Category: Chagim

Sefiras HaOmer — Preparation for Matan Torah

Bs”d

Sefiras HaOmer — Preparation for Matan Torah (5772)

It is important to ממשיך the lessons of Pesach into the days of sefira, firstly when fulfilling the mitzvah of זכירת יציאת מצרים twice daily to quickly review the עשר מכות, and secondly, in the morning when reciting אז ישיר care should be taken that it should not be just another paragraph of שבח but it should be an attempt to recapture the feeling of awe that כלל ישראל felt when witnessing the greatest גילו מלכות שמים and expressing it in these very words.

In line for preparing for קבלת התורה we should do the סגולה of the Vilna Gaon for special סייעתא דשמיא that day in learning, that the very first thought that comes to mind upon waking up in the morning should be קבלת עול תורה or we should do so as soon as possible thereafter. The Chazon Ish attributed his success in learning to having special כוונה in five places in davening. Firstly in ברכת התורה, secondly in אהבה רבה in the words ותן בלבנו להבין ולהשכיל, next in the bracha of אתה חונן in שמונה עשרה, next inבריך שמיה in the words ותפתח לבאי באוריתא, and last inובא לציון in the words והוא יפתח לבנו בתורתו.

In accordance with the approaching of the יום טוב of קבלת התורה it is crucial that we have clarity in the importance of the role of לימוד התורה. עולם הזה, this world, is a place of darkness and even when there is at times a clarity of the truth, it is always clouded with shades of darkness and the true value of Torah is not appreciated. However, living in the present time, when there is an awesome darkness in the world, surely the truth is hidden. We must understand that in the entire universe including the massive milky-way there is no act that a person can do in this world that is more important than learning Torah. This includes the great scientists, professors, surgeons, astronauts, or great businessmen with their astronomical wealth. Nothing compares with bending over the גמרא and saying אמר אביי. Despite our great idealism and heroic efforts to persistently carry on our learning, the degradation of Torah that surrounds us takes its toll. It is therefore so important for our קבלת התורה to establish for ourselves a clear picture of the true values. A common example of the זלזול is that at times there is need to consult with a professor on a medical issue and there we find the בן תורה humbled before the great professor with his gray temples and pride. In the world of truth the בן תורה should be seated behind the desk and the great professor should be humbled before the בן תורה. Each בן תורה should have his own car and chauffeur to ride him around and all the great honor that is placed upon the dignitaries of the world should be showered upon him, which will be realized at the time of ביאת המשיח. In the meantime in honor of קבלת התורה the עובדה למעשה is that we should spend a few moments contemplating these thoughts and visualize the true greatness a בן תורה deserves –ויגבה לבו וכו’, and learning from a ספר that sheds light on the חשיבות of Torah such as נפש החיים שער ד’.