Please Learn in the Merit of:

Please learn for the merit of a complete recovery for the following individuals:

Ya'akov Don ben Esther Ahuvah Sharona
Avraham Yishayahu ben Aviva
Perel Leah bas Sima

Please learn in the merit/memory of Eyal ben Uriel, Gil-Ad Michael ben Ophir, Ya'akov Naftali ben Avraham, and Alter Aryeh Leib Reuven ben Sima

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Shmiras HaLashon ל שבט - Shevat 30 - One-Hundred-and-Forty-Nineth Day

© 2008 by Robert Lepor. All rights reserved.

[Concerning the greatness of Torah study], it is written [in “Mishlei”, as follows]: “For I have given you a good acquisition, do not abandon My Torah.” (Mishlei: 4; 2) The intended [teaching conveyed] by saying “good” [and] “My Torah”, is in line with that which is known, [that being] that a thing which is [viewed as] important in the eyes of a poor person to the extent that he would refer to it as “good”, is not [viewed as] important by one who is not poor. Similarly, something which is viewed as important by [such a person] is [perceived as] unimportant in the eyes of one who is very wealthy, and that which is [perceived as being] important in his eyes is unimportant in the eyes of the king. Similarly, something which is viewed as important [by the king], such as conquering a country, is unimportant in the eyes of the angel, for it is known that there are a number of angels whose measure are many thousands of parsaos, as our Sages of Blessed Memory have said in [maseches] “Chullin” (91b)[1]. For this [reason], the pasuk comes and says, “For it is a good acquisition…”, [in order to inform us that we should] “take note and contemplate [concerning] the magnitude of the good [which is inherent in The Torah], to the extent that it is referred to as “good” by Me, [even though] I have Created all of the worlds, and all [of these worlds are considered] as if they are unimportant before Me. Nevertheless, [though these worlds are considered as if they are unimportant to Me], The Torah is referred to by Me as [that which is] “good”. [The Torah] being a desired treasure that The Holy One, Blessed is He, constantly takes delight in, as is written [in “Mishlei”], “…and I shall take delight in it every single day…”[2] (Mishlei: 8; 30), this [matter in which I take delight is] My Torah, therefore do not abandon it.

[HaShem constantly delights in The Torah], for, in truth, there is no limit to the holiness of The Torah, as our Sages of Blessed Memory have said, [as follows][3]: “There are 600,000 explanations for every single pasuk.” It is also [taught] in “Midrash Osios D’Rabbi Akiva” (letter ה), that Above, [in Heaven], The Light of The Holy Names of The Holy One, Blessed is He, [spans an area of] 210,000,000 parsaos, like the numerical value of The Name “אה-י-ה” [of HaShem][4]. Our Sages of Blessed Memory have also said in “Yalkut Tehillim[5], [as follows]: “Rabbi Elazar said, ‘The Torah portions were not given in [chronological] order, for had they been given in [chronological] order, all of those who would read from them would be able to resurrect the dead and perform wonders. Therefore, the order of The Torah was hidden from them, [however], it is revealed before The Holy One, Blessed is He, as it says [in seferYishayahu”], “And who is like Me who will read…”[6] (Yishayahu: 44; 7)


[1] The gemara in masechesChullin” (91b) notes, based on a pasuk in seferDaniel” (Daniel: 10; 6), that the width of the ladder on which the angels ascended and descended, which Ya’akov saw in his dream, was 8,000 parsaos. (Bireishis: 28; 12) A parsah is 8,000 amos wide, therefore, a parsah ranges between 12,600 and 15,133 feet, based on the calculations of Rav Chaim Na’eh and the Chazon Ish, respectively (approx. 2.39 – 2.87 miles). We learn in the gemara that two angels were ascending the ladder simultaneously and two angels were descending the ladder at the same time. Therefore, the ladder had to be wide enough to accommodate four angels side-by-side. Based on the pasuk from seferDaniel”, we learn that the measure of the body of the angel is equivalent to the measure of the Sea of Tarshish (RaSh”I – This sea is located in Africa), which is 2,000 parsaos. Since each of the angels were 2,000 parsaos wide, the ladder had to be 8,000 parsaos in width. (19,120 – 22,960 miles in width)

[2] The entire pasuk states, “And I shall be for him as a wet-nurse, and I shall take delight [in it] every day, rejoicing before him every day.” (Mishlei: 8; 30) (Translation based on Metzudas David)

This chapter deals with wisdom and MaLBI”M explains that this pasuk deals with HaShem’s relationship with wisdom of The Torah.

[3] Note from the “Kol HaLashon” Hebrew printing of seferShmiras HaLashon”: This teaching can be found in seferChesed L’Avraham” (Azulai), Ma’ayan Sheini, Ein HaKorei, Nahar 18.

[4] The gematria (numerical value) of this Name of HaShem is “21”. We are taught that this light is 21 thousand ten-thousands, or 210,000,000.

[5] This teaching is found in
Yalkut Shimoni [on] “Tehillim”, Remez 625.

[6] The entire pasuk states, “And who is like Me who shall read and shall relate it and arrange it before Me, from the time that I set down the first nation, and would relate concerning wonders that would come about.” (Yishayahu: 44; 7)


This translation is based on the pasuk, according to the understanding of “Yalkut Shimoni”, therefore the translation is “And who is like Me who shall read…” as opposed to “And who is like Me who shall call out…” Yalkut Shimoni is illustrating the great power inherent in The Torah, for if someone were to know the actual order of The Torah, as does HaShem, they would be able to resurrect the dead and perform wonders, simply by reading from The Torah.

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