How Do Charedim Interpret the Idea of “Yishuv Eretz Yisrael” Today?
If you were to walk the winding alleyways of Meah Shearim or the busy streets of Bnei Brak and ask someone what they think about Yishuv Eretz Yisrael—settling the Land of Israel—you wouldn’t get a political speech. You’d get a heartfelt look, maybe a story about their great-grandfather who came here with pennies in his pocket and dreams in his heart. You might hear about a rebbi who said that every stone here cries kedushah. And you’d probably hear, “Of course it’s a mitzvah. But it’s not simple.”
Because for Charedim, Yishuv Eretz Yisrael isn’t just a slogan. It’s a sacred idea—one that goes back to the Avos and remains relevant, nuanced, and deeply felt today.
Let’s explore how the Charedi world views this concept in our times.
A Mitzvah—But Not Always an Obligation
First and foremost, Charedim affirm that Yishuv Eretz Yisrael is a mitzvah. As we saw in earlier chapters, the Ramban famously counts it as one of the 613 mitzvos:
“שנצטווינו לרשת את הארץ... ולא נעזבנה ביד זולתנו מן האומות או לשממה” “We were commanded to possess the land… and not abandon it to other nations or leave it desolate.”¹
For many Charedi poskim, this mitzvah applies even today—even without a Beis HaMikdash, and even under secular rule.
But here's where it becomes more nuanced. The mitzvah is not always considered an absolute obligation on every individual at every moment. Like many mitzvos in the Torah, it can be subject to other considerations—parnassah, chinuch, spiritual risk, and the ability to maintain a life of Torah and mitzvos in Eretz Yisrael.
The Chazon Ish, who himself moved to Eretz Yisrael from Europe, stated clearly:
“מצוות ישוב ארץ ישראל נוהגת גם בזמן הזה.” “The mitzvah of settling Eretz Yisrael applies even in our times.”²
Yet even he didn’t call it obligatory for every Jew, regardless of situation.
Yishuv with Kavanah: Not Just Geography, But Purpose
For the Charedi world, Yishuv Eretz Yisrael isn’t just about being here—it’s about why you’re here.
To simply live in the Land isn’t the same as fulfilling the mitzvah in its full sense. The Charedi perspective emphasizes that the mitzvah of yishuv must be done lishmah—with the right intentions: to be closer to Hashem, to keep mitzvos that only apply in the Land, to raise children steeped in Torah in a place of holiness.
As Rav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld zt”l taught, the holiness of the Land doesn’t automatically sanctify its residents—it can even magnify spiritual danger if one lives without yiras Shamayim.
So Yishuv Eretz Yisrael, in the Charedi view, isn’t just a real estate move—it’s a spiritual move. One that must come with humility, yiras Shamayim, and guidance from daas Torah.
A Torah-Based View of Settlement
While some communities place heavy emphasis on political or nationalistic settlement of Eretz Yisrael (especially in the West Bank, known as Yehuda and Shomron), Charedim are more likely to focus on Torah-based settlement.
That means building communities for the sake of Torah and mitzvos:
- Bnei Brak, built by the Chazon Ish and other Gedolim, is a Torah city in every sense.
- Modi’in Illit, Beitar Illit, and neighborhoods of Yerushalayim were established not to stake claims or draw borders, but to build homes filled with Torah and yiras Shamayim.
- New yishuvim are often judged not by their altitude or their headlines, but by their yeshivos, mikva’os, and kollelim.
For Charedim, Yishuv Eretz Yisrael means planting Torah deep in the soil of the Land, letting it blossom in batei medrash, nurseries, and homes filled with kedushah.
Kibbutz Galuyos—But On Hashem’s Terms
The return to Eretz Yisrael is not just about geography; it’s about redemption. Charedim yearn for the ingathering of exiles, but believe it will come through Moshiach—not through man-made solutions or secular governments.
That doesn’t mean they don’t believe in coming now. It just means they frame it differently.
Many Charedim believe that coming to Eretz Yisrael today can be a fulfillment of the mitzvah if it’s done with Torah values, with proper hashkafah, and without compromising one’s ruchniyus.
And the truth is: tens of thousands of Charedim do make aliyah, often quietly, without headlines. Their yishuv is deliberate, spiritual, and guided by rabbinic leadership—not driven by ideology, but by mitzvah.
Living the Mitzvah Today
So how do Charedim interpret Yishuv Eretz Yisrael today?
With depth. With care. With ahavah. They do not rush to declare absolutes. They do not take political stances. But they live with a burning awareness that this Land is holy, and that living in it—when done properly—is an act of avodas Hashem.
And most of all, they believe that Yishuv Eretz Yisrael must be more than physical. It must be filled with Torah, with kedushah, with purpose.
Because when we live here not just with our bodies, but with our neshamos—that’s when the Land itself begins to blossom.
Sources & Footnotes
- Ramban, Hasagos to Sefer HaMitzvos, Mitzvas Asei #4: "שנצטווינו לרשת את הארץ..."
- Chazon Ish, Kovetz Igros, vol. 1, letter 176.
- Rambam, Hilchos Melachim 5:9: "אסור לצאת מארץ ישראל לחו"ל לעולם..."
- Midrash Tanchuma, Parshas Re’eh: "ארץ ישראל משקה אותה הקב"ה בעצמו..."
- Vayikra Rabbah 13:2: "אין התורה נקנית אלא בארץ ישראל"