I feel that I must sit down and write about this, as it has been a recurring theme. I feel that people need to know the power of speech.
In this article, I want to focus on the consequences of speaking negatively about Hashem’s country. Hashem hears our words and acts accordingly.
As it is stated in Parshas Bamidbar 14:28 אמר אלהם חי אני נאם יהוה אם לא כאשר דברתם באזני כן אעשה לכם Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says Hashem, ‘I will do to you just as you have urged Me.
When 10 of the 12 Meraglim (Spies), spoke badly about Israel and cried over it, Hashem instructed Moshe to tell them that He heard their words, and that He will do as they said.
When they returned from Israel, the 10 meraglim said: “Sure enough, the land flows with milk and honey, but we cannot capture it. The nations who dwell there are strong, their cities are fortified, and there are giants among them.”
Cries of despair rang out from the camp. “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this desert,” wailed the panic-stricken people. “Why does the Lord bring us to this land to fall by the sword; our wives and children will be as spoils. Is it not better for us to return to Egypt?”
When Hashem heard the words of the people, that they would rather die in the desert than fight for the amazing land that Hashem said was great, it was then that Hashem decreed that their entire generation will die in the desert. Only the 2 spies Yeshua Ben Nin and Calev Ben Yefuna, who spoke highly of the promised land, were able to enter along with the next generation, who were not 20 years old at the time of the spies, and they were privileged to enter.
Since we live here in Israel, I have seen repeatedly that when people speak negatively about Hashem’s land and His children, they lose the privilege of visiting or moving to Israel.
Let me give you 3 examples: these are not an attempt to target anyone specifically, just so that we all learn from these experiences to be careful with our speech in general and especially when it comes to fellow Jews and Israel.
I met a woman from New York at a hotel, and noticed that she was in a very bad mood. I had seen her several times before. I asked her how she was doing. As we spoke, she said: “I hate this place!” I asked her if she was referring to the hotel and if so, why she did not go stay at another place? She replied with disgust that she hates visiting Israel. “I hate this country,” she said. I questioned her as to why she came to Israel as she could have gone to any vacation spot in the entire world so why chose a place you dislike so much.
She said that her husband has work here. He imports kosher food from the USA to Israel. She explained that usually he travels alone, however, he really wants her to come with him, she sometimes agrees to his requests, but she regrets it.
We spoke some more, she said that she was scheduled to return a few months later, and that she would rather not come if it was up to her. That was the last time I have seen here in Israel. I don’t know what happened to her husband’s job, but I never saw her again. God heard her words, and it seems that she never had the privilege to return.
Friends of ours used to visit Israel for a number of years for Sukkos with their entire family. The husband, who is self-employed, said he needed a good vacation after working hard all year long. Some years, the man paid for his in-laws to come along for the entire trip. Other times, he paid for an Israeli cousin to join so that his wife has enjoyable company and a great time.
While most women would be thrilled to get a break, be served and pampered from before Yom Kipper to after Sukkos, her attitude was surprising. She said that she would rather stay home and not come. She complained over the lack of good Kokosh Cake. We recommended several good places, but she did not seem interested in a solution, but rather just needed an excuse to complain.
One year, when we visited the family at their hotel, the family told us about their trip and how they made a stop in Amsterdam. The wife jumped and said that when she reaches Europe, she is hit by the heavy bad smell of Israel in the air. She claimed that Israeli air has a unique bad smell. I asked how she thinks Europe can smell of Israel. She did not have an answer. If she was in Amsterdam she would smell Amsterdam no?
I believe that she is just not used to the thin, clean air that we have here in Israel and many European countries. In Israel and in many European countries, the use of unleaded gas is widely popular instead of the diesel gas, which releases heavy black smoke into the environment. In Israel, a lot of buses and trains are electric, which add to the clean environment and healthy air. This woman, who is from the USA, is used to the heavy air which is caused by the heavy black smoke coming from all the trucks and manufacturing plants etc.
That Sukkos was the last time the family came to Israel. For the next several years, the husband spoke about how he misses Israel, how he wanted to return for Yom Tov, but every time, there were different circumstances which Hashem made, and they were unable to do so. The year when the woman claimed Israel stinks, and there is no good kokosh cake, that was the last time they came. The lesson we should learn is that Hashem hears your words and acts accordingly.
In the third case, a couple, who made Aliya years ago when their children were young, married off their daughter during covid in 2020, it was a small wedding as the world was in lockdown and only small gatherings were allowed. When her next daughter was engaged, the family of both sides decided to make it up for missing the last wedding, and many family members made plans to come to the second wedding.
A large group of people were scheduled to arrive a few days after Succos in October 2023. I spoke with one of the women. She had visited Israel the previous year with her entire family to visit their son who was learning in an Israeli Yeshiva. Her family had a great time at the previous trip.
However, the woman told me that this trip is very different as she was leaving most of her children at home. She was leaving them, including her toddler, behind. Her oldest son was scheduled to fly with them to return to Yeshiva. She is a very dedicated mother, and the thought of leaving them behind and attending the wedding with just her husband, was hard for her. She told me that she is referring to the trip as “a forced vacation.”
I told her how we need to be very careful we speak about God’s Chosen Land and His people. I explained to her that speaking in any kind of disparaging way about Israel can lead one to be unable to return to Israel. Israel is different from the rest of the world as it is God’s home. Visiting or living in His Home is a privilege, not to be taken lightly.
On Simchas Torah that year, Hamas terrorists from Gaza broke into greater Israel, leading to a big war. She, including most of her family, canceled their plans to attend the wedding. Once again, we see that she was not able to come to the planned event due to her negative attitude about Israel.
Years ago, a family from Israel moved to our neighborhood in the USA. They got married in Israel and the plan was for them to stay in Israel. However, her husband, who is an American, had a hard time being away from his rebbe and family. He wanted to move back to the USA. A few years after their marriage and with several children, the woman finally agreed. During several of our conversations, she told me with great pain that her grandmother always said: “if one is not zoicha to live in Israel, the land will expel them.” With great pain in her eyes, and with a heavy sadness in her voice, she constantly repeated, “what have I done to be thrown out of Israel?” She spoke with warmth of her heart of her yearning for and love of Israel.
I did not have answers, but she ignited the deep and strong fire within me, a burning desire to live in Hashem’s place. As part of the 613 Mitzvos, Hashem commanded every Jew to live in Israel. Every Jew has the right and the obligation of return, but based on your attitude, you alone determine if you keep the privilege to stay. As it says in the gemara הכל בידי שמים חוץ מיראת שמים
If you speak negatively about the land of Israel, Hashem hears you and will act accordingly.
We live in Israel because Hashem said so! Regardless of any other circumstances. We live in the King’s palace, this is a privilege not to be taken lightly.
