A Life Lesson from the Parsha
In this week’s parsha we learn the mitzva of Orlah. The opening verse (Vayikra 19:23) of that mitzva begins with the words: וְכִי תָבֹאוּ אֶל הָאָרֶץ וּנְטַעְתֶם כָל עֵץ מַאֲכָל (“When you will come to the land, and plant any fruit-bearing tree...”). The midrash (Vayikra Rabba 25:3) expounds this verse and teaches us that here, the Torah is not just merely telling what to do when you plant fruit trees, but the Torah is giving us a mitzva to plant fruit trees in Eretz Yisroel. Now what’s really fascinating is that the Midrash cited below tells us that developing the land of Eretz Yisroel is an act of dveykus (cleaving) to Hashem! Here is what the Midrash (ibid.) says:
Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon expounded: “You shall follow Hashem, your God” (Deuteronomy 13:5). Is it possible for flesh and blood to follow the Holy One blessed be He? The one in whose regard it is written: “Your way was through the sea, Your path through the mighty waters” (Psalms 77:20). And you say: “You shall follow Hashem”?!
[Also, the Torah says,] “And you shall cleave to Him” (Deuteronomy 13:5). Is it possible for flesh and blood to ascend heavenward and cleave to the Divine Presence? The One in whose regard it is written: “For Hashem your God is a consuming fire” (Deuteronomy 4:24), and it is written: “His throne was sparks of fire” (Daniel 7:9), and it is written: “A river of fire flowed and emerged from before Him” (Daniel 7:10). And you say: “And you shall cleave to Him”?!
Rather, from the beginning of the creation of the world, the Holy One blessed be He engaged only in planting first. That is what is written: “Hashem, God planted a garden in Eden” (Genesis 2:8). You, too, when you enter the land, engage only in planting first. That is what is written: “When you will come to the land, and plant...” (Vayikra 19:23).
