Q. With Israel in the news so much, and Yom Ha'atzmaut (67th Anniversary of the Creation of Modern Israel) being celebrated this week, how DO we know that the Land of Israel truly is the Jewish people's homeland?
A) Eretz Yisroel, the Land of Israel, is the Jewish homeland promised to us by G-d, and testified to throughout the Torah and Prophets/Hebrew Scriptures.
His covenant was first stated in Sefer Bereshit, the Book of Genesis, Ch 15: 18-21, when G-d says to Abram (still known as Abram, not yet ABRAHAM, his name after adding the ?H? to signify that G-d, Hashem, was with him),"To your descendants have I given this land from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River...."
In Sefer Shemos, the Book of Exodus, Ch 23:30- 31, G-d tells Moses that He will drive away our enemies and we will be given "The Land from the Sea of Reeds to the Sea of the Philistines (the Mediterranean), and from the Wilderness until the River..." as the Jewish people?s inheritance.
In Sefer Bamidbar,the Book of Numbers, Ch 34:1-15, G-d clearly defines the borders of the Land of Canaan (the name often referred to in the Torah, prior to being called Eretz Yisroel), which is to be the Children of Israel?s inheritance..."Since you come to the land of Canaan, this is the land that shall fall to you as an inheritance, the land of Canaan according to its borders...."
In Sefer Devarim, the Book of Deuteronomy, Ch 1: 8, G-d says prior to the Children of Israel passing over the Jordan River, "See! I have given the Land before you; come and possess the Land that Hashem (G-d) swore to your forefathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them and their children after them."
Often, in the Books of the Prophets (Nevi'im), Israel is referred to as the area between "Dan and Beersheva." (Some samples can be found in: Judges, Ch 20:1; I Samuel, Ch 3:20; II Samuel, Ch 3:10; Ch 17:11; I Kings, Ch 5:3; I Chronicles, Ch 21: 2; II Chronicles, Ch 30: 5.)
In the Book of Ezekiel, Ch 37: 22-28, during the Final Redemption, when the Messiah/Moshiach comes, the Jews will be returned (the Land will be Redeemed) to Israel. We, our children, and their children will dwell Forever in Peace, and the Presence of G-d will dwell in our midst (building of the third Holy Temple), FOREVER!
This is a brief overview of the Biblical foundation of the Jewish right to Israel. For a contemporary review and updated facts on modern day Israel and political issues, check out: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/