Shavuos is the celebration of the great gift of the Torah that Hashem continues to give us. The Rambam, in Hilchos Chanukah, says that the central theme of the Torah is shalom, peace. As the pasuk declares, “Deracheha darchei no’am v’chol nesivoseha shalom – its ways are ways of sweetness and all its paths are paths of peace.” In sync with this is the Gemara in Masechtas Berachos [64a] that teaches us, “Talmidei chachamim marbim shalom b’olam – Torah scholars increase peace in the world.”
While this saying is almost a cliché, what does it really mean? How do Torah scholars make more peace in the world?
The simple explanation of this Talmudic dictum is that one who embraces the Torah ideologies of b’tzedek tishpot amisecha, to judge your friend favorably; v’ahavta l’rei’acha k’mocha, to love your friend like yourself; and the admonitions of lo sisna es achicha bilvavecha, not to hate your friend in your heart; lo sikom v’lo sitor, not to seek vengeance or nurse a grudge; lo seilech rachil b’amecha, not to be a talebearer amongst your people. Or to embrace the positive commands such as azav tazov imo, you should offer a person assistance; noson titein, to give charity; im kesef talveh es ami, to give loans; b’yomo titein s’choro, to pay workers on time. One who is absorbed the Torah way of life promotes peace in the world.
The great Rav Chatzkel Abramsky, zt”l, zy”a, explains it differently. A true talmid chacham, whose soul is full with the joys and accomplishments of Torah, does not allow trivialities (which are the causes of most fighting and feuding) to bother him. He is so full with the pleasures of Torah that he is able to let the foolish annoyances from other people just slip off his back without making a big deal.
The Tuvcha Yabi’u cites an example of this idea. The great Rav Shach, zt”l, zy”a, once had to be in Bnei Brak and he davened at the central synagogue. He innocently took a seat. A man entered and angrily berated Rav Shach for taking his seat. Immediately, instead of being annoyed or hurt, Rav Shach instantly stood up, gave the man a hug and a kiss, and apologized profusely saying that if he had known it was his seat he would have never sat in it. The Tuvcha Yabi’u elaborates that Rav Shach was so full with his Torah that the annoyance of being screamed at didn’t even register upon him. This, says Reb Abramsky, is how talmidei chachamim promote peace in the world.
Others explain that there is a certain amount of machlokes that is billeted for any given time. We can fulfill this machlokes by learning the arguments of Rav and Abaya, Beis Hillel and Beis Shammai, Rav Yochanan and Reish Lakish. When talmidei chachamim study these arguments, they deduct from the number of arguments that have to be in the world, thus causing there to be less fighting in the domestic arena or about inheritances and partnerships.
I want to advance my own idea of how talmidei chachamim promote peace in the world. I once heard Rav Goldschmidt, zt”l, zy”a, author of Dear Daughter and Dear Son, advising young single men what to seek in a mate. He told these young men that they should look for a young woman who has sechel hayashar, one who thinks straight. He advised that when a person thinks straight, they can successfully navigate their differences. When I heard this, I wondered how one develops a sechel hayashar, and learns to think straight. I propose that by learning the shakla v’tarya, the give and take of many Gemaras, it trains one’s mind to think straight, for the Talmudic mind is a straight-thinking mind. And, by acquiring this sechel hayashar, talmidei chachamim promote peace in the world.
Finally, when one learns, they bring the Shechina into the home. As it says in Pirkei Avos, “Afilu echad yosheiv v’oseik b’Torah, Shechina k’negdo – Even one who sits and learns the Torah, the Shechina is before him.” With the Shechina comes the blessing of peace for the Shemo shel HaKadosh Baruch Hu, the Name of Hashem is shalom, peace. Thus, learning Torah is promoting peace in the world.
May our celebration of Shavuos bring a renewed commitment to Torah and with its learning bring its blessings of peace and long life, good health, and everything wonderful.
Transcribed and edited by Shelley Zeitlin.
