The Parsha ends with a list of the gifts that God presented
to the Kohanim as a reward for their service.
Teruma is a gift (from fruits and grains) that is mentioned
in this section.
Those living in
of Teruma. When we shop for produce we have to make sure that there is a sign
saying that Terumot have been taken out.
Is it still a Biblical commandment to observe the laws of
Teruma in the
According to Rambam in Hilchot Trumot, today Teruma is a
Rabbinic mitzvah. It only applies in the
when all of
dwells there.
In the days of Ezra (
to
Today as well, although we have the State of Israel not all of the Jews are
living in
What exactly does “all of
world need to move to
in order for the Mitzvah of Teruma to once again become a Biblical commandment?
If most of the Jews in the world move to
are living in
the mitzvah of Teruma as well as the other mitzvoth HaTluyot BaAretz (mitzvoth
that only take place in the
again become Biblical commandments.
The question now is how are we going to get the majority of
Jews in the world to move to
One way that is slowly helping bring young families to
high cost of day school tuition. Many people who can no longer afford US day
schools are realizing that in
their children can get an excellent Jewish education in the religious public
schools.
The phenomenon of students coming to study in
aliya as many students become comfortable in
during their year abroad and feel that they can make
The rise in anti-semitism in many parts of the world has
helped play a factor in aliya as well.
The most effective way for Rabbis to encourage aliya is by
setting an example. The fact that Rabbi Riskin left Lincoln Square Synagogue to
start a community in Efrat encouraged many members of his congregation to move
to
as well. The same is true for Rabbi Shalom Rosner, a Rabbi from
built a community called Nofei HaShemesh and encouraged many of his congregants
to follow in his footsteps.
If we can bring the majority of Jews in the world back to
only will they be able to observe the Mitzvoth HaTluyot Ba’aretz Rabinically, they
will raise us to a level where we can perform these mitzvoth on a Biblical
level.