Editing Eretz Yisroel (section)

== The Uniqueness and Virtue of the Land of Israel ==
The Uniqueness of Eretz Yisroel Among All Lands of the World is in Two Aspects:

According to the Midrash: "Beloved is Eretz Yisroel that Hakadosh Boruch Hu chose it." According to the Mechilta: "Until Eretz Yisroel was chosen, all lands were fit for Divine communication, once Eretz Yisroel was chosen - all other lands were excluded." And similarly in the Tanchuma: "Beloved to Me is Eretz Yisroel that I sanctified it above all lands." And also in Bamidbar Rabbah: "Eretz Yisroel where the Shechinah dwells."

Therefore, we find that the virtue of Eretz Yisroel is in two aspects:

# The Chosen Land (Eretz HaBechirah)
# The Holy Land (Eretz HaKodesh)

=== The Land of Choice ===
The Land of Israel is first and foremost - the Chosen Land. "The Chosen Land," not because of any special quality within it. Rather because thus arose in His blessed will - to designate specifically this land - for Israel, even if the Land of Israel had no special quality - physical or spiritual, and there was no reason to connect the Land of Israel to the Jewish people.

=== The Holy Land ===
The second aspect of the Land of Israel is its holiness, in which it is different and unique from all lands in its essential nature and level. This is already a logical reason for the land's importance.

This holiness is expressed in the commandments dependent on the land, and as mentioned above, even all commandments are primarily fulfilled completely in the Land of Israel, especially in the future to come. As the Rebbe explains in his holy letter to the Jewish people; in which he explains the difference between the Land of Israel and outside the land - where they decreed impurity on its soil and air.

And what is understood from what is explained there, is that what is special about the Land of Israel is that even the "land" is "Israel," meaning that even the earthiness and material ground within it will be permeated with holiness, not just the spirituality. Therefore, the land and its produce are subject to commandments and laws dependent on the land.[[File:יציאה מהארץ קליין.jpg|thumb|The Rebbe's response to his secretary Rabbi Binyamin Klein before his wedding, regarding his father's attendance (who lived in Jerusalem) at his wedding (which took place in New York): "Is there a halachic permission for this (to leave Eretz HaKodesh tivneh v'tikonein) according to Shulchan Aruch?"]]