Print Version of http://www.darchenoam.org/articles/web/parsha/ar_naso.htm
Copyright 2003 Darche Noam Institutions
On the middle line of Birkat
Kohanim, "G-d should shine his face on you and show favor to you," the Sifrei
(Midrash on Bemidbar) comments, "This refers to the shine of the Torah."
What is the shine of the Torah?
The Torah Temima notes that the expression appears in at least two places in
the Talmud:
The first (the olive oil
dream) statement seems to be in line with another Talmudic statement, "One who
regularly uses olive oil can recall something he learned even seventy years
earlier." (Horiot 13b). Putting the two statements together - the shine of the
Torah refers to remembering Torah, having a powerful memory to hold on to what
one learns and the ability to recall that which has been forgotten. Therefore
one who dreams of olive oil can look forward to the shine of the Torah.
The Arukh (Rav Natan of Rome, generation before Rashi) similarly explains shining
in the second statement : a shining person is one who remembers well.
The second line of Birkat Kohanim, then, according to the Torah Temima, blesses
Israel with Torah's shine - the ability to remember, to hold on to Torah.
We are blessed that the words of the Torah will be constantly clear and shining
before our eyes. Retaining is a Divine gift, as the Gemara (Nedarim 38a) says,
"At first Moshe would learn Torah and forget it, until G-d gave it to him as
a present.'" The Torah Temima (Shemot 31:18) calls attention to the Yerushalmi
(Horiot 3:8) that quotes the end of the same statement as - "so the unintelligent
will return to the Torah", so they should learn from Moshe's example and continue
to learn despite their limitations, for the Torah is a Divine gift. The Bavli
Avoda Zara 19a likewise says, "One should continue to learn Torah even if he
forgets it. . ."
from
Classic Divrei Torah on Parshat Shavua
Print Version of http://www.darchenoam.org/articles/web/parsha/ar_naso.htm
Copyright 2003 Darche
Noam Institutions