With Shavuos in our rearview mirrors, some of us might be thinking about our Torah learning and wondering why it’s not going anywhere.
Perhaps you have trouble remembering what you’ve learned. Maybe you’re frustrated that you can’t seem to be faithful to your Torah learning schedule while everyone else seems to be finishing masechtos. Or it could be that no matter how hard you try to commit yourself to be maavir sedra, when parshios such as Vayeitzei or Terumah come along, you drop out.
I’d like to share a powerful Medrash that can perhaps be of great assistance. The 28th pasuk of the 28th perek of Iyov reads: “Vayomer la’adam, hein, yiras Hashem hi chachmah – And He said to man, Behold, fear of G-d, that is wisdom.” The word “koach” (strength) is 28 in gematria; I don’t think it’s coincidental, therefore, that this pasuk contains an amazingly potent message.
Literally, the pasuk means that fear of G-d is the fundamental wisdom of Judaism, but the Medrash (Shemos Rabbah) states that this pasuk also teaches us that wisdom is the reward for fearing G-d. The Medrash offers Shifra and Puah as an example. Because they feared Hashem, they defied Pharaoh’s command to kill Jewish babies and were rewarded with a legacy of Torah wisdom in their family.
Shifra (Yocheved) gave birth to Moshe, who was described at birth as “ki tov hu – for he was good,” and we know that “ein tov ela Torah – ‘good’ refers only to Torah,” and Puah (Miriam) had as a descendant Betzalel, who built the Aron HaKodesh that housed the Torah.
In other words, if we want to acquire and retain Torah wisdom, we must fear Hashem first. “Reishis chachmah yiras Hashem.” The first step towards wisdom is cultivating awareness and fear of Hashem. The same sentiment is expressed in Pirkei Avos 3:9, “Kol sheyiras chet’o kodemes l’chachmaso, chachmaso miskayemes – If a person’s fear of G-d proceeds his wisdom, his wisdom will be preserved.”
The same message is found in the Torah’s words about tefillin, “V’haya lecha le’os al yadecha u’lezikaron bein einecha lema’an tihiyeh Toras Hashem beficha – It should be a sign upon your hand and a remembrance opposite your eyes so that Hashem’s Torah will be in your mouth.” If we keep Hashem in our minds and hearts – i.e., if we become G-d-fearing – we will succeed at having Torah in our mouths.
It therefore behooves us to stress studying mussar because when we learn ethical sefarim (such as Mesilas Yesharim, Chovos Halevavos, and Shaarei Teshuvah), our yiras Hashem will increase and thereby make our Torah studies much more successful.
We can also build yiras Hashem by teaching our children to stand up for the elderly and revere Torah sages, as the Torah states, “Mipnei seiva takum v’hadarta pnei zakein, v’yareisa me’Elokecha – Stand up for the elderly and revere the Torah sage, and you will [be gifted with the] fear [of] G-d.”
So too, let’s ensure that children give proper reverence to their parents; we should teach them not to sit in their places or contradict them for Hashem says, “There are three partners in [the creation of] man. If you show reverence for the two partners, your parents, I will know you have reverence for the silent partner” – i.e., Hashem.
Refraining from saying lashon hara or doing any aveira because Hashem is watching also demonstrates fear of Hashem, which will earn us immediate points toward greater Torah success.
May it be the will of Hashem that we attain a deeper yiras Hashem and, as a result, reach greater heights in our Torah studies – thereby earning its blessings of long life, good health, and everything wonderful.