When the Jewish Nation accepted the Torah, at the Mountain of Sinai, it was not only a holiday for scholars. Torah is called the "Inheritance of the Community of Ya'akov" (Devarim 33:4) because there is something in it for every Jewish boy and girl; man and woman.

The Gemara teaches us (Shabbos 31a) that the second question one is asked when he stands before the Heavenly Tribune is, "Did you set aside specific times to learn Torah?" My Rebby ztvk"l h.k.m. used to point out that if one answers that he learned whenever he had time, even if it was every day, he didn't "pass the test." This is because a person is required to first specify specific times to learn, no matter how little, and then to add to that whenever he has some spare time.

In the wonderful new book, Chiko Mamtakim, about that marvelous Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach ztvk"l, the following is related. One of the illustrious Rabbis of Jerusalem was the saintly Rabbi Ben Zion Abba Shaul ztvk"l. When Reb Shlomo Zalman became aware of his greatness, he asked Reb Ben Zion's young son what his father's father was like, to have earned such a great Talmudic scholar as his son. A bit embarrassed, the son replied that his grandfather is a mere shoemaker.

Reb Shlomo Zalman was very surprised and said that this cannot be. There must be something exceptional about him. The grandson then added that his grandfather has specific times to learn Torah every day and he keeps them very strictly; even more than many Torah scholars do.

Upon hearing this, Rav Auerbach responded that that is surely a good enough reason to be blessed with such a special son.

May we all be privileged to receive the Torah again this coming Shavuos. Chag sameach.

Shema Yisrael Torah Network
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