Opinion & Comment
I Look to the Poor Man, Who Trembles Over My Word

Introspection

The chareidi world in Israel is definitely under pressure. Our current Torah leaders, and lhbc'l, past Torah leaders, taught that whenever troubles threaten our community, we ought to try to identify some specific area in which there has been slackening.

The Netziv of Volozhin zt'l discusses this lesson in a passage in his work, She'eir Yisroel, in which he examines the causes of antisemitism (it can be found at the end of Chumash Vayikra in the new printing of the Wahrman-Bamberger edition of Ha'ameik Dovor). He quotes a posuk in Doniel (8:12), speaking about Doniel's vision of the exile: "A host is empowered [to act against] the constant one, on account of crime (pesha); when she casts truth to the ground, they act and are successful."

In the introduction to Eichoh Rabbosi, Chazal explain that "A host" refers to the gentile powers, "the constant one" is Klal Yisroel, "pesha, crime, refers to "the crime of [neglecting] Torah" and "the truth" refers to Torah. "When do the authorities enact decrees that are effective?" says the medrash, explaining the posuk, "When Yisroel cast divrei Torah to the ground."

Following the explanation given by the medrash, the Netziv shows that the posuk's two clauses refer to a two-stage process of the decrees' implementation that correspond to two stages in casting off Torah. He writes, "Pesha means the crime of neglecting Torah, that is, even before they have actually cast the truth to the ground. The term pesha denotes a crime of omission and is inappropriate for an actual act of damage such as throwing something to the ground.

"Even for the mere neglect of Torah and for not guarding it properly, `a host is empowered' to act against Yisroel and the authorities enact decrees. However, through Hashem's Providence, these decrees do not yet have such a degree of success, until things reach the stage of, `she casts truth to the ground.' When nobody pays Torah any attention and none are concerned with seeing that there should be Torah scholars among Klal Yisroel, this is tantamount to casting Torah to the ground. Then, the decrees take effect with full force and are successful."

HaRav Eliashiv's Directive

Although the Netziv is referring to decrees enacted by gentiles in order to uproot Torah from Klal Yisroel, clearly the same line of thought ought to guide us when considering attempts to harm Torah and religion chas vesholom made by Jewish evildoers. This is the thrust of HaRav Eliashiv's comments, which follow, which were read out by HaRav Yosef Efrati at a meeting at the beginning of Iyar.

"I have been instructed to convey a number of points, that [HaRav Eliashiv] mentioned briefly, to this important gathering. First and foremost, we ourselves must review the saying coined by HaRav Saadiah Gaon zt'l, namely, that our nation is only a nation through its Torah. If we sometimes have incorrect notions or fail to understand this fully, it is no wonder that there is deterioration in the broader public. It is said that when there is a drop in the intensity of Torah study in Vilna, there is an apostate in Berlin. If we entertain ideas that are not consistent with this axiom -- that there is no Jewish nation without Torah -- then the party that represents hatred of Torah and the Torah public has far more drastic delusions.

"We place our trust in the genuine neturei karta. Who guards our nation? Who are the guardians of this land? The Torah scholars. Thoughts are not enough though. Action must be taken, especially at such a time. Everyone must think of some positive and practical contribution that he can make towards countering the hatred and the anti-Torah moves. [We must think,] `What can I do in my city, in my neighborhood, in my region or on a nationwide scale, to enhance Torah and those who study it?'"

Rebuffing Our Inner Critics

In the light of this call to reinforce our own perception of Torah's value and our recognition of it as that which sustains creation, we shall quote some powerful comments made by the Chofetz Chaim zt'l. The Chofetz Chaim refers to the gemora (Makkos 24), which says that Hashem's requirements of us were ultimately encapsulated by the novi Chabakuk into a single trait, "and the tzaddik shall live by his faith" (2:4). He explains that the faith referred to by the novi is faith in the power of Torah - - as the foundation of Judaism in general and of the latter generations in particular.

If we survey the events of the past few years, especially the most recent events, we see that all those who rise up against Torah direct their foremost efforts against the centers of Torah study which sustain Torah in Klal Yisroel. They try to diminish the ranks of Torah scholars in every possible way and to hinder the growth of Torah study in Eretz Yisroel.

The economic factor is a central feature of their campaign of incitement against those who learn. Looking through the eyes of the modern world, in which material success is the measure of a man, they gaze with amazement tinged with animosity at those who refrain from participating in the rush to amass a fortune, and instead fully devote themselves to Torah study. While their disdain is usually expressed in tones of withering condescension, deep down, they also envy those who have no part in the furious pursuit of financial gain. Either way, the thrust of their complaint against the Torah scholars is, "Why must we support you? Why don't you look after yourselves? Why must you live at the expense of others?"

There is of course nothing new in these arguments. They have been voiced for thousands of years. Chazal (Sanhedrin 98) tell us that one who asks, "Of what benefit are the scholars to us?" is an apikores. In Chomas Hadas (perek 12), the Chofetz Chaim gives a parable that provides an accurate rejoinder to these complaints.

What Keeps the Boat Afloat?

