Shavous-Special Issue

More Precious Than…

 

“Blessed is He, our G-d, Who created us for His glory, separated us from those who go astray, gave us the Torah of truth, and implanted eternal life within us.”

As we approach the Yom Tov of Shavuos, we remember the momentous day when we received the Torah. Three million Jews, as well as the souls of all future Jews, saw the Glory of Hashem as Hashem gave us the special gift of the Torah.  Torah is more than a subject to study. It is the essence and very purpose of our lives. Learning Torah forges a close bond between us and Hashem. Throughout history, Klal Yisroel has displayed incredible mesirus nefesh, self-sacrifice, for Torah, sacrificing comfort, wealth, and even safety because they understood that Torah is more precious than all the gold and silver in the world.

 

The Talmud (Shabbos 88A)  tells a story of Rava, the illustrious Talmudic sage. Once, when he was deeply immersed in his learning, he was squeezing his fingers beneath his leg and was unaware that his fingers were bleeding. A heretic passed by. Noticing what was happening, he criticized Rava for not being aware that his fingers were bleeding. Indeed, how could Rava have been unaware of that fact? Rabbeinu Bachya (Devarim 26:16) says that all of us can visualize kabbalas HaTorah, the day that we received the Torah, with all its grandeur! We can experience the thunder and lightning, the loud blast of the shofar, the fire and smoke, and the voice of Hashem speaking to us. Someone who was experiencing such a revelation would be oblivious if he stubbed his toe. Similarly, Rava learned Torah with such intensity that he was experiencing a reenactment of kabalas HaTorah! That is why he didn’t notice that his fingers were bleeding.

The Talmud (Nedarim 81) says that after the destruction of the First Beis HaMikdash, Jerusalem was laid desolate.  The sages and prophets could not understand why the land was laid waste, until Hashem told them. The reason was, “Because they have forsaken My Torah” (Yirmiyahu 9:12).

 

Many commentaries ask, if the reason was that the Jews forsook the Torah, why didn’t the sages realize that?  The Talmud answers that the Jews did not abandon the Torah! They did learn Torah! However, they did not recite the blessings on the Torah before they learned the Torah.

 

If that was true that they just left out the brachos, why was that considered forsaking the Torah? Rav Nissim ben Reuven of Girona (1320 -1376), the Ran, explains that that Hashem saw in their hearts that they did not attach enough importance to the Torah. That is why they did not say the bracha before learning.

 

Rabbi Yissocher Frand says that the Jews did not appreciate what Torah is. Torah is not just another subject to study. It is a special gift that changes a person. It makes one a kinder and more considerate human being. It teaches morality and nobility. However, if you don’t appreciate what you have, then it is as if you don’t have it. This is also true according to halacha. An example is, Reuven bought metal, thinking that it was lead and then sold it to Shimon. Shimon cleaned it and realized that it was silver.  Reuven wanted Shimon to pay him more money since Shimon now had a more valuable piece of metal. According to halacha, Shimon does not have to pay Reuven the extra money. The reason is that he thought it was lead and if one does not realize what he has it is as if he did not own it.

Similarly, if the Jewish People did not appreciate the Torah, it was as if they did not have it.

 

The Talmud (Pesachim 68B) says that every year on Shavuos, the sage, Rav Yosef, would eat a very special meal. Why?  Rav Yosef explained the reason for this lavish celebration. On Shavuos the Jewish People received the Torah. He said that if not for the Torah, he would be like a regular person in the marketplace, indistinguishable from everyone! He was who he was, a different person, because of the Torah.

 

We should think about this and appreciate the gift of the Torah that we have. It distinguishes us from all other people. The contrast is so stark when you view how the current society has fallen apart. Society has a lack of morals, a lack of meaningful values, the lack of family values, the lack of modesty in dress…. Contrast that with the nobility of one who learns Torah.

 

On Shavuos we read the Megillah of Rus. Naomi was about to return to Eretz Yisroel, poverty stricken. Rus and Orpah had to decide whether they were going with Naomi. Both Rus and Naomi were princesses. To return home meant to return to wealth. Orpah made the logical decision and returned home.  Rus remained with Naomi. Why? Rus concluded that a life without Torah was meaningless. She gave up money and power, choosing to live a meaningful Torah life.

 

Rus went in one direction, making a decision which shaped her whole life thereafter. She became the the great-grandmother of Dovid HaMelech. Orpah went on a different path.?

 

Why did Rus and Orpah choose entirely different paths in life? Rav Moshe Schwab, zt”l, said that Orpah viewed the life that Rus was about to choose, as involving too much mesiras nefesh, self-sacrifice. She was not willing to make that sacrifice. She felt it would be too hard of a life. She returned to what she perceived to be an easier life. Rus, on the other hand, was willing to choose that which seemed like a difficult choice at the time. Rus led a much more noble and rewarding life. Rus became the great-grandmother of Dovid HaMelech and the ancestress of Moshiach.

 

We have purpose to our lives because we have the Torah. Our lives are so much richer than those who do not have Torah. This is what Rav Yosef was saying that where would he be and where would we all be without the Torah? This is the approach that we need to think about before Shavuos. We should remember what we say in the וּבָא לְצִיּוֹן, u’va l’tzion, prayer. “בָּרוּךְ (הוּא) אֱלֹקֵינוּ, שֶׁבְּרָאָֽנוּ לִכְבוֹדוֹ, וְהִבְדִּילָֽנוּ מִן הַתּוֹעִים, וְנָֽתַן לָֽנוּ תּוֹרַת אֱמֶת, וְחַיֵּי עוֹלָם נָטַע בְּתוֹכֵֽנוּ”

“Blessed is He, our G-d, Who created us for His glory, separated us from those who go astray, gave us the Torah of truth, and implanted eternal life within us.”

