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Why does Syria lack the full sanctity of Eretz Yisrael despite Dovid HaMelech's conquest? The shiur develops the Rashi (רש"י)/Rambam (רמב"ם) thesis that kibbush yachid creates two separate halachos: one governing whether Jews must settle the land (yishuv), another governing obligation in terumah and ma'aser. Syria belongs to the king but not to the nation for settlement, yet may still carry agricultural mitzvos—a framework that reconciles seemingly contradictory sugyos.
This shiur presents an in-depth analysis of Gittin 8a regarding the halachic status of Syria (Surya) and the concept of kibbush yachid (conquest by an individual or king, as opposed to the entire nation). The central question is why Syria, conquered by Dovid HaMelech, does not have the full kedusha (sanctity) of Eretz Yisrael, and what this means for laws such as selling houses to non-Jews and the obligation of terumah and ma'aser. The Gemara (גמרא) asks: if Syria has some status as Eretz Yisrael through Dovid's conquest, why is one allowed to sell a slave there to chutz la'aretz (outside the Land)? Rashi (רש"י) explains that kibbush yachid means Dovid conquered it not for the collective needs of Klal Yisrael (lo l'tzorech kol Yisrael), but for the king's own purposes (l'tzorcho). The Tosafot, however, cite the Sifri's reason: the conquest was shelo k'seder—not according to the proper halachic procedure.
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Gittin 8a
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