Wanted: Dead & Alive

by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine

“If you will go in My laws, and observe My commandments…” So begins the description of Hashem’s blessings if we will conduct ourselves in the ways of Torah. But the statement seems redundant. What does it mean to “go” in the laws, that would not have been included in “observing”?

The Mahral explains that “going” refers to growth as opposed to stagnation. To go in Torah means to go deeper, to progress in one’s understanding and in one’s depth of observance.

Many people think that this refers only to Torah scholars. Such people constantly strive to achieve new levels of greatness in Torah. But the truth is that this concept of “going” in Torah applies to all of us. We may not all be able to spend many hours learning Torah and delving into its message. But we should each have a serenity hour: an hour which is set aside to fulfill this directive, “to go in Torah.” If not every day, but certainly once a week, there should be a time designated to advance in Torah.

Sometimes we really want to designate time to study and advance in Torah. It just seems that somehow life just seems to get in the way.

The story is told of a wealthy man who often invited poor people to his home for dinner. His generosity was such that the table was set beautifully, and he offered much food to his guests. But he had one fault. He was very curious.

As soon as the poor guest would sit down, he would pepper the guest with questions about his family and home town. Trying to be courteous, the poor person would invariably try to answer the questions politely. But by the time he did so, the course was over, and the poor man didn’t get to eat much.

No one was quite sure if the wealthy man was being mean, or was just insatiably curious. It made no matter. Invariably his guests didn’t get to eat.

One day a guest arrived in town from the very town that the wealthy man had grown up in. The locals warned the beggar to accept an invite from anyone in town except from this wealthy man. Should he be so unfortunate as to end up in this man’s home, the beggar would surely never be able to eat as he would have to fill the man in on all the details on the town of his youth. The beggar listen to the warning closely and then accepted the invitation to the wealthy man’s house.

As they sat down to eat, the wealthy man asked where he was from. When he heard that the beggar was from the town of his youth he began to ask questions. “So how is the butcher doing?” he asked. The beggar replied, “The butcher?! He’s dead.” The wealthy man was a bit shocked. He asked, “And what about the mayor?” Between mouthfuls the beggar answered, “Oh, he’s also dead.” The wealthy man continued to inquire about the townspeople, but the response was always the same.

Finally the wealthy man sensed that something was up. He asked, “Is there anyone left alive in the town?”

The beggar replied, “Actually, when I am eating, the whole world is dead.”

Perhaps that attitude can work for us when we try to enjoy a few minutes of Torah growth and learning, but life seems to get in the way. I knew a great businessman who used to tell his secretary to hold the calls while he devoted himself to half an hour of Torah study at midday. He said, “Make believe I’m dead. Everyone should be able to manage without me for a half hour.”

Torah study is the key to Torah growth. And the rewards for “going” in Torah are the blessings of the Parsha. Sometimes it pays to play dead for a few minutes. The reward for playing dead, is a much more meaningful and blessed life.

© 2014 by TEACH613