The best and brightest of the Babylonian Jews stayed behind and didn't join Ezra in rebuilding the Temple and resettling Eretz Yisrael, thereby earning themselves the reprobation or Reb Yochanan, Resh Lakish and others. What is this machlokes all about?

Why did generations of great Jews and their leaders decline to return to Eretz Yisrael during the Second Temple era?

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Throughout Jewish history there were generations of people both simple and great who chose not to return and live in Eretz Yisrael. What can that teach us about the Mitzvah to live there?

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Should we passively await a miraculous event of divine redemption? Or should we actively bring it about ourselves?

This episode has been generously sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. Ben Zion Jacobs, לעילוי נשמת R’ Avrohom Yisochor Krakowski ז"ל

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What is Eretz Yisrael without the Bais Hamikdash and the presence of the Shechinah? Is it special?

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Hashem decreed that His nation should be exiled from its land. What are the implications of that for the mitzvah to live there?

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What does keeping the oaths mean in practice? Would they proscribe moving to Eretz Yisrael en masse today? 

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The spiritual aspirations of the Jewish people can be threatening to the other nations of the world and can also be detrimental to the Jewish people – politically, socially and economically. The 3 oaths teach us to be aware of these broader issues and to consider them well before actualizing our great aspirations.

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Rambam explains the 3 oaths as warnings of the gravest danger that the Jewish people face if they attempt to retake Eretz Yisrael and don't succeed.

This is explicit in the Letter to Yemen, can be inferred from the Mishneh Torah, and also explains the text of the Gemara perfectly.

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Chazal record numerous severe and fearful oaths against engaging in Messianic activities, such as rebelling against the nations and retaking Eretz Yisrael. 

What are these oaths all about? Is there some grave sin in retaking Eretz Yisrael, or is it a matter of grave danger?

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הארץ אשר אראך: Rabbi Shnayor Burton: 9798218080600: Amazon.com: Books

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