Page 20 - HaMizrachi Australia Rosh HaShana Yom Kippur 5781

YAMIM NORA’IM READING

Mrs. Shira Smiles

THE Harmony OF TORAH STUDY

he last of the 613 mitzvot is to be revealed. The Torah must be appre- provide the sweetness our lives need to
“write this song for yourselves, ciated as a whole more than for any be meaningful. Each act of observance
Tand teach it to the Children of particular part of it. becomes meaningful when performed
Israel, and place it in their mouths, so as a thread in the fabric of the whole,
that this song will be for Me a witness This is what King David meant, posits rather than as an isolated, perhaps even
in Bnei Yisrael.” Rav Reiss, when he wrote, “The Torah rote, action.
of G-d is perfect (complete); it restores
Most of the Torah commentators the soul.” Only when the Torah is stud- ddd
believe the “song” referred to here is the ied and observed in its entirety (rather
entire Torah. It is from this verse they than piecemeal) does it have the ability Torah is not just the black-inked
derive the mitzvah that every Jew must to restore one’s soul. Just as one cannot words that prescribe and proscribe our
write his own Sefer Torah, a mitzvah remove even one spring from a clock actions, but also the white parchment
that can be fulfilled by underwriting and expect it to work, so too one cannot upon which those words are written,
even one letter, as a single missing letter remove one piece of Torah and expect the purpose and spirit of the laws
can invalidate the entire scroll and fill- it to work on one’s soul. without which observance becomes
ing in that letter can make the scroll an empty shell.
“kosher” again. ddd
That is why, continues Rabbi
G-d in His Torah is the greatest prac- Two of the symbols that grace our Rosh Schlesinger, even if his parents wrote
titioner of the economy of language. Hashanah table are the pomegranate one, it is necessary for every individ-
Each word, indeed each letter, offers and the apple. Rabbi Schwartz clarifies ual to write his own Sefer Torah, to
greater insights into meaning, allusions, the differences between them. While recommit himself to a life infused with
inferences, and secrets using the four we pray that we may be filled with mitz- Torah as his individual soul relates to
basic elements (PaRDeS – plain mean- vot like a pomegranate, the Gemara in G-d. And he must teach his children
ing, alluded meaning, derived meaning, Berachot says that “even the emptiest the entire song – not just the words –so
mystic meaning) to uncover as many as of them are filled with mitzvot like a they too will appreciate the beauty and
70 different interpretations of the text. pomegranate.” Rabbi Schwartz cites majesty of the Torah to which they are
HaGaon HaRav Dovid Povarsky in heirs.
Rabbi Reiss uses the poetic image from explaining that each seed in a pome-
Shir HaShirim to further explain the granate is separate, enveloped in its When Bnei Yisrael delve deeply into
magnificence of Torah study: “The King individual sac and not connected to Torah study and give it voice, they sing
brought me into His chambers.” When any other seed. the praises of G-d and bear witness to
viewed from the outside, the castle is His sovereignty over the earth. As Rosh
magnificent. However, as one enters In a similar way, a person can have Hashanah approaches, let us write the
and goes from room to room, his awe many mitzvot, do many acts of chessed, score of the Torah on our hearts and
grows as he encounters greater rich- but these may remain individual acts if join together in a joyous symphony of
ness and beauty in the furnishings and one does not infuse these acts with the renewed harmony with all creation.
accoutrements of each room. unifying element of spirituality, indi- Let the spirit and joy of a Torah life
cating life’s deeper spiritual meaning infuse our lives with meaning and may
So too with Torah study. During a cur- and purpose.
sory reading, one can already recognize we merit the blessings G-d will bestow
the Torah’s splendor. However, as one On the other hand, the apple has its upon us in the coming year.
delves ever more deeply into the text, seeds at its core, and everything else Mrs. Shira Smiles is a sought-after interna-
one marvels even more at the myriad surrounds them. The apple, the mean- tional lecturer, a popular seminary teacher,
nuances and textures that continue to ing to our lives, is dipped in honey to and an experienced curriculum developer.

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