In preparation for Shavuot, which begins this coming Tuesday evening, June 7, here is a modern Midrash about Torah, adapted from a story by Ricky Hoyt.
Once upon a time a father lived with his son. The father hoped that his son would become a great scholar, like the famous Rabbi of their village. When the boy was old enough, the father took him to the Rabbi, and the Rabbi agreed to teach him Torah. Although the Rabbi’s fee was expensive, the father happily paid in advance for the lessons, because of the privilege of studying with such a renowned teacher.
The first day, the Rabbi greeted the boy at the door, wearing walking shoes and carrying a stick. "It's a beautiful day," the Rabbi said. "We’re going for a walk.” "But I'm here for my Torah lesson," the surprised boy explained. “Yes, I know,” said the Rabbi. As they walked through the forest, the Rabbi explained to the boy all about the different trees and flowers and insects and birds and animals they came across. When the boy returned home that evening, his father asked him about his first day, and the boy had to admit that they hadn’t even opened the Scriptures. His father reminded him the lessons were very expensive and urged him not to waste his time walking, when he should be studying.
The next day when the boy arrived, the Rabbi met him at the door in a hurry to leave. "We must go immediately to the home of a woman whose health is failing. Her husband died years ago and her children have all moved away.” The boy didn't want to be rude, but he found the courage to remind the Rabbi that he was there to study the Torah. "Of course you are," answered the Rabbi. The woman greeted them happily and when the boy told her his name, she replied that she knew his parents and his grandparents and even his great-grandparents. They spent all afternoon listening to the woman tell story after story about his forbears and the ancient traditions of the village. Once again, the boy returned home before he realized that for the second day in a row he hadn't opened the Torah. His father was angrier now. “If you don’t begin the Torah by tomorrow, I’m going to have a word with the Rabbi myself!”
The next day, the boy arrived at the Rabbi’s house, resolved to insist that they begin their lessons. This time, there was no need for an argument, because the Rabbi was already seated at the table waiting for him. Just as they were about to begin, however, there was a knock at the door. A man stood there, exhausted and dirty. His clothes were ragged and his shoes were nearly worn off. The Rabbi invited him in and sent the boy to the kitchen to fetch water and a bowl of soup. The man was from the next country where he and his people were forced to work in terrible conditions. Realizing that he would never be treated fairly, he had fled and traveled on foot all the way to the Rabbi's door. He hoped he could find good work and a new start on life, but he was also worried over his friends and family left behind. The boy listened as the Rabbi discussed with the visitor what they could do to help his compatriots. The day was slipping away, but there was nothing the boy could do. Needless to say, when the boy returned home, the boy’s father was furious.
Immediately, the two marched off to confront the Rabbi. The father could barely maintain a respectful tone: "Rabbi! I've sent my son to you to learn the Torah, but he tells me that in three days you haven't even opened the book. Now return to me the money I've paid you, and I'll find another teacher." The Rabbi smiled placidly. "Of course, you can find another teacher if you like, but your son has already learned more Torah, and in greater depth, than many students learn in a year." “What?” said the father, astonished. “Well, the first day we began with ‘You shall love Adonai your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might,’ (Deuteronomy 6:5) and continued with ‘How majestic is Your name throughout the earth.’ (Psalm 8:2) The second day, we studied ‘Defend the cause of the widow,’ (Isaiah 1:17) ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ (Exodus 20:12) and the commandment to visit the sick. (from Genesis 17:1) Finally, today we studied: ‘You know the heart of the stranger, because you were strangers in Egypt,’ (Exodus 23:9) and also: ‘Remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice, and let the oppressed go free.’” (Isaiah 58:6)
The Rabbi concluded: "It is not the Torah that is known in the mind, but the Torah that is practiced in life, that is the true Torah of the heart.” The father nodded in agreement. "So tomorrow morning," said the Rabbi, placing his hand on the boy's shoulder, "Let us continue our studies."
Chag sameach. May your own lifelong study of Torah be fruitful and fulfilling.
No comments:
Post a Comment