Parasha Thoughts
By Rabbi David Cohen
Hashem spoke to Moshe in the wilderness of Sinai. (1:1)
The Midrash notes the Torah’s emphasis on the place where the Torah was given to Klal Yisrael. Chazal say, “The Torah was given in the wilderness. Just as it is accessible and free to everyone, so, too, is the Torah. Furthermore, one must make himself hefker, ownerless, like a wilderness, devoid of all self, in order to acquire Torah.” What this means is we must submit ourselves to the Torah.
We live in a time where everyone is entitled to their opinion. There isn’t an absolute wrong or right. Unfortunately, this mode of thinking has slipped into our hallowed Beit Kenessets and study halls. We sometimes don’t grasp the deep complexity of the Torah and easily dismiss it, thinking our opinions or rationale is just as good. The only way to truly acquire Torah is to be open and free ourselves – like a desert – from our biases.
Shabbat Shalom