Torah and Fire๐Ÿ”ฅ
User Profile Picture
ByMordechai Lewis
ื•ื™ืงืจื ื•ืณ:ื•ืณ
(ื•) ืึตึ—ืฉื ืชึผึธืžึดึ›ื™ื“ ืชึผื•ึผืงึทึฅื“ ืขึทืœึพื”ึทืžึผึดื–ึฐื‘ึผึตึ–ื—ึท ืœึนึฅื ืชึดื›ึฐื‘ึผึถึฝื”ืƒ {ืก}
Leviticus 6:6

(6) A perpetual fire shall be kept burning on the altar, not to go out.

ืชืขื ื™ืช ื–ืณ ื:ื˜ืณ

ืึธืžึทืจ ืจึทื‘ึผึธื” ื‘ึผึทืจ ื‘ึผึทืจ ื—ึธื ึธื”: ืœึธืžึผึธื” ื ึดืžึฐืฉืึฐืœื•ึผ ื“ึผึดื‘ึฐืจึตื™ ืชื•ึนืจึธื” ื›ึผึธืึตืฉื, ืฉืึถื ึผึถืึฑืžึทืจ: ืดื”ึฒืœึนื ื›ึนื” ื“ึฐื‘ึธืจึดื™ ื›ึผึธืึตืฉื ื ึฐืึปื ื”ืณืด, ืœื•ึนืžึทืจ ืœึธืšึฐ: ืžึธื” ืึตืฉื ืึตื™ื ื•ึน ื“ึผื•ึนืœึตืง ื™ึฐื—ึดื™ื“ึดื™, ืึทืฃ ื“ึผึดื‘ึฐืจึตื™ ืชื•ึนืจึธื” ืึตื™ืŸ ืžึดืชึฐืงึทื™ึผึฐื™ืžึดื™ืŸ ื‘ึผึดื™ื—ึดื™ื“ึดื™.

Taanit 7a:9
Rabba bar bar แธคana said: Why are matters of Torah compared to fire, as it is stated: โ€œIs not My word like fire, says the Lordโ€ (Jeremiah 23:29)? To tell you: Just as fire does not ignite in a lone stick of wood but in a pile of kindling, so too, matters of Torah are not retained and understood properly by a lone scholar who studies by himself, but by a group of Sages.
ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช ืœืดื‘ ื‘:ื™ืดื
ืชึผึธื ื•ึผ ืจึทื‘ึผึธื ึทืŸ: ืึทืจึฐื‘ึผึธืขึธื” ืฆึฐืจึดื™ื›ึดื™ืŸ ื—ึดื–ึผื•ึผืง, ื•ึฐืึตืœึผื•ึผ ื”ึตืŸ: ืชึผื•ึนืจึธื”, ื•ึผืžึทืขึฒืฉื‚ึดื™ื ื˜ื•ึนื‘ึดื™ื, ืชึผึฐืคึดืœึผึธื”, ื•ึฐื“ึถืจึถืšึฐ ืึถืจึถืฅ.
Berakhot 32b:11
Connected to the emphasis on the need to bolster oneโ€™s effort in prayer, the Gemara notes that the Sages taught in a baraita: Four things require bolstering, constant effort to improve, and they are: Torah, good deeds, prayer, and occupation.
ืจืฉ"ื™ ืขืœ ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช ืœืดื‘ ื‘:ื™ืดื:ืืณ
ืฆืจื™ื›ื™ืŸ ื—ื–ื•ืง โ€“ ืฉื™ืชื—ื–ืง ืื“ื ื‘ื”ืŸ ืชืžื™ื“ ื‘ื›ืœ ื›ื—ื•:
Rashi on Berakhot 32b:11:1
Need strengthening- That a person should always strengthen them with all his might.

