Parshat Tetzaveh
Parshat Zachor
13 Adar 5764

March 6, 2004
Daf Yomi: Chulin 43

Guest Author:
Rabbi Chaim Bausk

Young Israel of East Northport, NY

 

Humility: Key to the Acquisition of Torah
The Torah tells us that the oil for the Menorah in the Tabernacle had to be pure olive oil obtained by pounding the olives in a mortar making sure not to have any sediment within it. The Menorah has, in a symbolic sense, been viewed as representing Torah. Torah is light, our guiding light as to how to lead our lives. The purity of the oil symbolizes the concept that we must approach Torah with purity of thought, trying to always see the Truth of Torah. From the fact that the Torah tells us that the olives must be beaten, two symbolic ideas are derived.

 

Firstly, that a person has to work very hard in order to extract the truth and essence of Torah. Secondly, the process of the olives being pressed shows that a person must approach the study of Torah with humility. It is this last point that I would like to delve into.

The first Mishna in the Ethics of our Fathers states that Moshe received the Torah from Sinai. The Tiferes Yisroel is bothered by this statement. Moshe did not receive the Torah from the mountain of Sinai, but from HaShem at Sinai. This being the case, why did the Tanna say it the way he did? He answers that just like the mountain of Sinai was chosen to be the place where the Torah would be given because it was a low mountain representing the concept of humility, so too Moshe was chosen to be the recipient of the Torah because of his exceptional quality of humility. The Tiferes Yisroel goes on to say that this teaches us a very important lesson, namely, that only by possessing the attribute of humility can a person properly acquire Torah.

Why is this quality of humility so crucial in the process of acquiring Torah? I would like to offer some possibilities.
Firstly, the quality of humility will enable a person to accept upon himself, with a full heart, the Chukim - mitzvos given to us without the reasons for them being revealed. Possessing humility will prevent the person from saying, "I'm from Missouri! I must have a logical reason before I do this mitvah".
Secondly, to read "B'Chol Dirachav Mishpat" (all the ways of HaShem are just), and to accept it fully without an iota of reservation demands humility.

Thirdly, humility is necessary to see the truth of Torah. A person learns a Rashi and doesn't understand it. Without humility, a person may say that the Rashi doesn't make sense and move on or offer his own interpretation of the posuk. However, a person of humility will say that his lack of understanding lies in his own shortcoming. He will read the Rashi over and over again or ask someone else to help him. Similarly, Shimon is learning with Reuven and Shimon offers an understanding of Rashi. Reuven disagress and tries to prove to Shimon why he is right. If Shimon is a person of humility he will listen and be open to seeing if Reuven's approach is better than his; and if he is right then Shimon will be accepting of Reuven's insight. A person lacking humility cannot do this. The haughty person wants to win, regardless of whether he is right or wrong. Last but not least, bowing to the Daas Torah (the decision of our Torah Sages) of our Rebbeim and Gedolei Yisroel is also predicated on humility.

If we all try to approach the study of Torah with humility then we will be fulfilling the biggest mitzvah we have in the best manner possible.

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