Questions tagged [eretz-yisrael]
Questions related to the religiously-defined geographical area, the Land of Israel / *Eretz Yisrael*.
303
questions
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Why did our forefathers live in tents in Israel and not in houses?
It appears that there's a clear trend of our forefathers, Avraham, Tzhak, and Jacob, to dwell in tents in the Holy Land, wandering from one place to another, instead of settling down, taking hold of ...
11
votes
1answer
913 views
Is part of the Mediterranean sea considered Eretz Israel?
I heard that the Gemmorah discusses some islands in the Mediterranean sea as belonging to the Biblical Eretz Israel.
Is the sea considered a part of Eretz Israel and what are practical ramifications ...
1
vote
0answers
47 views
Do scriptures mention the presence of the Egyptians in the Holy Land after Yehoshua's conquer?
Archaeological sources (only an example) mention such presence/influence in the time of the conquer which gradually faded before David's Kingdom.
Is it mentioned anywhere in the Nac"h that the ...
1
vote
0answers
43 views
Did anyone propose switching back to using date honey on Rosh-Hashanah to dip apples?
As seen from "why-use-bee-honey-on-rosh-hashana", the use of bee honey in the minhag is clearly circumstantial - the lack of "the original" honey led to use its substitute - bee honey.
Some ...
0
votes
1answer
68 views
Why Levi'im's holding of their cities is not called נחלה? [closed]
Following my previous question "measuring-levis-cities".
The tribe of Levi got hold of the Cities of Refugees. IIRC, they all received some real estate inside and outside the walls that they ...
7
votes
1answer
383 views
What is the platform on the side of Me'arat Hamachpela?
When I recently visited Me'arat Hamachpela ("Cave of the Patriarchs) in Hevron, I noticed that there was a ramp leading to a platform facing the outside wall of the building. A few people were praying ...
4
votes
1answer
106 views
Copper mining in ancient Israel
The Torah promises [successful] copper mining in Israel's mountains:
אֶרֶץ אֲשֶׁר ... וּמֵהֲרָרֶיהָ תַּחְצֹב נְחֹשֶׁת׃
a land ... from whose hills you can mine copper. (Deut 8.9)
I tried to ...
4
votes
0answers
28 views
Population of Canaan at the time that Bnei Yisrael entered
What was the population of Canaan at the time that Bnei Yisrael entered the land to conquer it? I've heard that the population of Bnei Yisrael was ~2 million, and that in some sense of the word, Bnei ...
2
votes
2answers
98 views
Which produce is Kosher in Israel?
When one goes to a produce store or market in Israel, how does one know which stores he can buy from - that laws of trumah, ma'aser, orla, etc. have been done? Do the stores display a certificate? Are ...
0
votes
1answer
52 views
Explain “En K-elo-heinu” for Nusach Ashkenaz in Israel
I hope that my memory regarding Nusach Ashkenaz as practiced in Israel is correct, here.
For Nusach Ashkenaz, one of the main differences between Israel and the diaspora that I recall is including En ...
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votes
1answer
123 views
Why did G-d create everything important off-center?
I hope not to argue that the Heliocentric view is true as is our current understanding of [our position in] the Universe, the Earth is rotating around the Sun, that is rotating around the center of ...
1
vote
2answers
38 views
Measuring Levi's cities
The Torah says that the cities of Levi'im must have surrounding areas of either 2000 or 3000 Amahs. However, I didn't see how those cities' sizes were determined in the first place.
How Levi tribe (...
2
votes
0answers
43 views
How the areas of the tribes were possibly equally valued?
I base my question solely on the WIKI of the division of the Land of Israel between the 9.5 tribes (the final division by Yehoshua).
I'm not a big of a geographer, but I live in Israel, and I know ...
3
votes
1answer
60 views
What families constituted 1/2 tribe of Menashe?
Following my similar question "is-half-the-tribe-an-administrative-unit",
IIRC Menashe had only two sons - Mechir and Asriel and 4 grandsons - Gilad, Shechem, Shemida, and Hepher.
Why the Torah ...
0
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0answers
36 views
Why 2.5 tribes' claim wasn't considered slander against Eretz Israel?
The 2.5 tribes claimed (Num 32,4):
הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִכָּ֤ה ה' לִפְנֵי֙ עֲדַ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶ֥רֶץ מִקְנֶ֖ה הִ֑וא וְלַֽעֲבָדֶ֖יךָ מִקְנֶֽה׃
the land that the LORD has conquered for the ...
3
votes
1answer
75 views
Did any 100 y.o. Exodus survivors enter the Promised Land?
IIRC the decree of dying in the desert was limited for those aged 20-60 at the Exodus. Of those who were 60 at that time and 100 at the entering of the Land, did they all die in the decree, or did ...
0
votes
1answer
28 views
Weren't 2.5 tribes afraid that their families would be attacked? [duplicate]
The deal with Moses was that while all the men go conquer the land, the kids and families and cattle stay abroad.
Weren't they afraid that their cities: families and cattle and property would be ...
