Parashat Ki Tetzei: Aliyah is a Leap of Faith Part III

Okay, for some reason, aliyah being a leap of faith has really been pervasive for me this week.

Amazingly, I found it in this week's parasha.

When talking about the prohibition to not take ribit (interest) from another Jew, the chumash says the reward is that "the Lord your G-d will bless you in all that do, in the Land to which you come, to possess it."

The question is why is Eretz Yisroel mentioned in connection not charging Ribbis. The Sifri comments that: "IN THE LAND TO WHICH YOU COME TO POSSESS IT - In reward for your coming, you will possess it." The Malbim explains that usually when the Torah mentions taking possesion of the Land, its about Hashem giving you the Land as a gift. However, the Malbim explains that the Sifri is explaining that if the Jews have emunah in Hashem and come to the Land, the reward will be that the Jews will possess it (instead of merely receiving it as a gift). The Malbim says that the reason the Torah hints to this idea when mentioning Eretz Yisroel in connection to Ribit. One who refuses to take interest, due to his faith in Hashem, will be rewarded with a blessing.

Rabbi Moshe Lichtman speaks this out in his Sefer Eretz Yisroel "in the Parasha." He explains that by not taking interest, a person shows a lot of emunah. Even though he will not make the extra money by taking interest, the person knows that he will be rewarded in the long run because he has faith in Hashem.

Similarily, a person thinks he will gain from being in Chutz L'aretz but if a person has a emunah, he will tell himself that: "All I know is that G-d commanded us to live His special land, He must know what He's talking about, and He will protect me from harm, as long as I come for the right reasons - to be closer to Him."

As Rabbi Lichtman says: "This is what the Sifrei means...if you take the leap of faith, leave the lands of exile, and come to Eretz Yisroel, Hashem will help you flourish in the land."

So again, for the third time this week, I am reminded that coming to Eretz Yisroel is the ultimate demonstration of faith.

(Source - Eretz Yisroel in the Parasha)