Love of the Land

Love of the Land - First In Creation

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Love of the Land
Selections from classical Torah sources
which express the special relationship between
the People of Israel and Eretz Yisrael

FIRST IN CREATION

Eretz Yisrael was created first and afterwards the rest of the world, as the passage states (Mishlei 8:26): "Before He made Eretz (land) and Chutzos (outlying areas)."

The term "Eretz" applies to Eretz Yisrael which was the main purpose of creation and therefore created first. All the other lands are considered secondary in importance as they were in the sequence of creation and are therefore referred to as "Chutzos."

Even today we refer to the land we love simply as "Eretz" while the rest of the world is "Chutz," outlying areas of secondary importance.

Ta'anis 10a


The Love of the Land Archives

Written by Rabbi Mendel Weinbach, Dean, Ohr Somayach Institutions
General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
HTML Production: Eli Ballon
HTML Design: Michael Treblow

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