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Weekly thoughts
Sunday, May 20, 2007
The purpose of learning Torah seems to be doing the Mitzvos properly. Yet we find evidence that the study of Torah trumps the fulfillment of Mitzvos when the Mitzva can be done by another. So we find it strange that the Mishneh in Avos chapter 3 says twice that someone whose wisdom is greater than his deeds, his wisdom will not last. Only if his deeds exceed his wisdom will his wisdom last. Now we have just learned that deeds are to be more than wisdom, so how can the study of Torah Trump doing Mitzvos?The usual interpretation here would be , what is the person more noted for. For example, it was revealed by a wandering soul that the famed Chofetz Chayim was considered in Heaven like one of the teachers in the Mishneh due to his diligence in Torah, nonetheless, our appreciation of him is mostly for his good deeds and superior Midos!Yet this alone doesn't suffice, for the term used isn't what the person is famous for, rather it is deeds are more than wisdom!It is my opinion that this is referring to a teacher who chooses to exert himself in teaching others at the sacrifice of his greater knowledge of Torah. In such a case one might think that one has lessened the greatness of Torah by the preoccupation with lesser Talmidim.The Mishneh says , that as a result of this teachers efforts the deeds will multiply through thesuccess and inspiration of the many. This will help the wisdom that he attains to be true and deep wisdom and therefore long lasting. True, the efforts with Talmidim take time ,effort and one's level of intellect suffers. However, the Torah one is able to learn under these conditions is likened to a tree whose roots are many but its' branches are few. Although the branches of wisdom are fewer than had he been left to study on his own. however, the roots are many and deeper. That means that the wisdom itself is clearer and more profound as a result of toiling with others. Because such wisdom is granted more clarity and depth, this wisdom lasts and students will repeat the teachers' words forever!
Posted by Rabbi Chaim Moshe at 5:55 PM
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