Q:
Must one undergo a special spiritual preparation in order to go to Eretz Yisroel?
A:
And the answer is, absolutely! Yermiyahu Hanavi said in the name of Hashem, ותבאו ותטמאו את ארצי – “You came and you defiled My land” (Yermiyahu 2:7). And therefore, it is of the utmost importance that someone should be ready to behave if he wants to go to Eretz Yisroel. He should learn how to conduct himself perfectly al pi hatorah before he goes to Eretz Yisroel. And even if he is good here, he must make a resolve to be even better there. There are no two ways about that. It’s Eretz Hakodesh and it’s only for Jews who live b’kedusha.
Now you’ll ask me, what about the Arabs? First of all, the Arabs don’t ask us any questions. They’re not asking me for my opinion. And second is that an Arab, we consider him just like a bird. The birds who fly into Eretz Yisroel don’t have to have any kedusha. An Arab or a gentile doesn’t have any tumah. It’s like nothing to us. It’s like the grass that grows there.
But the Am Yisroel is a different story. They are pogem, they cause damage. When they do a sin they cause great harm in the world. And therefore it’s of the utmost importance that a Jew, before he goes to Eretz Yisroel, must make up his mind to be there b’kedusha. Even if it’s just for a visit. Nobody should go unless he’ll go b’kedusha. If he takes along his wife, he must make sure that she’s dressed completely properly because this is a land that will vomit out the people who live there if they don’t suit its taste.
The land of Eretz Yisroel has to have something made to its taste. It’s a land of ותקיא הארץ את יושביה – And the land will vomit out its inhabitants (Achrei Mos 18:25). Eretz Yisroel is finicky. It’s a delicate land and only those people who behave properly can please the land.
TAPE # 200 (January 1977)
