Page 25 - HaMizrachi #29 Yom HaAtzmaut 2021 USA

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 Rabbi Nachman suggests there was a didn’t learn to conduct itself with a high
indicates the difference between “Torah” in the world even before Matan consciousness of morality, goodness and
Tthe Torah of Eretz Yisrael and Torah. Torah is not just the luchot. The Divinity. Regarding the second question,
the Torah of chutz laAretz. In our priv- world was created with 10 Divine state- Torah as we know it is a concentrated
ileged reality in which Eretz Yisrael is the ments, and it is this “Torah” that ani- summary of the Torah hidden in real-
world’s Torah center, a significant part of mates and sustains the world. These 10 ity. Like anything revealed, it is more
the processes of returning to Eretz Yis- statements – the revelation of the Divine concentrated, stronger and more visible.
rael and of kibbutz galuyot, the question will in the world – were later replaced by But in essence, the 10 Commandments
arises: is Torat Eretz Yisrael distinct and the 10 Commandments at Sinai. Rabbi embody the 10 statements in which the
different from Torat chutz laAretz? Is it Nachman explains that the world, by world was created.
different in content, quality and essence? its very existence, contained a Divinity
I would like to touch upon this question which breathed life into it. In every act, Returning to Rabbi Nachman’s question,
from the perspective of Rabbi Nachman in every situation, place or time, G-d was we now understand why he chose to
of Breslov, in Likutei Moharan, 78. and is present. read the verse this way. This is a read-
This explains why the generation of the ing of the Torah of galut, which sees the
Rabbi Nachman begins by presenting a visible Torah as the only lifeline, instead
question: Torah is known as “your life flood was punished, even before there of seeing it as expressing the hidden
were explicit commandments. Why was
ְ
ָ
and the length of your days” (ך ֶ רֹא ְ ו ךיֶּי ַ ח Cain punished even before “thou shalt Torah, the Torah that sustains reality. A
ָ
ךי ֶ מָי). How then is it possible for us to not kill”? Because there was Divinity, galut perception of the Torah is one that
1
stop studying the Torah? After all, every- Torah and a high expectation of human clings only to the scroll itself. Torat Eretz
one, from the greatest talmid chacham beings to live morally and compassion- Yisrael, as it appears from the Torah in
to the simple Jew, has to stop studying ately. This Torah was not formulated Likutei Moharan, is the understanding
to eat and drink, to work, to live. in clear and orderly fashion, but real- that the visible Torah reflects an earlier
How does Rabbi Nachman understand ity, humanity and society were created Torah. It is Torat Chaim, which is not
the words, “your life?” The simple read- such that they could live in peace and only observance of Torah and mitzvot,
ing of the verse refers to adherence to goodness. but a Torah that expresses connection to
G-d as a value that gives life, meaning, This is how Rabbi Nachman explains G-d from within our earthly lives, even
to our existence. Surprisingly, Rabbi the saying “derech eretz precedes the when we are not studying Torah and
Nachman reads the verse as a specific Torah.” Derech eretz is basic human keeping mitzvot.
reference to Torah study! It is obviously moral behavior which chronologically A Torah that calls us to to see how
not possible to study Torah all day and and ideologically preceded the Torah Divine life beats its way into our hearts.
all night, so why does Rabbi Nachman as we know it.
think the intention is to literally study Now we can ask two more questions:
Torah? We will address that shortly. what is the need for a formulated and 1 Devarim 1:20.
The same question regarding life outside written Torah if there are Divine truths
of Torah can be asked about the gener- hidden in reality itself. Why do we need
ations that preceded Matan Torah. It is Jews, Judaism, and 613 commandments?
clear that the world before Matan Torah And what is the connection between Rabbanit Nechama Porat teaches Talmud
was not only a world where one did not the Torah given at Mount Sinai and this to women in Israel.
study Torah from a book, but a world in ancient Torah?
which no Torah was formulated at all, The first question can be answered A member of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau
and yet the world existed. frankly: It didn’t work. Human society mizrachi.org/speakers

| 25