Korbanos were brought onto the Altar. What does the word Korban mean? Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz says that the Hebrew word Korban means, โ€˜that which brings close.โ€™ It is a joyful term because it signifies that we have substances available to help us attain our spiritual goalsโ€ฆ

ื ืคืฉ ื”ื—ื™ื™ื, ืฉืขืจ ื“ ืœืดื:ื’ืณ

ื•ื‘ื–ื•ื”ืจ ืฉืœื— ืงื ืดื˜ ื' ืจืดื™ ืคืชื— ื›ื•'... ื“ื›ืœ ืžืืŸ ื“ืืฉืชื“ืœ ื‘ืื•ืจื™ื™ืชื ื›ืืœื• ืžืงืจื™ื‘ ื›ืœ ืงื•ืจื‘ื ื™ืŸ ื“ืขืœืžื ืœืงืžื™' ืงื‘ืดื”...

Nefesh HaChayim, Gate IV 31:3

And in Zohar Shโ€™lahkh (159a): โ€œFor anyone who is involved with Torah is as if he offers all of the sacrifices in the world before the Holy One (blessed be He)...

ื ืคืฉ ื”ื—ื™ื™ื, ืฉืขืจ ื“ ืœืดื:ื”ืณ

ื•ื‘ื–ื•ื”ืจ ืฆื• ืœืดื” ื' ืชืดื— ื›ื•' ื•ืขืดื“ ืžืืŸ ื“ืœืขื™ ื‘ืื•ืจื™ื™ืชื ืœื ืืฆื˜ืจื™ืš ืœื ืœืงืจื‘ื ื™ืŸ ื•ืœื ืœืขืœื•ื•ืŸ ื“ื”ื ืื•ืจื™ื™ืชื ืขื“ื™ืฃ ืžื›ืœื...

Nefesh HaChayim, Gate IV 31:5

And in Zohar Tzav (35a): โ€œCome and observeโ€ฆ, because of that, one who labors in Torah doesnโ€™t need sacrifices nor offerings, for the Torah is better than all of them...

ื ืคืฉ ื”ื—ื™ื™ื, ืฉืขืจ ื“ ืœืดื:ื–ืณ

ื•ื‘ืžื“ืดื”ื  ื•ื™ืจื ืง' ืขืดื ืืžืจื• ื‘ื˜ืœื• ื”ืงืจื‘ื ื•ืช ืœื ื‘ื˜ืœื” ื”ืชื•ืจื” ื”ืื™ ื“ืœื ืื™ืขืกืง ื‘ืงืจื‘ื ื•ืช ืœื™ืขืกืง ื‘ืชื•ืจื” ื•ื™ืชื”ื ื™ ืœื™' ื™ืชื™ืจ...

Nefesh HaChayim, Gate IV 31:7

And in Midrash Ha-neh-eh-lam Va-yeira (100a) they stated: โ€œThe sacrifices were annulled; Torah was not annulled. Therefore, one who is unable to be involved with sacrifices should involve himself with Torah, and this will yield even better resultsโ€ฆ,

Just like the fire on the Altar was not allowed to be extinguished, so too, if one wants to insure that what has he learned (i.e. the words of Torah) is securely embedded into his memory, he must review it many times over.

