The Land of Israel

The land of Israel is not some external entity. It is not merely an external acquisition for the Jewish people. It is not merely a means of uniting the populace. It is not merely a means of strengthening our physical existence. It is not even merely a means of strengthening our spiritual existence. Rather, the land of Israel has an intrinsic meaning. It is connected to the Jewish people with the knot of life. Its very being is suffused with extraordinary qualities. The extraordinary qualities of the land of Israel and the extraordinary qualities of the Jewish people are two halves of a whole.

Eretz Cheifetz I

In the land of Israel, Grow the letters of our soul. There, They reveal illumination. They draw down mighty life From the blaze of life Of the Congregation of Israel.

Eretz Cheifetz, p. 24

We have a great obligation to awaken the ancient love of Zion: a love that is eternal and burns in a flame of holy fire within the hearts of the Jewish people wherever they may be. We must fight with all our strength against any hatred of our holy land—which has begun to affect some of us. With a mighty arm of the spirit and with the eternal holiness of the beloved land, we must destroy the contamination of the spies, a contamination which began to spread at the very point of the possible redemption.

Moadei Harayah, pp. 419-20

Someone once told Rav Kook, "God willing, we will move to the land of Israel." Rav Kook replied, "God is certainly willing. What counts is that you be willing."

Shivchei Harayah, p. 208