Page 46 - HaMizrachi #8 Pesach

Rabbi Chaim Navon
Seder Night:

The Sweetness of Torah Study

Photo: Oren Barkai

he most prestigious dynastic much greater chance of winning the – we recite verses and quote our Sages
order of chivalry in France was Israel Prize than someone who has in the Haggadah, we ask and answer,
T the Order of Saint Michael. improved the lives of tens of thousands renew and recall. This is the lifeblood
Writer and philosopher Michel of Israelis. Why is a special occasion of Torah study; study with taste and
de Montaigne, decorated in 1571, necessary for the Israel Prize to be won smell, with matzah and maror; Torah
said that he had always dreamed of by a hi-tech pioneer, a social activist with parents, children, family, guests
receiving this award, but “instead of or anyone else beyond the walls of and strangers.
the goddess of fortune raising me to academia?
the order,” de Montaigne said, “she Torah of the entire year cannot be
lowered it to me.” Originally there Do not misunderstand me. I am a great exactly like the Torah of Seder night.
were a limited number of knights admirer of intellectuals. It is excellent Most working people cannot learn so
(31), but by de Montaigne’s time that we know how to honor Torah much Torah, and the great scholars
the number had risen to 700 and the and wisdom. But alongside them we cannot deal with the needs of the
honor had lost its prestige. must also praise people of kindness people all day long. But this is always
and action. Moreover, in the Jewish the trend. The Beit Midrash has
Just over 10 years ago, on the occasion tradition, the great Torah scholars windows (so that those inside should
of Israel’s 60th anniversary, eight were also men of kindness and action. be concerned for those out), and the
organizations won the Israel Prize for Rabbi Chaim of Brisk, a brilliant hands that work have a head and a
Lifetime Achievement. Uri Elitzur 1 scholar who established the method heart.
wrote then that if everyone receives a of study most prevalent in the yeshiva
prize then no one really receives it. I world, was a man of kindness on levels The Torah’s strongest connection to
recalled this when it was announced that are hard to imagine. His house the world of action must be through
last year, in honor of the country’s was full of the poor and downtrodden the family. The commandment “You
70th birthday, that eight people would day and night, his kitchen hummed shall teach your children” refers not
win the prize. Each and every one of with people as if it were the public only to Seder night but to every other
the winners was exemplary, impressive domain. The Sages taught us that it is day of the year as well. This is how
and worthy but I thought it would forbidden for someone who studies Torah study really should have looked:
have been preferable to spread their Torah to keep it for himself. A person not a class of 30 children with a
awards over several years, so as not must learn in order to apply what they board and a marker (or even an iPad),
to diminish from the prestige of this learn and to teach others. Our Torah but boys and girls sitting with their
significant honor. is not only a Torah of truth, but also a parents and grandparents at the table,
Torah of Chesed. hunching together over an old book
Then I thought again. Uri’s argument covered with matzah crumbs and wine
is true, but this time the list of winners Moreover, there is one night a year stains.
seems to me much more logical than when it is clear that Torah study is
in past. In other years, almost all of not an intellectual laboratory – Seder (This article first appeared in Makor Rishon in
Hebrew.)
the winners were professors who won night. Many are surprised to learn
the Israel Prize for their research. that this is a night devoted to learning
Prominent businessmen were a small Torah. They do not feel as though they
1 Uri Elitzur was an award-winning journalist and
minority among the honorees. This are learning though. After all, they are
seems quite unreasonable to me – a not in a shul or a Beit Midrash. They editor of the Makor Rishon newspaper.
scholar who specializes in Chinese are sitting at the dining room table. Yet Rabbi Chaim Navon is a renowned
pottery from the Qing Dynasty has a there is a wealth of Torah on this night educator and author

Want to receive HaMizrachi by email before every holiday?

Sign up at www.mizrachi.org/hamizrachi