ืžืฉืœื™ ื–ืณ:ื’ืณ
(ื’) ืงื‡ืฉืึฐืจึตึฅื ืขึทืœึพืึถืฆึฐื‘ึผึฐืขึนืชึถึ‘ื™ืšึธ ื›ึผื‡ึืชึฐื‘ึตึ—ื ืขึทืœึพืœึฅื•ึผื—ึท ืœึดื‘ึผึถึฝืšึธืƒ
Proverbs 7:3
(3) Bind them on your fingers;
Write them on the tablet of your mind.
ืจืฉ"ื™ ืขืœ ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื™ืดื:ื›ืดื‘:ืืณ
(ื) ืฉืžืจ ืชืฉืžืจื•ืŸ. ืึทื–ึฐื”ึธืจึทืช ืฉืึฐืžึดื™ืจื•ึนืช ื”ึทืจึฐื‘ึผึตื”, ืœึฐื”ึดื–ึผึธื”ึตืจ ื‘ึผึฐืชึทืœึฐืžื•ึผื“ื•ึน ืฉืึถืœึผึนื ื™ึดืฉืึฐืชึผึทื›ึผึทื— (ืฉื):
Rashi on Deuteronomy 11:22:1
(1) ืฉืžืจ ืชืฉืžืจื•ืŸ [IF] YE SHALL DILIGENTLY OBSERVE [ALL THESE COMMANDMENTS] โ€” The repetition of the verb implies an admonition to be very much on oneโ€™s guard: to be careful in respect to oneโ€™s study of the Torah that it should not be forgotten (cf. Sifrei Devarim 48:2).
ืจืฉ"ื™ ืขืœ ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื™ืดื‘:ื›ืดื—:ืืณ
(ื) ืฉืžืจ. ื–ื•ึน ืžึดืฉืึฐื ึธื” ืฉืึถืึทืชึผึธื” ืฆึธืจึดื™ืšึฐ ืœึฐืฉืึธืžึฐืจึธื”ึผ ื‘ึผึฐื‘ึดื˜ึฐื ึฐืšึธ ืฉืึถืœึผึนื ืชึดืฉืึฐื›ึผึทื—, ื›ึผึธืขึดื ึฐื™ึธืŸ ืฉืึถื ึผึถืึฑืžึทืจ (ืžืฉืœื™ ื›"ื‘) "ื›ึผึดื™ ื ึธืขึดื™ื ื›ึผึดื™ ืชึดืฉืึฐืžึฐืจึตื ื‘ึผึฐื‘ึดื˜ึฐื ึถืšึธ", ื•ึฐืึดื ืฉืึธื ึดื™ืชึธ ืึถืคึฐืฉืึธืจ ืฉืึถืชึผึดืฉืึฐืžึทืข ื•ึผืชึฐืงึทื™ึผึตื, ื”ึธื ื›ึธืœ ืฉืึถืึตื™ื ื•ึน ื‘ึผึดื›ึฐืœึทืœ ืžึดืฉืึฐื ึธื” ืึตื™ื ื•ึน ื‘ึผึดื›ึฐืœึทืœ ืžึทืขึฒืฉื‚ึถื” (ืขื™' ืกืคืจื™):
Rashi on Deuteronomy 12:28:1
(1) ืฉืžืจ KEEP [AND HEAR (understand) ALL THESE WORDS WHICH I COMMAND THEE] โ€” This (the word ืฉืžืจ) implies the studying of the oral law โ€” that you must keep it within you that it should not be forgotten, just as it is said, (Proverbs 22:18) โ€œ[And apply thy heart unto my knowledge] for it is a pleasant thing if thou keep (ืชืฉืžืจื) them within theeโ€, and only if thou learnest is it possible that thou wilt understand and fulfil the commands, but one who is not amongst those who study (lit., who is not included in learning) cannot be amongst those who act correctly (cf. Sifrei Devarim 79:3; see also Rashi on Deuteronomy 4:6). (The translation is: keep, i.e. study and retain your learning in mind: ื•ืฉืžืขืช, and then thou wilt understand how to observe the commands).
ื™ืœืงื•ื˜ ืฉืžืขื•ื ื™ ืขืœ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ืชืฉืกืดื‘:ืืณ

(ื) ื–ืืช ื”ืชื•ืจื”. ืืžืจ ืจื‘ื™ ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ [ืœืขื•ืœื] ืืœ ื™ืžื ืข ืื“ื ืขืฆืžื• ืžื“ื‘ืจื™ ืชื•ืจื” ื•ืืคื™ืœื• ื‘ืฉืขืช ืžื™ืชื” ืฉื ืืžืจ ื–ืืช ื”ืชื•ืจื” ืื“ื ื›ื™ ื™ืžื•ืช ื‘ืื”ืœ ืืคื™ืœื• ื‘ืฉืขืช ืžื™ืชื” [ืชื”ื ืขื•ืกืง ื‘ืชื•ืจื”]. ืืžืจ ืจื‘ื™ ืฉืžืขื•ืŸ ื‘ืŸ ืœืงื™ืฉ ืื™ืŸ ื“ื‘ืจื™ ืชื•ืจื” ืžืชืงื™ื™ืžื™ืŸ ืืœื ื‘ืžื™ ืฉืžืžื™ืช ืขืฆืžื• ืขืœื™ื”ืŸ

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 762:1

Torah does not become part of a person unless he devotes himself to it totally.

