Strive for Torah

This week we begin the fourth book of the Torah, במדבר. The Jewish calendar is set up so that we read this Parsha on the Shabbat before Shavuot. Last week’s second Parsha, בחוקותי, had the message of תהיו עמלים בתורה, that we are to struggle with the study of Torah. This was an important lesson about how to acquire Torah. Because it represents such a precious gift, it is not meant to come easy. One must not only make Torah a priority, but he must also be prepared to make sacrifices, in order to be worthy of this gift. Bamidbar teaches that one needs to make himself desolate like a מדבר, desert, in order to be a כלי, receptacle for Torah. The message here is that humility is a prerequisite and necessity in order to allow Torah to become an integral part of our lives. Shavuot is a celebration that we were chosen to be the people to receive this precious gift, called Torah. We must cherish it and struggle to acquire it.