The question of whether there is a mitzvah to live in the Land of Israel today is a subject of major discussion in halacha, with different rabbinic opinions spanning centuries.
Rabbinic Opinions on Living in Israel Today
The primary source for the opinion that it is a biblical commandment is the Ramban, Nachmanides. He argues that settling the land of Israel is a positive commandment that applies in all generations, including during the exile. According to his view, every individual who lives there fulfills a biblical mitzvah, and the Jewish people as a whole have an obligation not to leave the land in the hands of other nations. Many later authorities follow this view, holding that the mitzvah remains fully active today.
The opposing primary view is often attributed to the Rambam, Maimonides. In his enumeration of the 613 mitzvot, he does not explicitly list the settlement of Israel as an independent commandment for the individual in the present day. While he praises living in Israel extensively in his legal code, commentators debate why he omitted it as a formal mitzvah. Some suggest he viewed it as a collective obligation that only applies fully when the Temple stands or under messianic rule, while others believe he considered it a general prerequisite for other commandments rather than a standalone decree.
Another major authority, the Megillat Esther, explicitly states that the mitzvah to settle the land applied only in the eras of Joshua, David, and Solomon, and during the Second Temple period. He argues that since the destruction of the Temple and the onset of the exile, Jews are under an oath not to conquer the land by force, meaning the formal biblical mitzvah is suspended until the redemption.
Reasons a Jew is Permitted to Leave Israel
Even according to the opinions that living in Israel is a binding obligation today, halacha delineates specific, legitimate reasons for which a person is permitted to leave the land. The Talmud and subsequent codes outline the following permissible grounds:
To Study Torah: A person may leave Israel if they cannot find a teacher or a suitable place of study in Israel that matches their spiritual and intellectual needs.
To Marry: Finding a spouse is a primary obligation in Judaism, and if a person cannot find a suitable marriage partner in Israel, they are permitted to travel abroad to do so.
For Livelihood: The Talmud states that if economic conditions are so severe that a person cannot earn a living or support their family in Israel, they may leave to find sustenance. However, rabbinic authorities clarify that this applies to financial necessity, not to seeking excessive wealth.
For Health or Safety: If a person requires medical treatment unavailable in Israel, or if staying poses a direct threat to life, leaving is permitted under the overarching principle that preserving life overrides almost all commandments.
To Honor Parents: Some authorities permit leaving Israel temporarily to fulfill the biblical commandment of honoring one’s father and mother, such as taking care of elderly parents living abroad.
Most authorities emphasize that when leaving for these reasons, the departure should ideally be temporary, with the intent to return as soon as the objective is fulfilled.
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