Gratitude for the Land of Israel

This week's Torah portion of Ki Tavo begins with the words of appreciation that one must say when he brings his First Fruits to the Holy Temple: "I say today that I have come to the Land that G-d vowed to our Forefathers to give to us…" (D'varim 26,3). Rashi explains that the purpose of this statement is to show that we are not ungrateful. Ungrateful for what? The Maharal of Prague, in his commentary on Rashi entitled Gur Aryeh, explains...