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The Land of Israel is the place designated for the Jewish people to express monotheism. As we explained above (15:1), monotheism includes the idea that everything has a divine spark, so holiness is present in all areas of human endeavor. In the Land of Israel, this holiness can be accessed through the study of Torah and secular disciplines, and through working and participating in the economy. It can be found within the individual, the community, and the State.
In the diaspora, by contrast, Jews can only realize holiness in the abstract, and only within the limited context of their communities. Such sanctity is disconnected from the natural world and absent from communal and national life. In fact, the contributions diaspora Jews make in advancing knowledge and the economy are used by foreign nations in service of their own goals. Such contributions may even help these nations do terrible things. For example, Jews in Germany helped develop its economy, science, and society. In retrospect, the Jews indirectly paved the way for the Germans to initiate World War II and the Holocaust. Centuries earlier, Jews had a similar experience in medieval Christian Spain. There too, the Jews helped the country flourish, after which it turned against them through the Inquisition. In 20th century Russia, events followed a similar trajectory. Jews were central activists in the Russian Revolution, demanding justice, equality, and social welfare. Ultimately though, Russia became a totalitarian country infamous for its terrifying cruelty. While these are among the most blatant historical examples, to a lesser degree they are reflected in every exile.
To reiterate, truth and goodness are found only in the abstract in the diaspora, pragmatically they are not feasible in the everyday plane or on the national level. This situation leaves the world in a state of disrepair and constitutes a terrible desecration of God’s name. It deeply harms faith because it creates the impression that the word of God is relevant only in theory, while the real world can function satisfactorily (and possibly better) without it. This is why the Sages say that a Jew who lives in the diaspora is comparable to someone who worships idols. For neither person is practicing monotheism properly.
In contrast, monotheism can be expressed in the Land of Israel in ways both heavenly and earthly. It can be applied to a nation that includes a wide variety of people. Despite all the sins, difficulties, and complicated situations, the people can unite to reveal faith and divine values in all spheres of life. Such unity can serve as an inspiration to all nations to increase devotion, truth, and righteousness throughout the world. This is how it was in First and Second Temple times. With the help of God, it will happen again in the State of Israel when the Third Temple is rebuilt, may it be speedily and in our times.
