The Availability of Torah

For this commandment which I command thee this day is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.
It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say: Who will go up for us to heaven, and bring it to us, and cause us to hear it, that we may do it.
Neither is it beyond the sea, that shou shouldest say: Who will go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, and cause us to hear it that we may do it?
But the matter is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.

Most times when I speak to someone like yourself who has just reached his religious adulthood, I have a choice of the text I can choose. Today I scarcely have that choice, because in this weeks reading of the Law, there are a few verses that seem almost custom-made as a guide for a barmitzvah and demand to be chosen as the text.

First what is this commandment which the Torah tells us is neither hidden nor far off? Undoubtedly, it refers not to any individual injunction, but to the totality of Jewish tradition and practice and custom and wisdom. It seems a tall order, doesn't it. Four thousand years of history and their lessons and heritage have somehow to enter into one young head with the help alone of one pair of eyes and ears to absorb it all. But the Torah tells us that this is not a hopeless task. It may be a long task, perhaps a limitless task; but more important, is a perfectly possible task, and one that, above all, can give meaning to our lives, and change them from mere animal existence to a life devoted to the service of our creator.

Now this mitzvah, we are told, is not up in heaven and not beyong the sea. The Torah likes to speak in terms of real concrete things, like the sea and the sky, but these are not meant here. When we read that Jewish learning and tradition are not in the heaven, it means that Judaism does not have a spiritual aristocracy, no group of priests who insist on confining learning among themselves. That learning should be concentrated in the hands of a few professionals is a new thing in Jewish life, and a very unfortunate thing.

The Rabbis compare the Torah to water, because it is freely available to all, and all need it for their health and well-being. And you, who have both thirst and capacity must drink deeply at its well.

And when we read that the Torah is not beyond the sea, this means that it is physically accessible to us. As a matter of fact, if I were to say this in some countries, I might find it difficult to justify. Some people do have to cross seas or continents to acquire the Torah. But you are a member of the most prominent Jewish community in the world, and you live in a city which has many Jewish cultural and religious organizations. So long as you stay here, even for the rest of your life, you can acquire Torah at the price of a PTC token, or a quart of gasoline, and there is no better buy. I do not think that I have to work too hard to persuade you of this. It seems that you find a joy in study, and your knowledge of the faith to which you are privileged to belong. And I trust it will long be so.

In addition to this, you must help to make available to others the spiritual treasure to which you are now gaining access.

This you do by having a positive attitude to all worthy endeavor, by being willing to assist in the preservation and furtherance of Judaism, and all it stands for, by the willing sacrifice of your time or effort or money, according to the particular way in which God blesses you. You will find that by spreading your own gifts abroad, you will not decrease them, you will multiply them. This is the miracle of the things of the spirit, which the more you give, the more you have. If you strengthen the Judaism of your fellow man, both his and yours will be strengthened. If you are friendly and charitable towards him, both his and your spirit will be uplifted, and brought nearer to the creator.

It is my hope that you will be a frequent worshipper here among your friends, who look forward to seeing you grow up as a good Jew and a good citizen, a person of whom your parents and relatives can be proud. Next week you will occupy your own seat in the synagogue on the first day of the New Year. May it be one of health, and happiness, and spiritual growth, and followed by many more.

Samson

Today you read to us part of the story of Samson, Judges 13 who is one of the most famous heroes of the Bible. He was born to a couple who had long wanted to have a child. In gratitude, he was consecrated to the service of God from his birth, in token of which his hair was never to be cut. He became a great warrior, constantly defending his people against the Philistines. Eventually, however, a woman, Delila, found the secret of his strength and cut off his hair. His consecration being ended, his strength failed, and he was captured. The Philistines blinded him, and set him to work. Then on a feast day, they brought him into the temple of their god to sport before them. But unknown to them, his hair had grown, and in a final exercise of his great strength, he pulled down the pillars supporting the temple, destroying himself along with the Philistine worshippers.

You read us the first part of this tragic story, describing how the spirit of the Lord began to ring in him. Just what the Hebrew word for ring really means gives some difficulty to the commentators. Some connect it with the Hebrew word for bell. This unusual divine spirit that Samson had came to him like the sound of a bell. If you are sitting in your house, and the doorbell rings, or the telephone rings, it is impossible to ignore it, unless maybe you are watching Popeye theater. You have to respond to that bell. It makes you get up and go. So it was with Samson. The urge to assist his people, to achieve unusual feats of strength and courage rang like a bell within him. He had a built-in alarm system, and when ever the need for his talents arose, he was there.

The commentator Rashi, who always has something of interest to say, has a different explanation. He connects the Hebrew word which we translated ring with a Hebrew word which means sometimes. The spirit of greatness was not a constant part of Samson, according to Rashi. It came to him sometimes. And if one studies the story of Samson, one sees that this is very true. Samson had unusual gifts, but he was a very erratic individual. You never quite knew what to expect of him. And since his talents were of a somewhat destructive nature, tearing lions apart and that kind of thing, it was wise to exercise great care in dealing with him.

These two explanations do not exclude each other. Samson was a man who responded to a situation, and that is fine. But he did not respond consistently. He tended to be blown this way and that, like a weathervane.

We can learn from Samson, and it is good that we should learn young. It is good to use our talents, to be able to respond to the bell which summons us to action in whatever sphere of life to which we are called. But while we follow the bell, we must avoid the sometimes. We must aim at consistent goodness in whatever we attempt in life. Talent, good will, a fine education are not enough. They must be coupled with perseverance, persistance and determination if the are to count.

I am sure that this will ring a bell with you. I know that you will want to take advantage of the fine opportunities that your parents and this free country offer to you. May you grown up to be a credit to all to whom you are dear, and may you be a faithful son of the Jewish religion and cultural heritage.

The author of this page is: