A new campaign which the Lubavitcher Rebbe calls, “A matter of immediate necessity.” An opportunity for each individual to contribute as well as receive Torah knowledge.
The Jewish holidays are more than mere commemorations of past history. They are times for us to relive and personally experience the events which occurred in our nation’s past.
Shavuos is “the season of the giving of our Torah,” recalling G‑d’s endowment of the Torah to the Jewish people. The Previous Rebbe’s traditional Shavuos blessing, that “we receive the Torah with happiness and inner feeling,” however, reflects a slightly different dimension, implying that the holiday also marks the acceptance of the Torah by the Jewish people.
Our personal experience of the Shavuos festival should thus, reflect both these qualities: giving and receiving the Torah. These two dimensions can also be seen in the opening Mishnah of Pirkei Avos whose second cycle of study begins directly after the holiday of Shavuos. That Mishnah begins: “Moshe received the Torah from Sinai” — the acceptance of the Torah; “and transmitted it” — teaching it to others. The final clause of this Mishnah explains the manner in which one should teach, “Raise up many students,” i.e., one should not confine one’s teachings to a select few, but should seek to expand them to the widest scope possible.
Thus, the celebration of Shavuos should inspire each individual to intensify his commitment to Torah study and to add to the fixed times of study which he has established both in the revealed teachings of Torah law and in Pnimiyus HaTorah, Torah’s mystic dimension.
In particular, attention should be paid to the daily study of Chitas [Chumash, Tehillim (Psalms), and Tanya] and the study of the Rambam’s Mishneh Torah according to the three-pronged daily study program. Indeed, we must go beyond the limits we have already established and “steal” time from our other activities to devote to Torah study.
Becoming a Teacher
Beyond this, each individual should also endeavor to share his Torah knowledge by establishing a new Torah shiur (“study session”) in which he will teach others, preferably at least ten individuals.
This applies to every single Jew — man, woman, or child. Each one — according to his knowledge and ability — should organize a shiur in which he teaches others. This is a matter of immediate necessity and should be publicized throughout the entire world.
Woman to woman
Our Sages emphasized that when G‑d told Moshe to prepare the Jews to receive the Torah, He told him to approach the women first. Similarly, in the above context, besides attending shiurim in regard to the mitzvos they are obligated to fulfill (which should include the study of Pnimiyus HaTorah, for its study enables one to fulfill the mitzvos of the love and fear of G‑d), each woman should endeavor to deliver a shiur herself. This public Torah study will inspire not only these women themselves, but their entire household as well.
“Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings,
You established strength” (Psalms 8:3)
Children should also participate in this campaign. In addition to their study in chadarim, yeshivos, and Torah schools, each child should establish a shiur in which he or she teaches other children, for example, teaching them alef-beis or Chumash. Indeed, children have a natural desire to influence others. By encouraging them to teach Torah, this tendency can be utilized in a positive manner.
Responding to our Generation’s Urgent Need
The need to reach out and involve others in study groups is particularly pressing in the present age. There are hundreds of thousands of Jewish men, women, and children who lack knowledge of the elemental aspects of Torah and mitzvos. These are the last moments before the coming of Mashiach and to prepare for his coming, it is necessary to “spread the wellsprings outward,” to extend the knowledge of Torah, both Torah law and Pnimiyus HaTorah, to as many individuals as possible.
Implicit in this directive is also an effort to educate non-Jews regarding the seven universal laws commanded to Noach and his descendants. The Rambam writes, “Moshe was commanded by the Almighty to influence all the inhabitants of the world to accept the seven mitzvos commanded to Noach’s descendants.”(Laws of Kings 8:10) This also has a Messianic dimension, for it will herald the coming of the age when “the occupation of the entire world (Jews and non-Jews) will be only to know G‑d.” (Ibid., 12:5)
Realizing Our Good Resolutions
It’s human nature to feel greater motivation when one’s efforts are acknowledged by a person of authority. Accordingly, it is appropriate that each individual notify his Rav about his efforts in the above areas. Those who desire should also send a record of their activities to be read at the gravesite of the Previous Rebbe. This will add blessing wherever it is required.
Indeed, our Sages (Taanis 31a) have assured that an increase in Torah study will bring about increased blessings in all matters, particularly, as Rashi mentions, extended life. May this also lead to the ultimate blessing, the advent of the age when, “They shall teach no longer a man his colleague... because they will all know Me,” (Yirmeyahu 31:33) with the coming of Mashiach and the ultimate and complete redemption. May it be in the immediate future.