4
votes
1answer
37 views
How did the 2.5 tribes override a Deoraytah Mitzvah of settling the land of Israel?
IIRC, the Pshat of the Torah clearly implies that the purpose of the Exodus was to inherit the Land of Israel, and G-d commands Bney Israel many times to enter the promised land, to settle it, etc. It ...
0
votes
1answer
21 views
How the tribes' borders were determined?
IIRC, the Lot (גורל) was used to match the areas with the tribes (B"B 122b):
אֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן הָיָה מְלֻבָּשׁ בְּאוּרִים וְתֻמִּים
וְאוֹמֵר בְּרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ אִם שֵׁבֶט פְּלוֹנִי עוֹלֶה
...
3
votes
1answer
106 views
Can a Frum Jew go on a sponsored mixed trip if he can not afford to go to Eretz Yisroel?
Is a frum Charedi Jew allowed to go on a Birthright trip to Eretz Yisroel? Are there any gedolim that say it's asur?
I would assume that the following things would be an issue:
Tznius
Mixed seating ...
2
votes
0answers
49 views
Why didn't Moses and his siblings ask to be buried in Israel?
It appears that the merit of being buried in the Holy Land of Israel is huge and our forefathers, as well as numerous prominent Rabbis, demanded to be buried here.
Why didn't Moses, Aharon and ...
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vote
0answers
32 views
Apportioning the Holy Land by family
The Torah tells us how the Promised Land was apportioned by Tribe of Israel. But within each tribe, how was the land apportioned by family? On what basis? Anything in the Sources?
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0answers
37 views
Did the Israelites train for war in the desert?
During their forty-year trek in the desert, the Israelites knew they would have to fight their way into their promised land. Did they train for war during that time? Being former slaves, they had no ...
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vote
0answers
22 views
Moses' briefing before sending spies - Land vs People
Here's how the Torah depict Moses' briefing to the spies (Numbers 13) - first the whole passage:
וּרְאִיתֶם אֶת־הָאָרֶץ מַה־הִוא וְאֶת־הָעָם הַיֹּשֵׁב עָלֶיהָ הֶחָזָק הוּא הֲרָפֶה הַמְעַט הוּא אִם־...
8
votes
1answer
2k views
When did Israel stop having giant fruit?
Chazal tell us that the fruit the spies came back with from the land of Israel were huge. But I don't recall hearing mention of these giant fruit after the people entered the land (e.g. during the ...
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vote
1answer
56 views
Levi tribe and the spies story investigation
I gathered a couple of questions together because they might be linked but I'm OK with splitting them:
Why didn't Levi send a spy?
I know, I know they didn't have Nahalah in Israel. So what?
The ...
6
votes
1answer
71 views
Meaning of komemiyyut (קוֹמְמִיּוּת)
The word "komemiyyut" (קוֹמְמִיּוּת) appears only once in the Torah:
אֲנִ֞י יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר הוֹצֵ֤אתִי אֶתְכֶם֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם מִֽהְיֹ֥ת לָהֶ֖ם עֲבָדִ֑ים וָאֶשְׁבֹּר֙ מֹטֹ֣ת ...
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vote
0answers
45 views
How did Jethro know Moshe's God?
Jethro appeared to be a friendly guy to Moshe, and even appeared to agree with what Moshe believed in, especially in theological terms (i.e. worshipping Hashem).
If that's the case, then how did ...
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votes
0answers
36 views
Why extra words in birchat ha hodesh in Israel?
Some siddurim (e.g., in the Koren but not in the Artscroll) have extra words in the last paragraph, to be said in Israel, asking for additional blessings, including rain. Why do we who are outside ...
3
votes
0answers
21 views
Difference of leining between Israel and Chutz Laaretz in 5779 [duplicate]
As anyone may know, because the last day of Pesach in chutz laarets fall out on Shabbat we read the special parsha for the 8th day of Pesach while in Israel since it wasn't Pesach anymore, they read ...
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0answers
22 views
Customs for Yom Tov Sheini in Israel [duplicate]
My question concerns the observance of yom tov sheini for a person who is visiting Israel during a chag.
If the person is not observing yom tov sheini, are there any different customs they need to ...
2
votes
0answers
41 views
Are the borders of Eretz Israel going to be the same in regard to the Torah when moshiach comes? [closed]
I have read before an opinion that they are not going to be the same borders, I am hoping for some backup information.
3
votes
1answer
48 views
How does one travelling from Israel abroad (or vice versa) perform Shnayim Mikra when the parshiyot are out of sync?
Shulchan Aruch 285 codifies the obligation for each individual to read that week's parshah, the text twice and the (Aramaic) translation once.
In some years (e.g. this year, 5779) the parshiyot read ...
2
votes
1answer
72 views
Is Mt Hermon located within the biblical boundaries of the Holy Land?
According to interpreters, Is Mt Hermon located within the biblical boundaries of the Holy Land?
5
votes
1answer
60 views
Is grain from outside Israel usable for offerings or not?
