At least once a month, the Yeshiva sends the talmidim out to explore Eretz Yisrael. This week the guys toured the Golan Heights. The Rambam, based on a Talmudic source, states that every 4 amot (6 feet) that one walks in Israel earns him a reward in Olam Habah. In addition, the mefarshim on Chumash point out the reason that Hashem told Avraham to walk the land of Canaan was to show ownership.

This axiom is true in our days as well. By taking tiyulim, we not only personally connect to the land, we also learn about the importance of different communities in our ancient history and in our modern times.

Walking the land, as in Avraham’s time, also denotes ownership. This is an important message that the guys sent not only to our neighbors but to the rest of the world. To quote the song from the movie Exodus: “This land is ours, God gave this land to us!”

If we, as a nation, do not demand ownership of the land or let the world take our land from us, we will, God forbid, relive the story that was highlighted in a museum that the guys visited on Monday. This wonderful new museum highlights our connection and history to Gush Katif and the painful removal of 10,000 Jews from their communities. May this tragedy never be repeated!


It is our hope and prayer that through their experiences in and out of the classrtoom and Beit Midrash, our boys develop a sense of ownership and a lifelong love of Eretz Yisrael.

Shabbat shalom