Toil in Torah

This week we will read פרשת בחוקותי in Israel. It begins with the words, אם בחוקותי תלכו, translated as, “If you will keep my commandments.”

Rashi comments on this Pasuk by saying, שיהיו עמלים בתורה, “That you should toil in Torah.”

Rabbi Twerski wrote that there is a serious misconception regarding the study of Torah. This was demonstrated by an incident between the חפץ חיים and a student. The student expressed his frustration that he had been studying Torah for many years, and felt that he should have already become a Talmid Chacham, a scholar at that point.

His Rebbe explained that nowhere is it written that one must become a scholar. Our obligation is to “toil in Torah.” We get credit for the effort more than the result.

Rabbi Twerski goes on to explain that there is a big problem in the Yeshiva world. Too often the more gifted students get all the attention, and the weaker students are neglected. This rejection often forces these students to drop out of Judaism, and turn to drugs and alcohol as an expression of their failure.

This point needs to be driven home. We must be sincerely involved in devoting ourselves to Torah study. We should not be focused on where we think we should have advanced to, in our studies.

The most important thing is to “toil” in Torah. That alone is our obligation. We need to feel satisfaction in the diligence that we have in our studies. That is all that matters.