Parasha Thoughts
By Rabbi Yitzchak Ariel
“This is the Torah (the law): if a man dies in a tent, anyone entering the tent and anything in the tent shall be impure for seven days.” (Bamidbar ch 19 verse 14) Although the word Torah in this verse means law, the question must be asked; why did Hashem chose to start the verse by saying “this is the Torah”? There are many other words for the Torah to use to introduce a law. Our sages tell us that the Torah is worded in this way in order to teach us that the knowledge of the Torah can only be acquired by one who kills himself over it. This is alluded to in the first words of the verse: “This is the Torah: if a man dies.” What exactly do our sages mean when the say that one must kill himself to really gain the knowledge of the Torah? The Chofetz Chaim gives a parable to illustrate the point.
There was once a very successful businessman whose merchandise was in such high demand that he did not even have time to pray with a minyan in shul. Day after day he would work hours on end at the expense of his religion and spirituality. As he grew older and he began to see some white hairs in his beard, he started to realize the importance of his spiritual endeavors and growth. He slowly began to work less and spend more time in the synagogue praying and studying. One night it was close to midnight and he still wasn’t home. His worried wife went around town searching for him and to her shock found him in the shul learning. “What has been going on lately? What has sparked this sudden change?” the wife asked. The man replied, “I am getting older and I cannot let these days slip away. What if these few moments are my last? I don’t want to leave this world as a businessman who has amassed an abundance of wealth but has not grown spiritually.”
The Chofetz Chaim explains that this is what the sages mean. To really acquire the knowledge and wisdom of the Torah, one must study it with such passion and dedication as if every moment could be his last, keeping in mind what he will have accomplished in this world before he departs.