ืื‘ื•ืช ื“ืจื‘ื™ ื ืชืŸ ื›ืดื“:ื•ืณ
ื”ื•ื ื”ื™ื” ืื•ืžืจ ื™ื›ื•ืœ ืื“ื ืœืœืžื•ื“ ืชื•ืจื” ื‘ืขืฉืจื™ื ืฉื ื” ื•ืœืฉื›ื— ื‘ืฉืชื™ ืฉื ื™ื. ื›ื™ืฆื“ ื™ืฉื‘ ืฉืฉื” ื—ื“ืฉื™ื ื•ืื™ืŸ ื—ื•ื–ืจ ืœืื—ืจื™ื• ื ืžืฆื ืื•ืžืจ ืขืœ ื˜ืžื ื˜ื”ื•ืจ ื•ืขืœ ื˜ื”ื•ืจ ื˜ืžื. ืฉื ื™ื ืขืฉืจ ื—ื“ืฉื™ื ื•ืœื ื—ื–ืจ ืœืื—ืจื™ื• ื ืžืฆื ืžื—ืœื™ืฃ ื—ื›ืžื™ื ื–ื” ื‘ื–ื”. ื™ืดื— ื—ื“ืฉื™ื ื•ืœื ื—ื–ืจ ืœืื—ืจื™ื• ื ืžืฆื ืžืฉื›ื— ืจืืฉื™ ืžืกื›ืชื•ืชื™ื•. ื›ืดื“ ื—ื“ืฉื™ื ื•ืื™ืŸ ื—ื•ื–ืจ ืœืื—ืจื™ื• ื ืžืฆื ืžืฉื›ื— ืจืืฉื™ ืคืจืงื™ื ื•ืžืชื•ืš ืฉืืžืจ ืขืœ ื˜ืžื ื˜ื”ื•ืจ ื•ืขืœ ื˜ื”ื•ืจ ื˜ืžื ื•ืžื—ืœื™ืฃ ื—ื›ื ื‘ื—ื›ื ื•ืžืฉื›ื— ืจืืฉื™ ืžืกื›ืชื•ืชื™ื• ื•ืจืืฉื™ ืคืจืงื™ื• ืกื•ืฃ ืฉื™ื•ืฉื‘ ื•ื“ื•ืžื ื•ืขืœื™ื• ืืžืจ ืฉืœืžื” (ืžืฉืœื™ ื›ื“) ืขืœ ืฉื“ื” ืื™ืฉ ืขืฆืœ ืขื‘ืจืชื™ ื•ืขืœ ื›ืจื ืื“ื ื—ืกืจ ืœื‘ ื•ื”ื ื” ืขืœื” ื›ืœื• ืงืžืฉื•ื ื™ื ื›ืกื• ืคื ื™ื• ื—ืจื•ืœื™ื ื•ื’ื“ืจ ืื‘ื ื™ื• ื ื”ืจืกื”. ื•ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉื ืคืœ ื›ื•ืชืœื• ืฉืœ ื›ืจื ืžื™ื“ ื—ืจื‘ ื›ืœ ื”ื›ืจื ื›ื•ืœื•:
Avot DeRabbi Natan 24:6
He would also say: A person can study Torah for twenty years and forget it all in two years. How so? If he sat for six months and did not review what he had learned, he would begin to say that what was impure was pure, and what was pure was impure. After twelve months of no review, he would mix up the names of the sages. After eighteen months of no review, he would forget the beginnings of the tractates. After twenty-four months of no review, he would forget the beginnings of the chapters. Finally, he would have to sit and be silent. [King] Solomon said about such a person (Proverbs 24:30โ€“31), โ€œI passed by the field of a lazy man, and by the vineyard of a heartless person. It was all overgrown with thorns, its surface was covered with weeds, and the stone wall around it had been destroyed.โ€ And when the wall of a vineyard falls, soon enough the whole vineyard is destroyed.

Simply put, learning Torah requires commitment. Torah isnโ€™t something that one only learns when itโ€™s convenient for him.

