Tosefta Avodah Zarah

3. One should dwell in the land of Israel, even in a town in which the majority of the inhabitants are gentiles, rather than dwell outside the land [of Israel], even in a town in which all the inhabitants are Jews.

This [ruling] teaches that dwelling in the land of Israel is deemed the equal of all the commandments in the Torah, and all who are buried in the land of Israel, it is as if they were buried beneath the altar [of the Temple in Jerusalem].

4. One should not emigrate from the land of Israel unless the going price of wheat [in the land of Israel] is as high as two se’ahs for a sela‘.

R. Simeon said: Under what circumstances [does this ruling apply]? [Only] when one cannot find any [food] to buy, but when one can find [food] to buy, even if [the going price of wheat is as high as] a [single] se’ah for a sela‘, he should not emigrate.

And similarly, R. Simeon would say: Elimelech was one of the great men of his generation and one who sustained the community, but because he left the land [of Israel], he and his sons died of famine while all the [rest of the] Israelites survived in their own land, as it is said: And all the city was astir concerning them, and the women said, “Is this Naomi?” (Ruth 1:19), which implies that the entire city survived, while he and his sons died of famine.

5. Now scripture states: [Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go . . .] so that I come again to my father’s house in peace . . . ” (Genesis 28:20–21). And does it not continue, then the Lord shall be my God (Genesis 28:21) [i.e., only when I return to the land]?

And [scripture also] states: [I am the Lord your God who brought you forth out of the land of Egypt] to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God (Leviticus 25:38), [which implies] that as long as you are in the land of Canaan, I will be your God, but when you are not dwelling in the land of Canaan, it is as if I am not your God.

Similarly, scripture states [concerning the conquest of the land under Joshua]: about forty thousand men ready armed for war passed over before the Lord [for battle to the plane of Jericho] (Joshua 4:13).

Now is it conceivable that Israel would conquer the land before [understood temporally] the Omnipresent? Rather, [we must interpret the verse as follows]: as long as they are in the land, it is as if it is conquered by them; so when they are not in it, it is as if it is not conquered [by them]. Thus scripture states [concerning David, who said when he fled abroad from Saul]: For they have driven me out this day so that I should have no share in the heritage of the Lord, saying, “Go serve other gods” (1 Samuel 26:19).

Now is it conceivable that David was a worshiper of idols? Rather, David reasoned from scripture as follows: Anyone who leaves the land during peacetime and goes [to live] abroad is as if he were worshiping idols, as scripture states: [I will rejoice in doing them good,] and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all My heart and all My soul (Jeremiah 32:41). As long as they are in it, it is as if they are planted before Me [God] in faithfulness, with all My heart and all My soul, and thus, when they are not in it, it is as if they are not planted before Me in faithfulness, with all My heart and all My soul.

6. R. Simeon ben Eleazar says: Israelites [who reside] outside the land are idolaters. How so? If a gentile threw a party for his son and went and invited all the Jews dwelling in his town, even if they should eat and drink [only] their own [food and drink], and their own attendant should stand ready to serve them, they still worship idols, as scripture states: [Lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and when they play the harlot after their gods and sacrifice to their gods] and one invites you and you eat of his sacrifices (Exodus 34:15).

Translated by Christine Hayes.