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HOLIDAY READING

Rabbanit Nechama Porat

Revealing the ‘First’ Torah

TORAT ERETZ YISRAEL IN THE EYES OF RABBI NACHMAN

orat Eretz Yisrael is a term which was formulated at all, and yet the world The first question can be answered
indicates the difference between existed. frankly: It didn’t work. Human society
Tthe Torah of Eretz Yisrael and Rabbi Nachman suggests there was a didn’t learn to conduct itself with a high
the Torah of chutz laAretz. In our priv- “Torah” in the world even before Matan consciousness of morality, goodness
ileged reality in which Eretz Yisrael is Torah. Torah is not just the luchot. and Divinity. Regarding the second
the world’s Torah center, a significant The world was created with 10 Divine question, Torah as we know it is a con-
part of the processes of returning to statements, and it is this “Torah” that centrated summary of the Torah hidden
Eretz Yisrael and of kibbutz galuyot, the animates and sustains the world. These in reality. Like anything revealed, it is
question arises: is Torat Eretz Yisrael 10 statements – the revelation of the more concentrated, stronger and more
distinct and different from Torat chutz Divine will in the world – were later visible. But in essence, the 10 Com-
laAretz? Is it different in content, qual- replaced by the 10 Commandments at mandments embody the 10 statements
ity and essence? I would like to touch Sinai. Rabbi Nachman explains that the in which the world was created.
upon this question from the perspective world, by its very existence, contained
of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, in Likutei a Divinity which breathed life into it. Returning to Rabbi Nachman’s ques-
Moharan, 78. In every act, in every situation, place or tion, we now understand why he chose

Rabbi Nachman begins by presenting time, G-d was and is present. to read the verse this way. This is a read-
a question: Torah is known as “your This explains why the generation of the ing of the Torah of galut, which sees the
ָ
life and the length of your days” (ךיֶּי ַ ח flood was punished, even before there visible Torah as the only lifeline, instead
ְ
ָ
ךי ֶ מָי ך ֶ רֹא ְ ו). How then is it possible for were explicit commandments. Why was of seeing it as expressing the hidden
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us to stop studying the Torah? After Cain punished even before “thou shalt Torah, the Torah that sustains reality. A
all, everyone, from the greatest talmid not kill”? Because there was Divinity, galut perception of the Torah is one that
chacham to the simple Jew, has to stop Torah and a high expectation of human clings only to the scroll itself. Torat Eretz
studying to eat and drink, to work, to beings to live morally and compassion- Yisrael, as it appears from the Torah in
live. ately. This Torah was not formulated Likutei Moharan, is the understanding
How does Rabbi Nachman understand in clear and orderly fashion, but real- that the visible Torah reflects an earlier
Torah. It is Torat Chaim, which is not
the words, “your life?” The simple read- ity, humanity and society were created only observance of Torah and mitzvot,
ing of the verse refers to adherence to such that they could live in peace and but a Torah that expresses connection
G-d as a value that gives life, meaning, goodness. to G-d from within our earthly lives,
to our existence. Surprisingly, Rabbi This is how Rabbi Nachman explains even when we are not studying Torah
Nachman reads the verse as a specific the saying “derech eretz precedes the and keeping mitzvot.
reference to Torah study! It is obviously Torah.” Derech eretz is basic human
not possible to study Torah all day and moral behavior which chronologically A Torah that calls us to to see how
all night, so why does Rabbi Nachman and ideologically preceded the Torah Divine life beats its way into our hearts.
think the intention is to literally study as we know it.
Torah? We will address that shortly.
Now we can ask two more questions: 1 Devarim 1:20.
The same question regarding life what is the need for a formulated and
outside of Torah can be asked about written Torah if there are Divine truths
the generations that preceded Matan hidden in reality itself. Why do we need Rabbanit Nechama Porat teaches Talmud
to women in Israel.
Torah. It is clear that the world before Jews, Judaism, and 613 command-
Matan Torah was not only a world ments? And what is the connection
where one did not study Torah from between the Torah given at Mount Sinai A member of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau
a book, but a world in which no Torah and this ancient Torah? mizrachi.org/speakers

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