There seems to be a contradiction between what the Mishna explicitly says in Menachot 8:1 and what R' Ovadia miBartenura says in his commentary on it.
The Mishna says:
כָּל קָרְבְּנוֹת הַצִּבּוּר ...
0
votes
1answer
56 views
Expel them or kill them?
In some places the Torah tells the Israelites about to enter the Land of Israel to expel all its inhabitants. For example, in Numbers 33:52-33:55:
You shall drive out all the inhabitants of the ...
5
votes
1answer
60 views
Why would Ashkenazim read a “double” haftarah for Parshat Pekudei in Israel?
All printed chumashim that I've seen list the following consecutive selections as the Ashkenazi hafatarot for Vayakhel and Pekudei:
Vayakhel: Melachim I 7:40-50
Pekudei: Melachim I 7:51-8:21
(And ...
6
votes
1answer
65 views
Is living outside Israel a sin according to Talmud?
In Berachot 57a:15 Chazal mention that one who sees a dream of himself standing naked in Babylonia, it's a sign that he is free of transgression. Then it's written that "living outside of Israel is ...
2
votes
0answers
24 views
Someone from Chutz Laaretz cooking for Israeli on the second day of Yom Tov
When I was writing this (PTIJ) answer, I assumed that someone from outside Israel can't cook for someone from Israel on the second day of Yom Tov. I didn't realize until afterwards that I couldn't ...
5
votes
0answers
48 views
Has anyone tried out the Har Hakarmel bein hashemashos climb according to various Rishonim?
The Gemara on Shabbos 35a says:
אמר רבי חנינא: הרוצה לידע שיעורו של רבי נחמיה יניח חמה בראש הכרמל, וירד ויטבול בים ויעלה, וזהו שיעורו של רבי נחמיה.
Anyone who wants to know the shiur of ...
2
votes
1answer
67 views
Steipler keeping 2 days yomtov in Bnei Brak
I was listening to a shuir of Rav Hershel Schacter and he mentioned that the Steipler kept 2 days yomtov undercover in Bnei Brak. I think he mentioned the source as the Orchos Rabbeinu,even though he ...
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vote
0answers
119 views
The borders of the promised land
Is this a correct border for what God promised Abraham in the 1st covenant?
According to Wikipedia:
"This map representing biblical King David's Kingdom at the time of his death is probably close to ...
2
votes
1answer
58 views
Justification for a Religious Party to Participate in a Secular Government
I can think of quite a few refrains that I have heard or read from anti-Zionist camps saying that joining the (secular) Israeli government which has a hand in certain aveiros is prohibited due to ...
0
votes
2answers
100 views
Pre-1948 Haredi view on political Zionism and how it developed
Are there any readings discussing the Haredi (Hasidic, orthodox non-Mizrachi) stance on political Zionism prior to the establishment of the State of Israel?
Did it change with the establishment of ...
7
votes
0answers
50 views
Difference between Halperin and Tzomet switches?
I am reading about the various so-called Grama and other Shabbat switches developed in Israel for use in hospitals and security situations.
It seems that there was one solution created by Rabbi ...
0
votes
0answers
25 views
Promised Land vs Promised Ground in the Torah (ארץ vs אדמה)
The Torah refers to the Promised Land with two different words: ארץ and אדמה.:
"וְאָכַלְתָּ וְשָׂבָעְתָּ וּבֵרַכְתָּ אֶת־ה"א עַל־הָאָרֶץ הַטֹּבָה אֲשֶׁר נָתַן־לָךְ׃" (Deut 8,10)
"כַּבֵּד אֶת־...
3
votes
1answer
29 views
Changing customs from a Holy place to a non-Holy place
The mishnah in Pesachim (4:1) says:
הַהוֹלֵךְ מִמְּקוֹם שֶׁעוֹשִׂין לִמְקוֹם שֶׁאֵין עוֹשִׂין, אוֹ מִמְּקוֹם שֶׁאֵין עוֹשִׂין לִמְקוֹם שֶׁעוֹשִׂין, נוֹתְנִין עָלָיו חֻמְרֵי מָקוֹם שֶׁיָּצָא מִשָּׁם ...
1
vote
1answer
69 views
Dividing the world for the sons of Noah
Rashi (Gen 12,6) mentions that Noah divided the world between his sons and that Israel was given to Shem and his descendants:
והכנעני אז בארץ. הָיָה הוֹלֵךְ וְכוֹבֵשׁ אֶת אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל ...
1
vote
0answers
24 views
Why not include the second Sefer Torah for Aliyah #7 when Simchat Torah is on Shabbat in Israel?
This question mentions that in Israel, when Simchat Torah is on Shabbat, Vezot Habracha is divided into 7 aliyot, followed by Chatan Torah and Chatan Breishit.
I'm curious as to why they don't make ...
2
votes
0answers
73 views
Torah reading for foreigners in Israel on Chol HaMoed Sukkot
The Torah reading on Chol HaMoed Sukkot is different in Israel (each day’s mussaf sacrifice is read four times) and the Diaspora (more than one day’s portion is read to take account of sfeika d’yoma (...
