Why all this talk of "going up"? It's not just poetic license. The Sifrei Devarim, a collection of early rabbinic legal interpretations on the Book of Deuteronomy, points to a fascinating idea: that the Land of Israel is literally higher than all other lands.
Where does this come from? The text references several verses to make its case. Remember in Numbers 13:30, when Caleb urges, "Let us go up and inherit it?" And then in the next chapter, verse 21, "And they went up and spied out the land?" Even way back in Genesis 45:25, we read, "And they went up from Egypt and they came to the land of Canaan." Each of these instances uses the verb "to go up" (la'alot) when referring to entering the land.
The Sifrei connects all these "ascents" to the inherent elevation—both physical and spiritual—of the Promised Land. It's more than just geography. It's about aspiration, about striving toward something greater.
But here's where it gets even more interesting. The Sifrei then quotes, "And they returned word to us and they said: Good is the land that the L-rd our G-d gives us." Wait a minute! Did everyone really say it was a "good land?" Didn't most of the spies bring back a terrible report, filled with fear and doubt?
That's precisely the question the Sifrei asks. "Now did they speak good (of the land)? Did they not speak evil of it?"
Of course they did! Only Joshua and Caleb, those beacons of faith, spoke positively. The others, gripped by fear, focused on the obstacles and the giants. And even after their brave report, as we read in Deuteronomy 1:26, "And you did not desire to go up, and you opposed the word of the L-rd your G-d."
So, what's the takeaway? Maybe the Sifrei is hinting at something deeper. Perhaps the "going up" isn't just about physical elevation, but about the spiritual ascent required to truly see the good in the Land, and in life itself. It takes faith, courage, and a willingness to rise above our fears to appreciate the gifts we're given. Maybe that's why even now, we say, “aliya l’Eretz Yisrael," going up to the Land of Israel, regardless of the actual direction we travel. It’s always an upward journey, a spiritual climb.