Parshas Bamidbar

In particular, this should involve study of those subjects which are customarily studied by the entire Jewish people. This includes — in these summer months — Pirkei Avos. The intent is that Pirkei Avos will be learned, not merely recited. Each week, on should learn at least one Mishnah in depth.

Similarly, it is important to renew and strengthen our study of Chitas, Chumash, Tehillim, and Tanya. Herein there is an intrinsic connection to the giving of the Torah, for these three texts are related to the three Jewish leaders associated with the holiday of Shavuos: Moshe, who received the Torah at Mount Sinai, King David, whose yahrzeit is on Shavuos and who wrote the Book of Tehillim, and the Baal Shem Tov whose yahrzeit is also on Shavuos, and whose teachings where collected and explained by the Alter Rebbe in the Tanya.

Also, this is an appropriate time to renew and strengthen our study of the Rambam’s works, the Mishneh Torah and Sefer HaMitzvos in keeping with the three-pronged program of study that has been established. Similarly, each person should continue the programs of Torah study that he has established individually.

Furthermore, as mentioned, each individual should endeavor to develop new Torah concepts, and also, to publish them. To explain, every Jew has the potential — and according to the Zohar, it is an obligation — to develop new Torah concepts.

In the previous generations, people were very reticent to write, let alone, publish such Torah concepts, lest they not have appreciate the true intent of the law or concept with which they were concerned.

At present, however, there must be efforts in the opposite direction. It is necessary to take precautions that people do not write directives of Torah law when they are incapable of doing so. Nevertheless, simultaneously, it is necessary to do whatever is necessary to encourage people to increase their efforts in Torah study.

And for that reason, it is worthy to encourage all those who are trained in the proper approach to Torah study — even if they are not totally sure that the new concepts are 100% accurate — to publish and disseminate the Torah ideas that they develop. (Needless to say, however, it is proper to add that these texts should contain a statement saying that they should not be considered as works from which halachic directives for actual practice should be derived.)

We see the success of such an approach. When people compose Torah texts like these, they are inspired to dedicate more effort to Torah study. Similarly, “the envy of the scribes increases knowledge” and their efforts spur other colleagues to like endeavors.

May these activities spread the rest and tranquility associated with the giving of the Torah throughout the world and hasten the coming of “the era which is all rest and Shabbos for eternity.” Until the coming of that era, we are in a state of distress, as our Sages said, “Woe to the children who have been exiled from their Father’s table.” The exile has caused us travail in regard to our material welfare, and similarly, has prevented us from reaching our true potential in the service of G-d. Indeed, it is impossible for us to appreciate how much the exile has hindered us, for we are all children of the exile. We have grown up in exile and it dominates our thought processes.

This, however, will be brought to an end in the near future. Through the service of teshuvah, each person will establish a connection with the essence of his soul. And this will lift us and the entire world above the limitations of the exile, into “the era which is all rest and Shabbos for eternity.”

May we merit the Redemption immediately. — Significantly, מיד, the Hebrew for “immediately,” is an acronym for the names of the three Jewish leaders mentioned previously: Moshe משה, Yisrael (the Baal Shem Tov) ישראל, and David דוד. — And then we will appreciate the true sense of rest and tranquility. READ FULL SUMMARY