Parashat Naso - Chag HaShavuot
Question
A guten Erev Yom Tov and Erev Shabbos!
Reminder: Eruv Tavshilin!!!! (Year 5786)
In honor of Yom Tov of Shavuos, Zman Mattan Toraseinu, we will discuss a fundamental question regarding Mattan Torah.
Every day, we recite Birchos HaTorah and thank Hashem for giving us the Torah.
The Question:
Why do we need to recite three separate brachos on the Torah? Would it not have been enough to recite one blessing thanking Hashem for the Torah, just as we do for other mitzvos? What is the meaning behind these three brachos?
Answer
I found this question, b’ezras Hashem, in the introduction to the sefer Nachalas Yaakov written by the Nesivos, and he explains that the three brachos correspond to three unique gifts that Hashem gave Klal Yisrael through the Torah, gifts that were not given to the nations of the world.
Since one could ask: What is really the difference between the mitzvos of Klal Yisrael and the seven mitzvos of Bnei Noach? Is it merely a matter of numbers, that we have 613 mitzvos while they only have seven, or is there something much deeper?
The Nachalas Yaakov explains that the three brachos of Birchos HaTorah correspond to three fundamental differences between the Torah of Klal Yisrael and the seven mitzvos of the nations.
1. The Mitzvah of Torah Learning
The nations of the world do not have a mitzvah to learn Torah. Their obligation is only to fulfill their commandments. Klal Yisrael, however, was given the mitzvah of Talmud Torah, learning Gemara, Rishonim, and Acharonim in great depth, with countless kushyos and many approaches to understanding every sugya.
Baruch Hashem, we see this today in the עולם הישיבות, where people dedicate themselves to deep Torah study and pilpul. I once saw in one of the yeshivah publications that a Rav wrote one hundred kushyos on the shittah of the Raavad regarding “chazakah of three years,” and this is in our generation, not a hundred years ago! Ashreinu mah tov chelkeinu….
This unique mitzvah of Torah learning was given only to Klal Yisrael.
Corresponding to this, we recite the bracha:
“La’asok b’Divrei Torah,”
which is a blessing on the study of Torah.
2. The Inner Depth of Torah
The Nachalas Yaakov writes:
“The Torah has both an outer garment and an inner dimension. Klal Yisrael was given even the inner dimension of Torah, for the malachim themselves desired that the Torah be given to them, and clearly they were not interested merely in its outer garment.”
The פנימיות התורה cannot be grasped through ordinary human intellect alone unless a person receives heavenly assistance.
Therefore, Chazal instituted the bracha:
“HaMelamed Torah l’Amo Yisrael,”
because every single day we need Hashem to enlighten us with His Divine spirit in order to understand the inner depth of the Torah.
This means that the nations may possess the practical fulfillment of commandments, but they have no connection to the inner essence and infinite wisdom contained within Torah and mitzvos.
Perhaps this also explains the words “V’ha’arev Na,” that Torah becomes sweet and beloved when one recognizes how much depth and profound inner wisdom are hidden within it.
3. The Power to Decide Torah Law
When Hashem gave us the Torah, He did not merely teach it to us; He entrusted it to us completely, giving Chachmei Yisrael the authority to decide halachah according to their understanding. This is certainly something that was never given to the nations of the world.
The Nachalas Yaakov brings the Gemara in Brachos (5a):
“Come and see that the ways of Hashem are not like the ways of flesh and blood. When a person sells an object, the seller is sad and the buyer is happy. But Hakadosh Baruch Hu is not so. He gave the Torah to Yisrael and yet remained happy.”
The Nachalas Yaakov asks: The mashal does not seem comparable. When a person sells an object, he no longer possesses it, which is why he is sad. But when a teacher teaches students, he still retains his knowledge, and therefore he is happy to teach.
He explains this based on the famous words of the Ran in his derashos regarding the Gemara in Bava Metzia (86a), where Hakadosh Baruch Hu said “Tahor,” while the yeshivah shel maalah argued “Tamei,” and they declared:
“Man nochach? Rabbah bar Nachmeni.”
The Ran asks: How could they argue with Hakadosh Baruch Hu Himself?
He answers that once the Torah was given to Klal Yisrael, it was handed over to the Chachmei HaTorah to rule according to their understanding and analysis. Even if human understanding appears contrary to the ultimate truth in Heaven, nevertheless:
“Ke’divrehem ken yakum,”
the halachah follows the ruling of the Torah scholars.
Accordingly, the mashal is understood perfectly. Hashem truly “gave away” the Torah to Klal Yisrael. The Torah became ours to analyze, decide, and pasken.
This is also the meaning of Chazal:
“At first it is ‘Toras Hashem,’ and after one toils in it, it becomes ‘Toraso’ his Torah.”
From all this we learn how much we must appreciate the great gift of Kabbalas HaTorah:
That we were given the mitzvah of Torah study,
“Ki heim chayeinu v’orech yameinu, uvahem nehgeh yomam valaylah.”
That we are also taught the inner depth of the Torah.
And that Hakadosh Baruch Hu entrusted us with the Torah itself, giving Chachmei Yisrael the authority to rule and decide the Halachos of the Torah.
On behalf of the entire Sheilot staff, we wish you a Chag Sameach and a Shabbos Sholom umevorach
