What is Included in Our Kaballas HaTorah?

By Rabbi Moshe Krieger, Yeshivas Bircas HaTorah (www.bircas.org)

Shavuos is not a celebration of a historic fact, that once upon a time, Klal Yisrael received the Torah at Har Sinai on this date. In fact, every year on Shavuos, each Jew receives the Torah anew.

How do we see this?

The Rama (Orach Chaim 468:10) says that we shouldn’t engage in blood-letting on any erev yom tov, because there is an evil spirit that is waiting to see if Klal Yisrael will receive the Torah on Shavuos, and if not, it is ready to wreak havoc upon us, Heaven forbid. This is a halacha, and some say that because of this, a Jew should not go to the dentist on erev Yom Tov, because there as well, the treatment may cause him to bleed. This halacha applies to all the yomim tovim, but it stems from Shavuos, as this is the time that each Jew has to make a new Kaballas HaTorah (acceptance of the Torah).

Another proof of the fact that each Shavuos requires a new acceptance of the Torah comes from the very name of the chag—Shavuos, while it means “weeks” (it is the culmination of the count of seven weeks starting with Pesach), it can also mean “oaths,” because every Jew makes an oath to accept the Torah on Shavuos (see Nesivos Shalom on Shavuos).

Still, we can ask, didn’t we accept the Torah already? Hopefully, we made a proper kabala last Shavuos, and in Nida (30b) it states that already in the womb, the fetus makes an oath that it will accept and keep the Torah. Moreover, the Sages say [Nedarim 8a] that at Har Sinai, all future generations of Jews accepted the Torah. If so, why is such critical importance placed on receiving the Torah right now? We took care of this already! Why is there an evil   spirit waiting to pounce upon us?

Rav Yerucham Brodiansky answers that even though we made a kabala last year, that doesn’t mean that we haven’t grown and are not capable of accepting more upon ourselves now. If last year’s kabala went only so far, Hashem accepted that because He does not demand of us more than we are capable of doing. However, we’ve probably grown and are now capable of more. Each of us has to think what he can add in learning. For some of us, it will mean adding on learning at night, on Shabbos, during bein hazemanim, etc. For others, it may also mean deepening our learning, adding to our iyun of it. On this extra learning we have yet to make a kabala, and now is the time.

Rav Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi adds that part of our Kaballas HaTorah should be increasing our Ahavas Torah on Shavuos. The basis of the Jews’ ability to accept the Torah without first knowing what exactly they would be receiving was because they felt such great love for Hashem (Rashi, Shabbos 88b). We too have to increase our love for Hashem and His Torah every Shavuos.

As an example of the extraordinary heights a Jew can reach in Ahavas Torah, Rav Ezrachi notes that an Amora (Shabbos 88a) was once chastised by a goy, who saw that this Jew was studying Torah in a position that was causing his fingers to bleed (he was sitting on his hands). He was so engrossed in his learning that he didn’t feel any pain at all! Even if we are far from this level, still, we know that Torah study requires limiting our business dealings, limiting our enjoyment, limiting our sleep, etc. (Avos 6:6).  However, the love we feel for Torah should be so strong that we don’t feel any sacrifice in these “limitations.” On the contrary, we are so happy that we merited to learn Torah!

In light of the above, we can understand an otherwise puzzling Gemara: The Sages (Pesachim 68b) debate whether the celebration of yom tov can be done by feasting alone or by learning and davening alone. Nevertheless, when it comes to Shavuos, all the Sages agree that one must make a seuda. Presumably, if Pesach and Sukkos can be celebrated by learning and davening alone, without making a seuda, surely one should be able to celebrate the day of the Giving of the Torah by learning and davening alone. Why are the Sages unanimous that Shavuos requires a seuda?

Rather, it is so important for us to show and deepen our love of Torah on Shavuos that we must make a party to express this idea outwardly (see Rashi, ibid.).

What can help us increase our love for Torah?

Rav Brodiansky advises that we take time to think about how important Torah is for us. Meslias Yesharim (5) shows us that it is the only way with which to successfully fight the yetzer hara, and that Torah study refines a person’s character, builds his personality and brings him to perfection (ibid., 11). The Amora, Rav Yosef, PESACHIM 68B) would stand up every Shavuos and declare how much the Torah had done for him. Look at me! How many ‘Yossi’s’ are there in the shuk, and I would have been one of them, were it not for Torah. Look at what Torah did for me!

We too should look at ourselves and appreciate how Torah has refined us; or, if we prefer, we should observe others and appreciate how Torah has refined their character and perfected them.

Also, the Nefesh Hachaim (4:6) writes that Torah study is the mitzva that brings us the closest to Hashem, enabling us literally to enter into the world of Hashem’s thoughts and will. Learning Torah is as if Hashem is speaking directly to us (4:14). Also, learning Torah makes Hashem happy with us (4:15), and causes him to make his Shechina dwell among us. If a person thinks about this, how can he not feel Ahavas Torah?!

Rav Steinman would advise to review thoughts about the importance of Torah again and again. Even though we may think that we already know this, still, the more you think about this, the more you will feel the importance of Torah, he would say. And the more you feel it, the more Ahavas Torah becomes a part of you.

Only through his tremendous Ahavas Torah was Rosh Yeshivas Mir Harav Nosson Tzvi Finkel, able to learn so much and build yeshivas Mir into the giant Torah empire that it is today.

The palpable joy he felt about Torah study made an indelible impression on all he met. If he heard a bachur or avreich say over a svara that reflected thorough understanding of the subject, Rav Nosson Tzvi would be became excited, thrilled. At times he would give the learner a present, some money, or even a kiss, so much did he appreciate his learning.

“What is the sweetest thing in the world,” he would ask children, saying: “It’s not chocolate, it’s not ice cream – it’s Torah! There is nothing sweeter than Torah!” Just seeing a man, suffering from Parkinson’s Disease and yet full of joy over Torah, made these words sink deep into the consciousness of all his listeners.

We too can convey this message of Ahavas Torah. If our chavrusa helps us understand a piece of Gemara, praise him for it. Perhaps more important, if you yourself succeed in understanding your learning, pause and praise yourself! Appreciate your accomplishment! Taste the sweetness of Torah!

Rav Zevulun Graz, Av Beis Din of Rechovot, learned as a bachur in the Slobodka Yeshiva in Lithuania. Once, after he had learned several hours after the seder had ended, he left the beis medrash and found himself face to face with the Alter of Slobodka, who made a harsh statement that Rav Groz would never forget.

“You may be a tzaddik, but you look like a rasha,” said the Alter.

Taken aback, Rav Graz asked what he meant.

“On the one hand, you’ve put in extra hours in learning, and that’s wonderful. For that you’re a tzaddik. Only … I don’t see on your face any signs of happiness about that. Where’s your appreciation for Torah?

From then on, Rav Graz always made a point of feeling love of Torah and expressing it so it was apparent to all those around him.

May we accept the Torah with love on Shavuos!