ืžืฉื ื” ืื‘ื•ืช ื‘ืณ:ื“ืณ

(ื“) ื•ึฐืึทืœ ืชึผึนืืžึทืจ ืœึดื›ึฐืฉืึถืึดืคึผึธื ึถื” ืึถืฉืึฐื ึถื”, ืฉืึถืžึผึธื ืœึนื ืชึดืคึผึธื ึถื”:

Pirkei Avot 2:4

(4) Say not: โ€˜when I shall have leisure I shall study;โ€™ perhaps you will not have leisure.

ืจื‘ื™ื ื• ื™ื•ื ื” ืขืœ ืคืจืงื™ ืื‘ื•ืช ื‘ืณ:ื“ืณ:ื™ืณ

(ื™) ืืœ ืชืืžืจ ืœื›ืฉืืคื ื” ืืฉื ื” ืฉืžื ืœื ืชืคื ื”. ื›ื™ ืœื ืชื“ืข ืžื” ื™ืœื“ ื™ื•ื ื•ื’ื ืœืžื—ืจ ื™ืงืจืื• ืœืš ื›ื™ ื—ื“ืฉื•ืช ื”ื ืžื’ื™ื“ื™ื ื•ืชืฆื˜ืจืš ืœืœื›ืช ื‘ื“ืจื›ื™ื”ื ื›ื™ ืื™ืŸ ืžื—ืกื•ืจ ืœืขื ื™ื ื™ื ื”ืžืชื—ื“ืฉื™ื ื‘ื›ืœ ื™ื•ื ื•ื ืžืฆืืช ื™ื•ืฆืืช ืžืŸ ื”ืขื•ืœื ื‘ืœื ืชื•ืจื”. ืืœื ืขืฉื” ืชื•ืจืชืš ืงื‘ืข ื•ืžืœืื›ืชืš ืขืจืื™:

Rabbeinu Yonah on Pirkei Avot 2:4:10

(10) Do not say, "When I will be available I will study [Torah]," lest you never become available: Since 'you do not know what a [new] day will [bring]' and 'they will also call you tomorrow,' since they will speak new matters and you will have to follow their paths. As there is no lack of new matters [requiring your attention] every day. And it will come out that you will leave the world without Torah [knowledge]. But rather you should 'make your Torah fixed' and your work flexible.

ืจืžื‘"ืŸ ืขืœ ื•ื™ืงืจื ื•ืณ:ื‘ืณ:ื’ืณ

(ื’) ื•ืืฉ ื”ืžื–ื‘ื— ืชื•ืงื“ ื‘ื• ื™ืืžืจ ืฉืชื•ืงื“ ื‘ืžื–ื‘ื— ื›ืœ ื”ืœื™ืœื” ื›ื™ ืžืฆื•ื” ืฉื™ืฉื™ืžื• ื‘ื™ื•ื ืขืฆื™ื ื”ืจื‘ื” ื›ื“ื™ ืฉืœื ื™ืชืื›ืœื• ืœื’ืžืจื™ ื•ื™ื›ื‘ื” ื”ืืฉ ืžืžื ื•.

Ramban on Leviticus 6:2:3

(3) AND THE FIRE OF THE ALTAR SHALL BE BLAZING IN IT. Scripture is stating that it should burn on the altar during the whole night, it being a positive commandment that the priests should put on at daytime a lot of wood in order that it should not be burnt up completely and the fire [should not] become extinguished from it [during the night].

So too, one should be more meticulous about studying Torah at night than about doing so in the daytime.

ืžืฉื ื” ืชื•ืจื”, ื”ืœื›ื•ืช ืชืœืžื•ื“ ืชื•ืจื” ื’ืณ:ื™ืดื’

(ื™ื’) ืึทืฃ ืขึทืœ ืคึผึดื™ ืฉืึถืžึผึดืฆึฐื•ึธื” ืœึดืœึฐืžึนื“ ื‘ึผึทื™ึผื•ึนื ื•ึผื‘ึทืœึผึทื™ึฐืœึธื” ืึตื™ืŸ ืึธื“ึธื ืœึธืžึตื“ ืจึนื‘ ื—ึธื›ึฐืžึธืชื•ึน ืึถืœึผึธื ื‘ึผึทืœึผึทื™ึฐืœึธื”.

