Torah; Understanding Hashem and Ourselves

Rabbi Hillel Brody

As Yidden, we know the vital place learning Torah must have in our lives. There are many varied characteristics of Torah which make it true that a Jew without Torah is like a fish out of water. As someone who has the merit to be involved in learning, teaching, and facilitating the study of Torah, I would like to present two aspects of the impact of learning which are taken very seriously here in Milwaukee. Learning Torah is a means both of understanding Hashem, as well as understanding ourselves.

As Moshe Rabeinu instructs the Jewish People to observe the Halachos of Pesach, he adds a statement which seems peculiarly superfluous: היום אתם יוצאים בחודש האביב; Today you are leaving, in the season of spring. What is Moshe pointing out that his audience didn’t already know?

Rashi explains that Moshe meant to remind the Yidden of Hashem’s kindness. He executed the Exodus during a season when travel is easier because the weather is good. How incredible is Hashem’s love for his People; if He would have just taken our ancestors out of Mitzrayim, Dayeinu! Hashem didn’t need to give us this additional gift, and it is certainly questionable if the Jews of that time were deserving of such a gift. The added bonus of nice weather for traveling was like an extra kiss from Hashem. Such is His love for His children. 

Notice that in a brief moment, by carefully analyzing the Torah through the eyes of Rashi, we gained a deeper glimpse into an aspect of the nature of our Creator: Hashem’s everlasting love for His People. Although complete understanding of the Divine is, of course, beyond the capability of a mortal mind, every additional bit of comprehension allows us to connect more deeply with Him. 

However, the Pasuk requires further explanation. We have learned an excellent lesson for ourselves, however the implication of Rashi is that there was a lesson here for the newly freed slaves themselves. But what new information was Hashem giving them? They were in the midst of the experience, and directly felt the benefits of the moderate weather. Why mention it?

Apparently, some number of the people would have been too lost in the moment to take note of the weather. Moshe pointing it out allowed them to stop and smell the roses; to appreciate that which they were experiencing. Contemplation of the goodness allowed that good to enter their consciousness. That consciousness allowed them to more fully enjoy an aspect which they might otherwise have missed. 

In Milwaukee, our Rabbonim remind us regularly that we are meant not “just” to learn, but to use the Torah to improve our overall Avodas Hashem. In this short Pasuk we have now seen not only an insight into our Creator, but also into the nature of His creations. We understand Hashem better and we understand ourselves better. We have additional equipment to use in enhancing our Avoda.

The Rebbe, Shlit”a, founded the Milwaukee Kollel to be a conduit for the growth of the community both quantitatively and qualitatively. Through tremendous Hishtadlus and incredible Chasdei Hashem, that experiment has paid massive dividends. Our community is bigger, and we are all bigger people, because of the presence and engagement of the Talmidei Chachomim who make up the Kollel. In 5784 there is far more learning going on in our community than ever before. There are more Kollel members than our community has ever had, but it goes far beyond that. Night seder in the Kollel is BOOMING, you truly have to see it to believe it. But it goes beyond even that. Today, in our little Milwaukee community, there are literally dozens upon dozens of people who regularly make time in their day to learn. It is morning, noon and night. It is at the Kollel, at shul, at home and at the office. It is men, it is women and it is children, all of whom are growing every day. And all of us, just by being part of this special, inspired community, are growing as well. 

The pressures and grind of daily life may, at times, stop us from appreciating it as much as we could. Pesach is the perfect time to stop and smell the beautiful roses of Hashem’s gift of our own Kollel, our personal growth and the multi-faceted growth of our community. 

A Zissen un Freilichen Pesach.