Q&A: Why must a small fixed group of Jews remain in the Land of Israel?
Why must a small fixed group of Jews remain in the Land of Israel?
Question
I understood that ever since months are established according to the calendar and not based on accepting testimony about sighting the new moon, there must be a small group of Jews in the Land of Israel so that it is truly sanctified and a new month takes effect, and consequently all the festivals as well.
Why is that connected?
How many Jews are needed for this? Are 10 enough?
What is the source for this?
I don’t even know where to look.
Answer
These are questions of the “reason behind the verse/law,” and I generally do not deal with them. One can speculate that the calendar is connected to our being a defined nation, and that happens only in the Land of Israel. Of course, one would then have to define how many need to be there for it to count as our having a hold or root there. I don’t think there is a clear definition of this, and indeed there were disputes about it at the beginning of the calendar era, between the centers in Babylonia and Egypt (Saadia Gaon) and the center in the Land of Israel.
I just found an overview here: https://www.toraland.org.il/24296
See also here: https://www2.biu.ac.il/JH/Parasha/behar/zol.html.
And many more.
And regarding the above-mentioned struggle: https://www.daat.ac.il/he-il/hagim/luach_ivri/nedava-kidush.htm