Mishneh Torah, Torah Study 3:13

(13) Although it is mandatory to study by day and by night, no man acquires most of his wisdom at any but during night-time.

The most important part of learning or reviewing Torah is enthusiasm.

ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื—ืณ:ื’ืณ
(ื’) ื•ึทื™ึผึทึคืขึทืฉื‚ ื›ึผึตืŸึ™ ืึทื”ึฒืจึนึ”ืŸ ืึถืœึพืžื•ึผืœึ™ ืคึผึฐื ึตึฃื™ ื”ึทืžึผึฐื ื•ึนืจึธึ”ื” ื”ึถืขึฑืœึธึ–ื” ื ึตืจึนืชึถึ‘ื™ื”ึธ ื›ึผึทึฝืึฒืฉืึถึ›ืจ ืฆึดื•ึผึธึฅื” ื™ืงื•ืง ืึถืชึพืžึนืฉืึถึฝื”ืƒ
Numbers 8:3
(3) Aaron did so; he mounted the lamps at the front of the lampstand, as ื™ืงื•ืง had commanded Moses.โ€”
ืฉืคืช ืืžืช, ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ, ื‘ื”ืขืœื•ืชืš ื“ืณ:ื‘ืณ

(ื‘) ื•ื™ืขืฉ ื›ืŸ ืื”ืจืŸ. ืฉืœื ืฉื™ื ื”. ื™ืฉ ืœืคืจืฉ ื›ื™ ืขืฉื” ืžืขืฉื” ื”ืžืฆื•ื” ื›ืœ ื™ืžื™ ื—ื™ื™ื• ื‘ื›ื•ื•ื ื” ื•ืจืฆื•ืŸ ืื—ื“. ื›ื™ ื“ืจืš ื›ืœ ืื“ื. ืฉื‘ื”ืชื—ืœื” ืžืชืขื•ืจืจ ืœื˜ื•ื‘. ืื—"ื› ื ืฉื›ื— ืžืžื ื•. ื•ืฆืจื™ืš ืœื—ืคืฉ ื”ืชืขื•ืจืจื•ืช ื‘ืื•ืคืŸ ืื—ืจ ืชืžื™ื“. ื•ื”ืืžืช ื›ื™ ื”ื”ืชืคืขืœื•ืช ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ื”ื•ื ื”ืžื•ื‘ื—ืจ ืœื–ืืช ื ืืžืจ ืขืœ ืื”ืจืŸ ืฉืœื ืฉื™ื ื” ื•ืžืžื™ืœื ื‘ื ืœื• ืชืžื™ื“ ื”ืฉื’ื•ืช ื—ื“ืฉื•ืช ื›ืž"ืฉ ืื ืฉืžื•ืข ื‘ื™ืฉืŸ ืชืฉืžืข ื‘ื—ื“ืฉ:

Sefat Emet, Numbers, Beha'alotcha 4:2

Aharon lit the Menorah, day in and day out, with the same degree of fresh enthusiasm. The same task always appeared in his eyes as new and it never became a matter of routine with him. Now thatโ€™s truly deserving of praise!

With Hashemโ€™s help, by making it our task to constantly review what we learn, may we develop deeper insights into His Torah!

In memory of Dovid Pinchas Ben Moshe Aharon, Malka Devora Sima bas Meir Nosson, Esther Perel bas Rโ€™ Shlomo, Miriam bas Zelig Shaul, Menachem ben Shimon, Menachem ben Zev, Avraham Yosef ben Meir Dovid, Sarah bas HaRav Yisroel, Zushe Yosef ben Shmuel Tzvi, Dovid Tzvi ben Yosef Yochanan, Kayla Rus bas Bunim Tuvia, Dovid ben Uri HaLevi, Dovid Avraham ben Chiya Kehos, Yosef ben Moshe HaLevi, Tuvyah Shlomo ben Naftali Tzvi HaKohein, Altah Soshah Devorah bas Aryeh Leibush, Mashah Tzivyah bas Rโ€™ Shlomo Zalman and all the other departed souls of our nation.

For the complete recovery of Chayah Malka bas Bas-Sheva, and among the other sick ones of our nation.

For comments or feedback, please email [email protected].