Shavuot: Pitgamim Kadishin: The Spirit of the Land of Israel

One who studies Talmud may be compared to one who dwells in the Land of Israel; he will merit the illumination of Israel, the spirit of the Holy Land. For Mar the son of Rav Ashi was in Babylon and situated between two mountains, when he arranged the final order of the Babylonian Talmud. He uttered an oath and for clouds arrived and surrounded him, then he uttered another oath that brought to them air from the Land of Israel; and then he arranged the Talmud. (Rav Aharon of Zhitomir, Pitgamim Kaddishin, Darchei Limmud)