Parshat Nitzavim Vayelech 5777
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week's parsha the pasuk which states (Chapter 30, Pasuk 12), Lo Ba'Shamayim He, the Torah is not in the heavens. And the next pasuk states V'Lo Me'Eiver La'Yam He, nor is the Torah found overseas. Rather, the next pasuk continues, Ki Karov Eleicha Ha'Davar Me'od, B'Ficha U'Vilvavcha La'asos Oso, the Torah is close to you, and you can fulfill it with your mouth and your heart.
Rashi comments on the words Lo Ba'Shamayim He, She'Ilu Haysah Ba'Shamayim Hayisa Tzarich La'alos Achareha. If the Torah was in the heavens, then you would have to go after it, even to the heavens. What does this mean; you would need to go to the heavens to study Torah?
The Sfas Emes teaches in the name of his grandfather the Chidushei HaRim, that Rashi is teaching us an important lesson about one's desire for Torah. One needs to be so focused on his desire to learn that even if the Torah was in the heavens, he would figure out a way to reach the heavens and achieve learning Torah. It's an expression of the notion that nothing would be able to stop a person who truly wants to learn.
This is what the continuation means as well. Ki Karov Eleicha Ha'Davar Me'od, Torah is very near to you. Once a person is willing to go to great lengths to study Torah, it actually seems quite accessible. We determine our connection to Torah; not based on our intellectual ability or other factors, but rather on one's commitment and determination.
And once one is willing to go to great lengths to learn, it no longer seems so distant. It only seems far away in the heavens when one has no interest or isn't willing to put in the effort. So that when Rashi teaches if it would be in the heavens you would need to go after it, he means that if one is cut off from the Torah so that it appears to be in the heavens, then you would need to go after it. Put in an effort and try to learn, and once you do, you will find it really is in fact very close to you.
The pasuk ends by stating, B'Ficha U'Vilvavcha La'asos Oso, you can fulfill it with your mouth and your heart. Rashi says that the mouth and the heart are referring to the two types of Torah, Torah Shebichsav and Torah Shebe'alpeh. Rav Tzadok teaches that B'Ficha is referring to Tefillah. When one feels far away from Torah and perhaps even unworthy and incapable, he needs to daven. And when one davens from a place of distance, of being far away in the heavens, Hashem pulls him close and gives him the opportunity to be successful in his learning and in his Avodas Hashem.
This is the last Shabbos before Rosh Hashanah. Rosh Hashanah is a time when we are immersed in prayer. And even if we feel far away when the day begins, the prayer and intensity of Rosh Hashanah can bring us close. As the Chidushei HaRim teaches, it's all up to our desire. When we truly want to be close to Hashem and learn Torah that which just yesterday seemed far away like the heavens can now appear to be so accessible. It's all up to us.
Good Shabbos
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