Advantages
Like under the Mizbeiach. Chazal say, Whoever is buried in Eretz Yisroel is considered as if he is buried under the Mizbeiach (גמ' כתובות דף קי''א ע''ב ), as all of Eretz Yisroel is fit for the Mizbeiach. If one is buried under the Mizbeiach, it is like he is buried under the Kisei HaKavod, as the posuk says (ירמיהו י''ז, י''ב ), “כסא כבוד מרום מראשון מקום מקדשנו ” (אבות דר''נ פכ''ו ). In this way, one gets a kapara for his sins, just like the Mizbeiach gives a kapara (מהר''ם מרוטנבורג הובא בכפתור ופרח פ''ו ). Eretz Yisroel is the “King’s palace.” It is called Hashem’s Land and Hashem’s Inheritance (רבינו בחיי פ' האזינו ל''ב, מ''ג ).
Kapara for sins. Eretz Yisroel has kedusha and gives kapara for sins, as the posuk says (דברים לב, מג ) וכפר אדמתו עמו (רבי' בחיי האזינו לב, מג).
Close to the gate to Shomayim. Eretz Yisroel is close to the gate to Shomayim, so the neshama will not need to be troubled and “roll” [להתגלגל ] to reach its source (שם).
Techiyas hameisim. The dead of Eretz Yisroel will be the first to arise in the times of Moshiach. The dead of Chutz l’Aretz will not live; only the tzaddikim will be zocheh to come to Eretz Yisroel via the painful “rolling through tunnels,” and then arise for techiyas hameisim, as explained in the Gemara in Kesubos (דף קי''א ע''א ) (שם ).
