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God chose the Jewish people so they would observe the mitzvot in the Land. This idea applies not only to the mitzvot directly dependent upon the Land (see next section), but to all the mitzvot. As it says, “For you are about to cross the Jordan to enter and possess the land that the Lord your God is assigning to you. When you have occupied it and are settled in it, take care to observe all the laws and rules... These are the laws and rules that you must carefully observe in the land that the Lord, God of your fathers, is giving you to possess, as long as you live on earth” (Deuteronomy 11:31-12:1).
At first glance, it would seem there is no value to learning Torah and keeping mitzvot in the diaspora, where the Divine Presence does not dwell. Nevertheless, we are obligated to observe the mitzvot even in exile. For the covenant God made with His people includes the provision that He does not desert them even when they are suffering and persecuted in exile (Leviticus 26:44). Rather, the Divine Presence dwells discreetly among them. God also ascribes value to the Torah that people study and the mitzvot they perform in exile. First, this observance helps them survive and prevents assimilation. Second, it ensures they do not forget how to perform the mitzvot, and thus will be able to observe them properly upon their return to the Land.
