, and in order to get there you would have to take a plane, or some other natural form of transportation.

[i] And Shabbat 63a, 151b, Pesahim 68a, Sanhedrin 91b, and 99b.

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  • Then why are we asking G-d to gather us if we have to make the effort in getting there?
    – Chiddushei Torah
    Nov 10, 2016 at 19:28
  • @ChiddusheiTorah For the same reason that we ask him for wealth, even though we get jobs, and we ask him for health, even though we go to doctors.
    – mevaqesh
    Nov 10, 2016 at 19:46
  • @ChiddusheiTorah Specifically one should realize that for much of the last two millennia, the idea of being able to live in Israel was the stuff of fantasy, even though they could transport themselves there, through natural means.
    – mevaqesh
    Nov 10, 2016 at 19:46
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    @ChiddusheiTorah How is that question related to any of my comments?
    – mevaqesh
    Nov 10, 2016 at 20:21
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    @ChiddusheiTorah - Some are unable, either financially or other reasons, to make aliyah. That is what we are davening for. That every Jew will have the means and support to be able to make aliyah in the end of times.
    – ezra
    Nov 10, 2016 at 20:28

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