Love of the Land - The Almost Volcano
  Selections from classical Torah sources which express the special relationship between the People of Israel and Eretz Yisrael THE ALMOST VOLCANO When Yehoshua passed away he was buried in a part of Har Ephraim which is described as being "north of the volcano". (Yehoshua 24:30) This puzzling description is explained by the Talmud (Mesechta Shabbat 105b): Insufficient eulogies were made about this great leader who brought his people to Eretz Israel, and Divine disapproval of this behavior was expressed in the mountain threatening to erupt as a volcano. Another explanation for the volcanic threat, says the Midrash, was that Jews became so preoccupied with their settling of the land which they had divided amongst the tribes that they had to be Divinely shocked into an awareness of their primary Torah responsibilities. |
Written by Rabbi Mendel Weinbach, Dean, Ohr Somayach Institutions
General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
HTML Design: Michael Treblow
© 2001 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved. This publication may be distributed to another person intact without prior permission. We also encourage you to include this material in other publications, such as synagogue newsletters. However, we ask that you contact us beforehand for permission, and then send us a sample issue.
This publication is available via E-Mail
Ohr Somayach Institutions is an international network of Yeshivot and outreach centers, with branches in North America, Europe, South Africa and South America. The Central Campus in Jerusalem provides a full range of educational services for over 685 full-time students.
The Jewish Learning Exchange (JLE) of Ohr Somayach offers summer and winter programs in Israel that attract hundreds of university students from around the world for 3 to 8 weeks of study and touring.
Copyright © 2001 Ohr Somayach International.
Send us Feedback.
