The holiness of the Land of Israel

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asked 3 years ago

Peace to the rabbi. I saw an article by the rabbi in which he explains the halakhic principles and their concepts as the essence of metaphysical entities, ideas, and in Talmudic language, halut, as opposed to their characteristics and description, which does not concern the essence itself and does not depend on it, but rather it may only be halut and not the expression. My question is regarding the Land of Israel. It is well known that Chazal said that the Land of Israel is the holiest of all lands, and what is its holiness? That both the bread and the shewbread and the showbread are brought from it. And it is also well known that Leibowitz said that there is no true holiness to the Land, but only the commandments. My question is therefore twofold: Are you a sob like Leibowitz? (It simply suits you..). on. If so, why not say yes also about the holiness of the Land of Israel, that there is a sacredness to the Land of Israel that is a metaphysical entity, and the only symptom is that special commandments must be observed in it.

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מיכי Staff answered 3 years ago

The concepts of holiness in the Talmud mean law in the haftza. Simply understood, the intention is some spiritual reality. Therefore, the Land of Israel, which is one of the supposedly holy places, also has something in the haftza. But this is not necessary at all. Even with regard to the laws of haftza, there are some of the later scholars (Avanza, R. Sh. Shkop) who explained this not in a metaphysical manner but in terms of the purpose of the law, that is, whether its purpose is the person or the object. Holiness is a law of haftza because the purpose of the prohibition of enjoyment of holiness is that the object be not harmed. When I spoke of halals, I was dealing with legal identities that are created by an act and not necessarily in all areas of halakhah. Regarding Israel, this could certainly be a determination by God that is not anchored in any reality. So I do not have a clear position regarding the holiness of Israel. In general, Leibowitz’s words that there is no reality of holiness at all except for God are very extreme, as in other contexts. I see no need to assume this.

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