Eretz Yisrael was always intended to be a place of accomplishment and progress, of holiness and service of Hashem.
Y
aakov Avinu finally makes it home to Eretz Yisrael, the land Hashem gave his ancestors, promising them that their descendants would inherit it and dwell therein. Rashi explains that Yaakov viewed his return to Eretz Yisrael as the final chapter in his difficult and turbulent life. He perceives the Land as a place of refuge, where serenity and quiet retirement can be achieved. Hashem apparently didn’t agree with that assessment, as the the tragic events regarding Yosef and his brothers soon unfold. (Rabbi Berel Wein)
Landing in the ER on a Monday afternoon isn’t anyone’s idea of fun. But my son had an infection that wasn’t responding to regular medications, and the pediatrician insisted he needed antibiotics by IV. With a letter from my doctor in hand, I figured it wouldn’t take so long, as we knew exactly what we needed. Think again.
ERs move at their own pace. Despite the drama associated with them, they often seem to move like a snail in reverse.
Dwelling in Eretz Yisrael is certainly no guarantee of peace and quiet. It’s a place of challenge and constant demands, of personal and national difficulties and struggles. It was never meant to be viewed as a giant “retirement community” for the Jewish People. Even though the Torah refers to it as a place of “rest and inheritance,” Eretz Yisrael was always intended to be a place of accomplishment and progress, of holiness and service of Hashem. To achieve such requires constant effort and sacrifice. It’s not an easy road to traverse..
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