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through the study of Torah. Furthermore, there is no such thing as taking
a break or vacation from Torah. Avodat Hashem requires great effort.
There are those who argue that the adherence to mitzvot were only
relevant to past generations. However, today there is no obligation to
follow its laws, since they arouse the hatred of the nations toward us. In
fact, the opposite is true. When our “voice” does not reflect the “voice of
Yaakov,” the hands of Eisav immediately gain control.
Rabbi Meir Ba’al Haness states that whoever forgets the Torah that he
Why does the Torah specifically use the phrase “If you will go in My studied is liable for death. The way to retain one’s knowledge of Torah
statutes.” This can be understood according to David Hamelech’s is to constantly review it. One is careful in guarding his material
statement: “I considered my ways and returned my feet to Your possessions; how much more so should he fear for his spiritual
testimonies.” This implies that his feet overrode his brain’s message. acquisitions.
Although his head instructed him to go to other places, his feet led him
to the Beit Hamidrash. When an unborn child is in his mother’s womb, an angel hovers over him
and teaches him Torah. Afterwards, it strikes his mouth so that all his
This seems perplexing, since we generally assume that the brain dictates Torah should be forgotten. If this knowledge is important, why cause the
the body’s behavior, and not that the body acts independently. However, infant to forget it? Conversely, if there is no purpose to this knowledge,
although the feet are far from the head, they are connected to it. When why does the angel teach it to him in the first place? This is because if
one’s foot is badly wounded, his head may suffer as a result. This the angel would not teach it to the unborn child, after he is born he would
connection is also true in a spiritual sense, since sometimes a person rises never possess the ability to comprehend Torah. Notwithstanding, the angel
to spiritual heights, to the extent that his feet become sanctified and causes him to forget his original learning in the womb, in order to teach
acquire an independent mind of their own, enabling him to override us that the Torah requires labor and effort to master it.
wayward intentions by automatically leading him to Avodat Hashem.
This is the reason the Torah specifically uses the phrase “If you will go
in My statutes.” This implies that when one will achieve significant
accomplishments in Torah, his legs will automatically lead him to labor
in Torah. From the statement of David Hamelech, “I considered my
ways,” we can infer that despite his loftiness, he considered going to
places outside of the Beit Hamidrash. This teaches us how powerful the “If you will go in My statutes and observe My
Yetzer Hara is. It attempts to ensnare each person, great and lowly, but
especially targets those who are great. commandments and perform them”
(Vayikra 26:3)
One’s feet are located on the ground, which signifies being in touch with
solid reality. This is why they are capable of refuting the false illusions of
the Yetzer Hara.
