The History of Eretz Israel - Eretz Israel and Itzhak Avinuhi

We will now continue the history of Eretz Israel with a look at Itzhak's connection to the land.

Itzhak became linked to Jerusalem through Akeidat Itzhak. There, God promised him he would received this land, the land already promised to Avraham.

Since Itzhak had a special connection to Israel, Avraham told his servant to go look for a wife for his son in Chutz Laaretz within his family, but under no circumstance could he take Itzhak out of the country. “Rak et Beni Lo Tashev Shama” – Just do not bring my son there (Bereishit 24:8). Avraham found Itzhak’s connection to the land more important than the connection to the special family of his. Also, he had faith that through his connection to the land, God would help him succeed find a wife: “The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house, and from the land of my nativity, and who spoke unto me, and who swore unto me, saying: Unto thy seed will I give this land; He will send His angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife for my son from thence.”

When there was a famine in Israel, Itzhak went down on his way to Egypt to get food but God stopped him on his way, telling him: “'Go not down unto Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of. 3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore unto Abraham thy father;” (Bereishit 26:2-3). Rabbi Hoshaya said in Midrash Rabbah that Itzhak was like an Olah Tmima, a kind of sacrifice, who, went it goes out of the beit hamikdash, cannot be put on the alter. So too, Itzhak could not go out of Israel.

Itzhak has an even greater connection to the land than Avraham. He was asked not only to walk the land, but also to work the land, to plant and to build.

(Inspired by a shiur I heard by David Hai Hakohen)