Israel and National Teshuvah: From Darkness to Light

"The expectation of the Salvation, that is the pervading attribute of the Judaism of the Exile, where as the the Judaism of the Land of Israel is the Salvation itself."

HaRav Kook, Orot (Eretz Yisrael Chapter 1)

This quote has stuck with me for a long time. I have explained it two dozen ways to myself and others, yet this week I feel I have finally begun to understand it at an experiential level. In a sense that is what Rav Kook is eluding to. Putting Rav Kook another way, one can describe the Judaism of the Land of Israel as one that involves experiencing an actualization of Torah, where as the Judaism of the exile is one where the Jew waits expectantly to actualize that which he or she has spent time maintaining and guarding. But what is this thing that Jews are meant to be experiencing and can only do so in Israel?

The Nation of Israel: An Actualization of Collectivism

In Israel the Jewish National Experience is felt most as a sense of collective responsibility. It is this situation, which forces us to repair that which caused us to be thrown into exile in the first place, baseless hatred of one another. By working together to build a National Construct, the Jewish Nation learns and grows from each individual member's interaction with one another. This is why inner debate is healthy within the State of Israel. This is providing it does not lead to hatred of one another.

As we work together, we build both the physical and spiritual construct of our National Home. Yes the collective makes mistakes, but the mistakes are collective. While the Nation is set back at times, it's achievements are sensed as belonging to all within it. This collective experience is the Judaism of the Land of Israel, which cannot be felt in exile, unless one is connected to Land of Israel and the National identity in its fullest.

Feeling Each Others Pain

Nothing exemplifies this more than during times of National Tragedy. The Fogel murders have brought many quarters of the Nation of Israel together. The tragedy has broken down many barriers between left and right, and religious and non religious. A sense of unity has prevailed in the face of such terrible loss. From Ram Levi (super market mogul) donating groceries to the orphans "until the last one reaches 18," to Dalia Itzik the faction leader of Kadima (Center Left Party) who has been a left wing politician her entire career expressing anguish after her Shiva visit to Itamar to to give condolences. She said this:

"I think the murder has hit the entire nation, rightists and leftists, religious and secular, this indescribable tragedy, this heinous murder.. I cannot bear the people who say to me 'this happened because of Itamar.' Who does not care about a murder because of the location? This story - the murderer would have done it in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and everywhere in Israel! "We can have a political debate, but one thing must never happen as long as the State of Israel is sending these people we must give them security. All the way to Itamar we could not make mobile phone calls, there was no reception, there were no lights on the roads. I do not understand it, do not understand the Israeli government and the settlers. A government has to govern, a government that decides the settlers are there [in Judea and Samaria] needs to give them security - this is not political debate. Since the murder... since paying condolences... I am constantly choked with tears. This is terrible. I can not even imagine this kind of murder, shocking. I saw parents who are amazing. What peace. What well-bred people. I'm ready to mobilize and assist the residents and care for them. I cannot argue with having a political debate, but I am not ready to take risks on their lives."

This is unbelievable and yet it is bitter sweet in that it took the death of such pure souls to awaken the Nation from its sleep and that is what it is about this thing we call the State of Israel. Rav Tau of Har Emor likens the State of Israel to a spiritual factory that is meant to refine the national character of the Jewish people. Sometimes factories can be dark and loud, the noise almost piercing and painful, yet the end product is something beautiful. This unity we are experiencing is a flow of light, the light of redemption that Rav Kook insinuated in Orot HaTeshuvah (The Lights of Returning to G-d):

"And the lights of teshvah are splendid at first and afterwards will become a special pipeline that streams forth a vigorous life force that desires a delicate teshuva for the entire world, to enlighten it and sustain it's level."

This is the light that we are experiencing in such a moment of utter darkness.

And all the more fitting that this unity, this true light that will lead to an authentic return to the Creator; for both Israel and the rest of the world should happen at this time of year, right before the Fast of Esther and Purim, where we as a Nation stood 2,500 years ago in Unity in a time of terrible darkness against unspeakable evil and were saved.


                                               לַיְּהוּדִים, הָיְתָה אוֹרָה וְשִׂמְחָה, וְשָׂשֹׂן, וִיקָר.
                                 The Jews had light and gladness, and joy and honour.