somehow i started to get emails from "InTORAHnet,"* I have to admit to not reading most of them. For whatever reason I recently opened the "dvar torah" on parashat shlach. The idea was somehow to connect the balfour declaration/early zionism, the spies, and the talit. It concludes:

When we wrap ourselves in a Talit - may we remember the eternal connection between G-d and the Jewish people; and when we look upon the flag of Israel may we too remember that its intential [sic] colors and purposeful design are reminders that a people of destiny has a land of destiny. In the words of the Zohar, "G-d, Torah and Israel are one."

Ahhhhh! Am I right that he is implying that "Israel" refers to the land thereof in the famed quote? The fact that the quote is supposed to support something about the "land of destiny" suggests yes. The obvious wrong-ness of such a reading, and the fact that he also refers to the Jewish people, suggests no. Or is he playing on a supposed ambiguity (which is also an obviously wrong reading)? Anyone?

* "a resource project of Yeshiva University Center for the Jewish Future -South Florida Initiative, where Rabbi X serves as Senior Community Scholar and Executive Director."

** incidentally, I tried bar ilan and couldn't find the precise phrase (or anything like it - ppl seem to be confused as to the order anyway) anywhere, including the passage ppl cite for the phrase (zohar acharei). It is about the idea, though, but am I missing something?