"The Jewish People: A People that Study Torah"

by HaRav Dov Begon
Rosh HaYeshiva, Machon Meir

Already in his mother’s womb, our forefather Yaakov possessed a strong proclivity towards Torah study. Regarding the words, “The children clashed inside her” (Bereisheet 25:22), Rashi explains that when Rebecca during her pregnancy would pass the Torah seminaries of Shem and Ever, Yaakov would struggle to leave the womb. As a boy, Jacob was “scholarly and remained with the tents” (Bereisheet 25:27). Rashi comments that he studied in the yeshiva of Shem and Ever. When he grew old and was compelled to go down to Egypt, his son Yehudah established a yeshiva there (Rashi on 46:28)

It is not just Yaakov who learned Torah all his life. Rather, “Every single Jew is obligated to study Torah. Whether he is rich or poor, healthy or suffering, young or old and frail... he must establish set times for Torah study day and night, as it says (Joshua 1:8), ‘Meditate on it day and night.’... Until when is one obligated to study Torah? Until the day of his death” (Rambam, Hilchot Talmud Torah, Ch. 1). Indeed, the Jewish People in every age have been a people that study Torah.

Right now, the subject of education is taking a more and more central place in the life of our nation. There are efforts and gropings in circles that have distanced themselves far from Torah study, to return to the sources, and this is not a passing phenomenon. It is natural that the nation returning to itself in its land after thousands of years of exile should return as well to its cultural roots.

What one studies is very important. It is very important that the library of every Jewish home include a Jewish Bible and the literature of our Rabbis, the Jewish spiritual giants. Yet it is no less important to return to the Beit Midrash, the study house, to that proclivity of Yaakov and of the Jewish People throughout all the generations to study specifically in the Beit Midrash, which is the continuation of the study house in which Yaakov and his descendants studied until today and for all time.

The more the Jewish People become linked to their cultural sources, the more they will flourish and thrive, ultimately meriting to see with their own eyes G-d’s return to Zion.

Looking forward to salvation,
With Love of Israel,
Shabbat Shalom.