Atlas - Zion

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Beliefs

ZION

From The Talmudic Anthology, edited by Louis I. Newman in collaboration with Samuel Spitz

Eretz Israel is more beloved by Me than everything else. --Bemidbar Rabbah, 23,7.

He who walks four ells in Palestine is assured of the World-to-Come. --Ketubot, 111.

Living in Eretz Yisrael is equal to the weight of all Mitzwot. (Said also of the Sabbath, Charity and the Tzizit.) --Sifre, Reeh.

In the future Jerusalem will cover all Eretz Yisrael, and Eretz Yisrael will cover the entire world. --Yalkut to Isaiah, sec. 503.

He who resides in Palestine, reads the Sh'ma and speaks Hebrew is a son of the World-to-Come. --Sifre, Berakah, 13.

He who resides in Palestine is without sins. --Ketubot, 111.

Even the merest talk of the residents of Palestine is Torah. --Wayyikra Rabbah, 34,7.

OUTSIDE OF PALESTINE
R. Eleazar b. Shamua and R. Johanan, the Alexandrian, planned to study with R. Judah of the family Ben Beteirah, who resided in Netzibin outside of Palestine. When they reached Sidon, they reminded themselves of Palestine, and their eyes were filled with tears. They said: "To live in the Land of Israel is a duty equal to any other Mitzwah. Why should we leave Palestine and forego one Mitzwah in order to perform another?" They returned to their home. --Sifre to Deut. 12:29.