When are we "Israel"?

Hi,

"We, as a people, are properly called 'Israel' only in the land of Israel."

(Rabbi Yehudah Alkalai, "The Third Redemption" 1843)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Return!

Hi,

"One should be aware that the word teshuvah (repentance) means first and foremost the return to the place from whence an individual departed."

(R' Yehudah Alkalai, The Third Redemption)

R' Alkalai penned this statement as part of his attempt to convince mid-19th century Jewry to return to Israel. He wrote that personal teshuvah is about changing one's self, reverting to a pristine, pre-sin state. He then wrote that for Jewry as a whole, pre-Messianic teshuvah on a national level (as described in Deuteronomy 4:30) would be a return to our "original place" - Israel.

חג אורים שמח,
Mordechai

Building up the land of Israel pre-Mashiach

Hi,

"Now we pray every day: Let our eyes behold Thy return to Zion in mercy and if we believe our own words, then upon whom will the Divine Presence become manifest? Upon the trees and the rocks? Therefore, as the first step to the beginning of redemption of our souls we must return to the Land twenty-two thousand (Jews), the Holy One Blessed Be He to cause the Divine Presence to descend upon them. This most certainly will be followed by His showing us and all of Israel beneficial signs…

"More so, the redemption from Egypt brought the people of Israel to a good and spacious land, one whose wells were already dug, and whose vineyards and olive groves were already planted. Yet, because of our sins, the Land is now empty and desolate and we must, for this redemption, build the houses and dig the wells and plant the vineyards and the olive groves."

(R' Yehudah Alkalai, The Third Redemption)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Aliyah

Hi,

A 19th century push for aliyah to Israel:

"Why did Jacob buy land in Shechem, if - being on his way to visit his father - he had no intention of remaining on that site?

"It is obvious that he did this to teach his descendants that the soil of the Holy Land must be purchased from its owners."

(The Third Redemption, R' Yehudah Alkalai (1843))

Have a great day,
Mordechai