"Hitherto, we have explained a little of the vast holiness of our Torah, through which the world is sustained. The seforim tell us that were the world to be without Torah even for a moment, all of creation would immediately cease to exist. The holy Zohar says, `Hakodosh Boruch Hu created the world with spirit and it exists through spirit, namely, the spirit of those who converse in Torah.'

"With our many sins, there are many people who do not accord any distinction whatsoever to Torah scholars who are impoverished, even though they study Torah. I heard from a certain gaon that this is comparable to a nobleman who is at sea in a beautiful, fast-moving steam boat. The nobleman asks the members of his entourage, `What makes the boat move so fast?' They tell him that in the hold, there are two or three holes where a great fire blazes, which drives the engine that moves the boat. The nobleman says, `I would like to see.'

"They take him down and he sees that the holes are black from soot and that the faces of the workers there are also blackened from all the smoke and steam. The nobleman declares that it is not fitting for such a beautiful vessel to have a hold whose walls are so black and whose workers are in such a state. `I decree,' he says, `that the partition be removed and that all the workers be removed.' This was done and soon the entire vessel sank into the sea and all the passengers drowned.

"So it is with us. We must be aware that the entire world, including the heavens and the celestial bodies with their great beauty and splendor, exists only so long as Klal Yisroel exists, even though the latter may be scorched and darkened, sitting in botei knessios and botei medroshos and occupying themselves with Torah. If it were not so all would return to void and emptiness, for this is the engine that keeps the whole world going.

"{This is the true meaning of the posuk (Yeshayohu 66:1- 2), `So,' says Hashem, `the heavens are My seat and the earth is My footstool . . . And My hand made all these and they came into being,' says Hashem, `and upon this one I look: to the poor and the broken- spirited, who trembles over My Word.' In other words, even though Hashem made everything, including much that is beautiful and important, His gaze is principally directed at the poor and broken-spirited man, who trembles over His Word. Through his conscientious fulfillment of Hashem's Word, heaven and earth are sustained. So it was at the very outset of creation. Hakodosh Boruch Hu stipulated with heaven and earth that, `If Yisroel accept My Torah, well and good. If not, I shall revert you to void and emptiness,' as Chazal tell us. And so things remain forever.

"All this enables one to contemplate the Torah's great holiness. The importance of alacrity in fulfilling the Torah and of respecting those who study it, even if they are not well-to-do, is self-understood. They are the pivot of the whole world. One should also train his sons to respect Torah scholars."

The Key is Faith in Torah

The Chofetz Chaim goes on to explain, "a further idea that strongly influences a person to fulfill the Torah." He mentions the gemora in Makkos, "Dovid came and included Hashem's instructions within eleven units . . . Michah came and included them in three . . . Chabakuk came and included them in one, `and the tzaddik shall live by his faith' (Chabakuk 2:4). Clearly, says the Chofetz Chaim, this doesn't mean that each of them came to subtract duties and say that these were the only ones that needed to be fulfilled.

"Rather, each one looked at his own generation and saw that people could not get a grip on themselves to fulfill everything properly. They therefore advised them to strengthen themselves in these main areas and eventually, this would lead to their fulfilling everything. A person who is about to drown in a fast- flowing river and sees a tree at the water's edge, exerts himself to grab hold of a single, sturdy branch at first, so that he won't drown. Then, he takes hold of the trunk and shouts for help. So it is with us. The novi Chabakuk advises us to strengthen our faith, meaning our faith in Torah. The novi would not have referred to someone who lacks faith in Torah as a tzaddik, nor would he have said that he lives by his faith."

The parable brought by the Chofetz Chaim seems so applicable to our times. Those who hate Torah mock "the blacks," whom they see as representing "the Dark Ages," who occupy themselves solely within the daled amos of halochoh which they see as their vocation. They assail the bnei hayeshivos and the kollel avreichim with their calls of "Who needs them? They hinder economic growth!"

But they fail to understand that those very bnei Torah, yeshiva students and avreichim, who appear to them so scorched and blackened, so lowly and scorned, are the ones who sustain Klal Yisroel and the entire world. Pry them away from their Torah study for even a moment and everything will collapse, chas vesholom.

Working From Within

These ideas are not only important for those outside the Torah world but for those within it too. As HaRav Eliashiv wrote, "If we sometimes have incorrect notions or fail to understand this fully, it is no wonder that there is deterioration among the broader public. It was said that when there is a drop in the intensity of Torah study in Vilna, there is an apostate in Berlin. If we entertain ideas that are not consistent with this axiom -- that there is no Jewish nation without Torah -- then the party that represents hatred of Torah and the Torah public has far more drastic delusions."

If Torah scholars are not fully aware of their true worth -- and it should be added, if both present and potential Torah supporters are not sufficiently aware of their obligations at the present time -- if "we appear to ourselves as grasshoppers" then, "so were we in their eyes" (Bamidbor 13:33). That is how others will view us. Were we ourselves fully aware and fully cognizant of Torah's power, even those who are distant from Torah would be wary of harming it and endangering the foundation of the world's existence.

We must heed the past and present Torah leaders' urging that every ben Torah should recognize his own worth and know that every single moment of gemora learning strengthens and supports the world. International and regional commerce are not what keeps the world going round; neither are superpowers with mighty armies. What keeps the world turning is the kollel avreich sitting absorbed in a sugya.

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