7 Don’t Lose the Picture
A lesson from losing photos taken during an Eretz Yisrael trip
This is in reply to your letter, in which you ask if there is any significance to the fact that a series of slides which you took of Eretz Yisrael and Jerusalem has been lost.
As a matter of fact, everything that occurs in the world, and in one’s personal life, is significant and contains much to be learned from. This is particularly true in accordance with the teaching of the Baal Shem Tov, to the effect that everything that a Jew hears and sees should serve as a lesson how to improve his service to his Maker.
What can be learned is this: Many Jews, including frum Jews, naturally tend to see all the good qualities of Eretz Yisrael, which is indeed “a desirable and good land.”⁶ However, one often overlooks the essential thing about Eretz Yisrael, which is that all its physical beauty is as nothing in comparison to its essential nature – that of being the Holy Land, a land of which the Torah says that “the eyes of the L-rd your G-d are continually upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.”⁷ This essential nature of Eretz Yisrael should inspire in everyone a tremendous sense of reverence, which should be expressed in increased efforts to bring one’s everyday conduct into accord with the holiness of Eretz Yisrael. The impact must be strong enough to be of a lasting nature, so that a visit to the Holy Land should have a permanent effect on one’s whole outlook and the resulting daily conduct.
However, if a visit to Eretz Yisrael is confined to sight-seeing and the taking of photographs and slides of the beautiful places and the landscape, etc., then Eretz Yisrael becomes no more than a tourist attraction, one land among many. Such a visit contributes little to the real future and destiny of Eretz Yisrael, of which we say in our prayers, “Because of our sins we have been exiled from our land.”⁸ The immediate conclusion should be, therefore, to eliminate all those causes which have deprived us of Eretz Yisrael, and to strengthen all those factors which will firmly and permanently restore Eretz Yisrael to us.
The above lines are intended not to emphasize lost opportunities, but rather to focus on future opportunities. For surely from time to time you will recall the memories of your visit in Eretz Yisrael, which amounts to a visit in G-d’s own “Palace.”¹ It is to be hoped, therefore, that these memories will bring about a corresponding elevation in the everyday conduct and in Yirat Shamayim - for one is always in the presence of G-d.
Published: The Letter & The Spirit, vol. 1, p. 253. Before reading this letter, please refer to the note accompanying Letter 5.
⁶ Birchas Hamazon (Grace After Meals).
⁷ Devarim 11:12.
⁸ The Musaf prayer for Yom Tov. Explore More: For additional instances the Rebbe cautions against viewing Eretz Yisrael as a tourist destination, see Likkut Maanos Kodesh, 5723, no. 193; 5730, no. 88; et al.
