With daf TB Baba Batra 91 we conclude the fifth chapter of our massekhet. The rabbis always prized the Land of Israel. They encouraged its Jewish citizens to remain there unless the times were so desperate they were forced to leave.
“The
Sages taught: One may not leave Eretz Yisrael to live outside of
Eretz Yisrael unless the price of two se’a of grain stood
at a sela, which is double its usual price. Rabbi Shimon said:
When does this exception, permitting one to leave Eretz Yisrael under
certain circumstances, apply? It applies when one is unable to find
produce to buy, as he has no money. But when one has money and is
able to find produce to buy, even if the price of a se’a
of grain stood at a sela, he may not leave.” (Sefaria.org translation)
The Gemara
gives us a case study. Because of the famine Judea, Elimelehk uprooted his
family from Bethlehem and moved Moav. “In the days when the chieftains ruled,
there was a famine in the land; and a man of Bethlehem in Judah, with his wife
and two sons, went to reside in the country of Moab. The man’s name was
Elimelech, his wife’s name was Naomi, and his two sons were named Mahlon and
Chilion—Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. They came to the country of Moab and
remained there.” (Ruth 1:1-2) There in Moav Elimelekh, Mahlon, and Chilion died.
Mahlon and Chilion are strange names because Mahlon means “sickness” and
Chilion means “destruction.”
Were these
the real names of Elimelkh and Naomi’s sons or were they pointing to the fate
of their bearers? “It is written: “Mahlon and Chilion” (Ruth 1:2), and
it is written elsewhere: “Joash and Saraph, who had dominion in
Moab” (I Chronicles 4:22). Apparently, both names refer to the same
individuals who married Moabite wives. Rav and Shmuel disagreed with
regard to their true names. One says: Their given names were Mahlon
and Chilion, and why were they called by the names Saraph and Joash?
One was called Joash [yoash] because they despaired [nitya’ashu]
of the redemption of Eretz Yisrael, as they established themselves in Moab
and lived there for many years. The other was called Saraph, because they
were liable to receive the punishment of burning [sereifa] for
their sins against God, because they left their community. And one
of them says: Their given names were Joash and Saraph, and why were
they called by the names Mahlon and Chilion? One was called Mahlon
[maḥlon] because they made their bodies profane [ḥullin], and
the other was called Chilion [khilyon] because they were liable to
receive the punishment of destruction [kelaya] for their sins
against God.” (Sefaria.org translation)
According to
one opinion Elimelekh, Mahlon, and Chilion died as a punishment for leaving the
Land of Israel. “that even in the case of one who has the merit of
his ancestors to protect him, this merit does not stand for him when he
leaves Eretz Yisrael to go outside of Eretz Yisrael, as
Elimelech died on account of this sin.” (Sefaria.org translation)
According to
another opinion, as leaders they should not have abandoned the Jewish people in their hour of need. In a
midrash somewhere else, Elimelekh was rich enough to support the starving
populace, but didn’t want to share his fortune. On our daf, he didn’t want to pray on behalf of his brethren. “Rav Ḥiyya bar Avin says that Rabbi
Yehoshua ben Korḥa says: Heaven forfend that they sinned in this manner, as
if Elimelech and his sons had found even bran they would not have left
Eretz Yisrael. But rather, for what reason were they punished?
They were punished because they should have requested mercy of God for
their generation, and they did not request this, as it is stated: “When
you cry, let those you have gathered deliver you” (Isaiah 57:13).”
There is no
doubt that life is difficult at times in Israel. Nevertheless, the rabbis
always encouraged those who live there to remain in those who live in the
Diaspora to make Aliyah. Our connection to Israel is long and deep.
We pray for
the peace of Jerusalem and the Jewish people.
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