Behar - Bejukotai 5775 - English

B’har-B’chukotai

Our second Parashah begins with the words Im B’chukotai teleju (“If you follow My laws”).  From the use of the verb halaj (teleju) in this phrase, the noun halakha became a synonym of the will of God as it is consecrated in His law.

In time, the halakha (in Hebrew: הלכה) was granted by the sages of Israel with the meaning of “the law” par excellence.  

Rashi, our dearest commentator of the Torah, says about the phrase Im B’chukotai teleju: “this verse teaches that the Almighty wants Israel to really make an effort with the Torah.”

In other words, the practice of the Torah transcends the tight boundaries of a formal and routine observance of the biblical mandates.  This implies a constant and methodical spiritual practice.  According to this teaching, a “halakhically” correct compliance is not enough, unless it is accompanied by a sense of commitment and devotion.  

One of the followers of the famous Rabbi of Kotzk once asked him why, even though he devoted himself to the Torah from morning to evening to become an erudite, he never reached that coveted distinction.  

The Kotzker answered that nowhere in the Torah does it say that a Jew should set becoming an erudite as a goal in life.  

Surprised, the student pointed out to his teacher that he must have overlooked the exhortation of Isaiah, limdu heitev (learn well), to which the Kotzker responded that he had a translation error in the phrase.  In fact, Rashi explained heitev not as an adverb (well), but as an infinitive –leheitiv– (doing good).  The purpose of the Torah is not to earn the status and reputation of an erudite, or to win the esteem of Jewish society.  “Doing good” inspired by the values of the Torah broadens the reach and motivation to carry out good deeds, to comply with the mitzvot, in service of God and man.  

Putting a lot of effort into the Torah indicates putting the Torah into practice, to achieve an interaction between the Torah and professional effort, the Torah and leisure, the Torah and wellbeing, the Torah and life.  

When we celebrate the end of a Talmudic treatise, we usually recite the following saying: “We (students of the Torah) work, and others do as well. We work and earn the rewards, they get fatigued and do not earn any reward.”

The well reknowned sage Hefetz Haim explains how in business hardly anyone is rewarded just for his effort.  In that field, you have to work hard so that your effort may produce results, to make it “profitable”.  

On the contrary, when you dedicate yourself to the study of the Torah, you are rewarded by the work itself, by the effort, the love, the mitzvah, even if –like in the case of the disciple– you never become an erudite… 

Rabbi Daniel Kripper