Love of the Land - Those Who Should Love the Land
  Selections from classical Torah sources which express the special relationship between the People of Israel and Eretz Yisrael THOSE WHO SHOULD LOVE THE LAND A total of seventy bullocks were offered on the altar in the Beis Hamikdash during the seven days of Succos (Bamidbar 29:12 - 34, Parshas Pinchas). These 70 sacrifices, says Rabbi Elazar, correspond to the 70 non-Jewish nations of the world. Since Succos is the time when the world is judged in regard to rainfall for the year to come, Jews offer these sacrifices in their Sanctuary in Eretz Yisrael as atonement for the shortcomings of all these nations in order that they may gain a favorable heavenly judgment for their water needs. This unappreciated service is what led Rabbi Yochanan to exclaim: "Woe to the heathen nations who lost something and are not even aware of their loss. When there was a Beis Hamikdash, the altar provided atonement for them, but now who will atone for them?"
(Mesechta Succah 55b)
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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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