Love of the Land

Love of the Land - Where Wisdom is Widespread

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Love of the Land
Selections from classical Torah sources
which express the special relationship between
the People of Israel and Eretz Yisrael

WHERE WISDOM IS WIDESPREAD

"Ten measures of wisdom descended to the world. Eretz Yisrael took nine of them, and one (was taken by) the entire world." (Kiddushin 49b)

Wisdom is defined by Rashi as pertaining to both Torah and worldly matters.

Nowhere else do we find Rashi incorporating worldly matters into the definition of the word "wisdom" used by the Talmudic Sages.

The ten measures of wisdom, explains Iyun Yaakov, descended to the world at the time of creation, as indicated by the number ten which corresponds to the ten Divine statements which brought about creation. At the time of creation, the Torah had not yet been given to man. The wisdom which descended from the Creator to man could therefore not refer to Torah alone, but also to worldly matters such as business and vocations. These matters are a necessary complement to Torah study, since one who studies Torah also needs a source of livelihood.


The Love of the Land Archives

Written by Rabbi Mendel Weinbach, Dean, Ohr Somayach Institutions
General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
HTML Production: Eli Ballon
HTML Design: Michael Treblow

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