Judgement Day- Of A Different Kind
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Judgement Day- Of A Different Kind
Shavuos, the day of Torah.
What a gift![1]
The Shelah[2]
writes that we must be especially happy on Shavuos because we merited the כתר תורה...
The following are just some
of the many gifts that we can benefit, through Torah.
1) The Chazon Ish[3]
writes in a letter that one who merits ידיעת
התורה
appears as a man but is like a Malach on high.
2) There is nothing that connects someone more
to Hashem than Torah, says the Maharal.[4]
3) Our Torah has far-reaching results. In
another letter, the Chazon Ish[5]
writes that if the Bnei Torah would toil in תורה
לאמתתה they
would save many children and men from הרהור
עבירה;
forbidden thoughts of sin, כפירה; denial of Hashem, and the like.[6]
So, our Torah can affect that which our actions can’t.
4) It is through Torah that the world continues
to exist.[7]
For this reason, it is called a תורת חיים. In the Yeshiva of R’
Chaim Voloziner, there was always a shift learning throughout the night in
order that there would always be someone learning. In fact, R’ Chaim Voloziner
would visit the Beis Midrash a few times throughout the night to encourage
those learning. Even when he was old and couldn’t give a shiur, he still kept
up his nightly visits. Additionally, after Yom Kippur, while everyone would
break their fast, he would learn to continue the existence of the world.
We are taught that Shavuos[8]
is the day of judgment for Torah.[9]
Just as we were judged when the world was created so too with Shauvos, as Torah
was given on this day. In fact, there were those who were more fearful of
Shavuos than Rosh Hashana since on Rosh Hashana our physicality is judged
whereas on Shavuos it is our spirituality that is at stake.
The Mishna teaches that we
are judged on Shavuos for fruits of the tree.[10]
The tree refers to Torah, the tree of life- עץ חיים.[11]
The fruits of the tree refer to our חידושי
תורה;[12]
novelties of Torah.[13]
Indeed, the Sefas Emes tells us that on Shavuos each Jew receives what he will
understand and be מחדש in Torah[14]
for the year-כל אחד ואחד מישראל בחג הזה כל מה שעתיד
להבין ולחדש בתורה.[15]
[1] The Ohr Hachaim (Shemos 14:27) tells us creation is
subservient to Torah and those who toil in it, and to do all that they decree
just as if Hashem decreed it (The miracle of the sea splitting is that it was
before Matan Torah.).
[2] Mesachta Shavuos
[3] Igros Chazon Ish, 1:13
[4] Gevuros Hashem chapter 8. See also Nesiv Hatorah,
chapter 9
[5] Igros Chazon Ish 3:62.
[6] In this way, we can
explain שתולים בבית
הי...יפריחו;
planted in the house of Hashem, in the courtyards of our G-d they will flourish
(Tehillim 92), as if one is planted in the house of Hashem, then he can affect
the חצירות,
that which is outside the Beis Midrash.
[7] Nefesh Hachaim 4:25. For this reason, there are
different time zones since for example when one is sleeping in America, there
can be someone learning in Eretz Yisrael.
[8] One explanation given for
staying up Shavuos night is the following: One who is reading an exhilarating,
stimulating novel that draws him, finds it difficult to put down. The same is
with our Torah, which we received on Shavuos.
[9] This is said in the name of the ר"ן.
[10] Rosh Hashana 16a
[11] Mishlei 3:18. In regard to writing on Chol Hamoed,
the Mishna Brura (545:47) writes about the loss of חידושי תורה
thatאין לך דבר
האבד גדול מזה; there is no greater loss than this.
[12] The Nachalas Yaakov (Hakdama to Mesachta Sofrim)
brings the comments of the Alshich onאם תבקשנה ככסף... (Mishlei 2:4). He says that one shouldn’t
despair from engaging in that which he desires whether it is in Chumash,
Mishna, Talmud or Aggada and to even have insights (חידוש).
One shouldn’t say who am I and if it is such a great חידוש,
why didn’t the earlier generations come up with it, because maybe this is his
portion of Torah from Sinai.
[13] We can interpret it this way since really we have a
question on the simple meaning. On Pesach, we daven for טל;
dew because we are judged for grain. On Succos, we daven for rain as that is
when we are judged on rain. So, why on Shavuos do we not daven for the fruits
of the tree since that is what we are judged on then?
[14] The Nefesh Hachaim (4:12)
writes that each word one is מחדש from his mouth, Hashem kisses
and crowns and builds an entirely new world from it (see the Zohar he quotes
for an in-depth description).
[15] See also Sefas Emes, Shavuos, תרסא,
s.v. המנהג.
The Meor Einayim (Miketz, s.v. זמן) comments that each person
receives the Torah on Shavuos. See also Shemos Rabba 28:6.
[16] R’ Dessler writes from R’ Yisrael Salanter that there
is one Tefila that gets answered at any time and any situation- a Tefila for
heavenly assistance in spirituality (Michtav M’Eliyahu, volume 4, pg 77).
[17] Nida 70b. This works in tandem with spending more
time studying and less time engaged in business as the Gemara there says.
Besides personal Tefila, we can also daven for Torah- by Birchas Hatorah, אתה חונן in
Shemona Esrei, הוא יפתח לבנו בתורתו in ובא לציון
among other places.
[18] A Gadol once said, “The
day I don’t cry during אהבה רבה, I can’t be creative in my learning.”
[19] The Shaar Yissoschar (Maamar Chag Habikurim, 93)
writes that we are accustomed to lengthen and have lots of כונה in אהבה רבה on
Shavuos morning.
[20] Pesachim 68b. Yeshaya 21:12, see Baba Kamma 3b. The
Pele Yoatz (עצרת, s.v. והכל) says that it is better for one
to sleep the entire night of Shavuos than to recite Shema and Tefila dozing
off.
[21] תרעא, בי דינא לחג השבועות (brought in Sefer Banyan Olam on
the Mitzva of Talmud Torah, chapter 16)
[22] 131