 

(Based in part on Rabbi Yissocher Frand’s divrei Torah)

 

 

 

Shavout

May I Have Some of Those Gold Coins that are in the Valley?!

 

“I prefer the Torah of Your mouth more than thousands in gold and silver.” (Psalms 119:72)

The Yom Tov of Shavuos is approaching. Hashem gave us the greatest gift, the Torah. I recall hearing that when we daven, we are talking to Hashem. However, when we learn Torah, it’s as if Hashem is talking to us! We are so lucky to have this precious gift! Learning Torah strengthens our connection to Hashem. It also helps refine our middos. We should take advantage of every opportunity, every extra moment that we have, to learn Torah. On the first night of Shavuos many remain awake the entire night to learn Torah.  Hashem invested the yom tov of Shavuos with the extra potential for us to increase our understanding of the Torah. We can tap into that potential with any Torah learning that we do on Shavuos. We can tap into that potential even more if we learn Torah that entire night.

The Midrash (Midrash Rabba Shmos 52:3) quotes a story. One of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai’s students left Eretz Yisroel and settled elsewhere. He was successful and became very wealthy. When he returned to Eretz Yisroel, his friends were jealous of his great wealth. They, too, wanted to leave Eretz Yisroel to become wealthy. When Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai became aware of his students’ desires, he told them to come with him to the valley of Pnei Marom. When they were all assembled, overlooking the valley, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai davened that the valley should become full of gold coins. His tefillos were answered and the valley filled with gold. Then Rabbi Shimon told his students if they wanted gold, it was “there for the taking”. He continued, however, by saying that whoever would take gold now, would be taking away from his reward in Olam Haba. where Hashem rewards us for the Torah that we will have learned.

Pirkei Avos (6:9) quotes the following story. Rabbi Yossi ben Kisma once met a man who wanted him to relocate and become the rabbi of his town. He offered Rabbi Yossi an exorbitant amount of money. However, since his man’s town was devoid of Torah learning, Rabbi Yossi refused.  Rabbi Yossi told him, “Even if you were to give me all the silver and gold and precious stones and pearls in the world I would only live in a place of Torah. And thus is it written in the book of Psalms of David, King of Israel (Psalms 119:72), ‘I prefer the Torah of Your mouth more than thousands in gold and silver.’”

Rabbi Yossi’s response seems very similar to Bilam’s response. Balak wanted Bilam to curse the Jews. Bilam told Balak’s messengers, “Even if Balak would give me enough silver and gold to fill his house, I cannot transgress the word of Hashem….” (Bamidbar 22:18) The commentaries say that Bilam’s response indicated his enormous greed. Yet Rabbi Yossi’s similar response was considered praiseworthy. What was the difference? The Chida answered this question while he was still a youngster. He said that Bilam’s words “I cannot transgress the word of Hashem” implied that if he were permitted to do so, he would have done so. Rabbi Yossi, on the other hand, was very clear and decisive when he said, “I would only live in a place of Torah”. Rabbi Yossi only wanted to live in a Torah environment (Maggidei HaEmes as quoted in Pirkei Avos with Ideas and Insights of the Sfas Emes and other Chassidic masters by Rabbi Yosef Stern).

In responding to the man who wanted Rabbi Yossi to come to his town, why did Rabbi Yossi also quote to him the pasuk in Tehillim from King David? The sefer Ruach Chaim & the Ksav Sofer explain as follows. Rabbi Yossi said that he only wanted to live in a Torah environment because spiritual wealth was more important to him than physical wealth. Had that idea only been expressed by him, it would not have had such an impact. After all, it was said by a Torah scholar who was poor and had not tasted luxury. Therefore, Rabbi Yossi added that this idea was expressed by a wealthy king. Despite his great wealth, King David was the one who said that spiritual wealth was much more valuable than physical riches (The Pirkei Avos Treasury by Rabbi Moshe Lieber)

The Midrash (Vayikra 27:1) gives us a history lesson about Alexander the Great. While conquering the world, Alexander came to a country inhabited by women. They sent a delegation to speak to Alexander. They told him that it was pointless and even disadvantageous to Alexander to fight against them. They said that if he would be victorious over them, it wouldn’t bring him glory since they were only women. However, if they would defeat him, it would be a big embarrassment to him. Alexander heard the logic of their argument and did not attack them. Upon leaving, Alexander left an inscription stating, “I, Alexander, was a shoteh, a dumb person, until I came to this country”. Rabbi Henach Leibowitz zt”l questioned this Midrash. Alexander had one of the greatest minds of his day. He was a brilliant general, in the process of conquering the world. How can he say that until this he was a dumb person? Rabbi Henach Leibowitz zt”l explains that Alexander realized the significance of every added piece of knowledge. It is more than becoming a little smarter. Every extra bit of knowledge changes you into a new person! It’s as if you were not smart and the new knowledge turned you into a smart person.

Extra knowledge transforms you into a wise person. Imagine the great transformation you will have with each additional understanding of Torah learning. Every “minor” increase in understanding, transforms you into a wiser and wiser person!

Thank You, Hashem, for Your precious gift of the Torah. Torah brings us close to You and transforms our lives.

Torah brings us happiness and satisfaction.