Shavuos Messages -- 5777

The Sweetness of Torah:

The Chofetz Chaim (HaRav Yisroel Meir HaKohen Kagan zt”l) quotes an opinion of some Rishonim, who hold that if you have honey, and you find little pieces of bee in it, you may still eat the honey.  Why?  Because the honey is so sweet, that it changes something from a davar tamei (impure thing) to a davar tahor (pure thing). (Though we do not hold like these Rishonim in this matter eating-wise).  

However, explains the Chofetz Chaim zt”l, the Torah is sweeter than honey:  And if honey can do that, then all the more so, when one learns Torah, it can change the bad in them to good!!  When you engross yourself in Torah, it can totally change and improve you. (Told over by Rebbe Avrohom Schorr shlit”a in a shiur on YouTube and TorahAnytime.com.  I highly recommend listening to the whole shiur, as it is very meaningful.  It is called: Shavuot: Everyone Can Improve Through the Honey-Sweet Torah).

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The Torah:  By Hashem:

“If we were told that there exists a book written by the Angel Gavriel, how we would yearn to read it!  And here we have before us a Book written by G-d Himself!” (The Chofetz Chaim zt”l in Sparks of Mussar).

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The Greatness of Torah:

‘Holy he shall be’ (Bamidbar 5:6)

The Gemara derives from this that regular Nezirus is 30 days, because the word “יהיה” is the numerical value of 30.

“From this it is possible to see, until how is the greatness of the strength of the Torah, for even upon one numerical value that is in the Written Torah, it is arranged upon the hands of the Sages however many Pages in Maseches Nazir.” (The Chofetz Chaim zt”l in “Chofetz Chaim on the Torah").

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The Map of Life:  The Torah:

The Alter of Novhardok (HaRav Yosef Yozel Hurwitz zt”l) taught:  In wartime, the generals pore over maps to scrutinize tiny dots, each of which represent a river, a hill, or a valley.  

In this way, they decide where to advance and where to retreat; where to dig in and which places to avoid.  On the basis of the study of this map the battle is waged.

But an ignorant person who came into the room would be amazed to see the chiefs of staff studying tiny dots and would think them foolish for doing so!

Says Rav Yosef Yozel zt”l:  The map of life is the Torah:  Some ignorant people think that the Torah contains insignificant points; but they don’t understand that each “little” point is crucial…… (Sparks of Mussar).

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Accepting the Torah Anew Each Year:

Many Gedolim teach us that each Shavuos we should accept the Torah anew.  Accept it straight from Hashem, the King of the World.  It is like the Giving of the Torah all over again.  

This means not just receiving it anew, but really accepting it in our lives; re-dedicating our commitment to it; and trying to not just learn it more, but to live it more.  In my eyes, Shavuos is like another chance; another chance at utilizing the great gift of the Torah, which we have unlimited access to, Baruch Hashem.

It is my hope that the above teachings will, B’Ezras Hashem, help everyone to accept the Torah in purity this year, and in that merit, we will soon see the coming of Mashiach, speedily in our days.  Amein.

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A Chag Sameach and a Lichtiger Kabbolas HaTorah to all!