MORE THAN JUST A PROMISE

It was no longer tenable for uncle and nephew to live together. Avraham the Patriarch A’H ZY’A tells Lot to separate (Bereshith 13:8-12). Rashi (13:7) explains Lot’s shepherds reasoned since G-D had promised the land to Avraham (12:7) and his heirs, which at the time meant Lot so it was appropriate to allow their flocks to pasture wherever they pleased even if the land was privately owned. Avraham’s shepherds respected the indigenous population and only allowed their flocks to graze on public lands because although promised Avraham had not taken possession of the Land.

Evidently, once they separated G-D appeared to Avraham calling upon him to take possession of the land , in essence transfer and transform Canaan to Israel. G-D called to Avraham “to look out in all directions for as far as his eyes could see would be the boundaries of the promised land (13:14-15) G-D promises Avraham his descendants will be as numerous as grains of soil (13:16) Lastly G-D tells Avraham to “ Rise up and walk about the length and width of the land because it is given to you” (13:17)

The Talmud Bava Batra 100a cites 13:17 as the basis for a dispute as to how to acquire land. Rabbi Eliezer opines walking the length and breath of a property is sufficient demonstration of ownership to evidence conveyance of title. The Rabbis dispute this and understand G-D’s call to Avraham was a form of endearment to show he and his descendants are the land’s legitimate heirs. However if one were to walk the boundaries of a property to set its borders that would be an act of ownership sufficient to convey title. Therefore , on one level Avraham was to walk the borders of Eretz Yisrael as an act of acquisition .

Earlier in the text G-D calls Avraham to look all about and whatever he was to see was included as part of the Promised Land. Avraham was to take possession of Eretz Yisrael.

Avraham was therefore to assume ownership of Eretz Yisrael through his eyes and feet. The Ohr HaChaim ZT’L ZY’A asserts Avraham was called upon to make a spiritual acquisition through his eyes and a physical purchase of the land through walking its boundaries. The Ohr HaChaim attempts to explain Avraham could see the whole of Eretz Yisrael from his vantage point as the land condensed itself to fit within the scope of Avraham’s vision.

However the walking is interesting. The Midrah Eicha (1:20) Avraham in the aftermath of the Temple’s destruction looking for his children who have seemingly disappeared. G-D takes Avraham and walks Avraham the meets and bounds of the land. Rabbi Shapiro of Lublin ZT’L ZY’A in Imeri Da’at cites the Gerrer Rebbe , the Imeri Emet ZT’L ZY’A that is the wake of the gentile conquest of Eretz Yisrael, Avraham needed to reassert his claim to Eretz Yisrael therefore G-D took Avraham by the hand to walk the boundaries of Eretz Yisrael.

What is remarkable is only the physical act of possession needed renewal the spiritual act of Avraham gazing upon the land remains intact till today and forever. Any loss of Eretz Yisrael is only temporal and temporary. Additionally here Avraham’s children, those who will merit the land are compared not to heaven’s stellar denizens but the lowly dust of the Earth. The connection to the land made by the holy grandfather Avraham remains with his heirs even if they are closer to a national nadir the pinnacle of success, to shine like the stars.

As the exile continues stretching towards two thousand years the world has lacked redemption G-D in His love and concern has given Avraham title to Eretz Yisrael for all time both body and spirit for his descendants the Jews.

Therefore it is only fitting Jewry strive to emulate their progenitor in his deep faith and selflessness in service of to others in worship of G-D.