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Let us further clarify the mitzva of settling the Land, which is critical to our national existence, and which allows us to actualize our mission as a people. First and foremost, this is a communal mitzva which requires the Land to be under Jewish rule and the home of the majority of the Jewish people. Additionally, there is an individual mitzva incumbent upon every Jew to live in Israel. The Sages tell us, “One should always live in the Land of Israel, even in a city that is mostly non-Jewish; one should not live outside the Land, even in a city that is mostly Jewish” (Ketubot 110b).
A number of laws give concrete expression to the value of this mitzva. First, if a married couple disagree about whether to move to Israel, the one who does not want to go must concede. If that spouse refuses, it is considered grounds for divorce. Not only that, if the husband refuses to go, he must pay his wife the ketuba money; if the wife refuses to go, she forfeits the ketuba money.
Second, children who want to immigrate to Israel do not have to obey if their parents ask them to remain in the diaspora. (If the parents need full-time help, the children may consider remaining with them for a few years to provide the care.)
Third, it is also prohibited to leave the Land of Israel and move abroad. If it is necessary to do so to study Torah, get married, or earn a living, it is permitted, but only for a short time. Some maintain it is forbidden to leave Israel even for a short trip. Others, myself included, say this is permissible.
