Parasha Thoughts
By Rabbi David Cohen
This is the teaching regarding a man who will die in a tent. (19:14)
Chazal’s explanation of the pasuk, “This is the teaching regarding a man who will die in a tent,” is well-known. The “tent” is referring to the ohalah, tent, of Torah. We are being taught that Torah is retained only in a person who is willing to die for it. Torah study is not a course which one passes or fails. It is our lifeline to Judaism; thus, only an individual who understands its intrinsic value and is willing to give everything up for it can acquire it. He realizes that everything which he has is really of no value without Torah.
Torah has what to say about every facet of a person’s life. Not only must a person be willing to die for Torah but more importantly he must be willing to live for it.
Shabbat Shalom