„A special condition applies to the Torah, that the love for it be fro…”
„A special condition applies to the Torah, that the love for it be from the love of it and its holy worth. Therefore, even old things, which one has already heard, should be in your eyes as new each day — and only then will the new also be heard.”From Ein Ayah, Berachot 185
In this week's portion, Rashi's well-known interpretation appears concerning the praise of Aaron, that he did not deviate in the lighting of the lamps. According to Rashi, Scripture repeated Aaron's deed in order to emphasize that he lit the Menorah day after day with love and longing, yet without deviating in anything from the command of the Holy One. Rav Kook explains that our connection to the Torah is not necessarily because the Torah intrigues us — if that were the reason, then we would be the center and not the Torah. Love of Torah is the understanding of the value it gives to our lives, and the challenge is to fulfill it out of longing and love even when the source of our love for the Torah is the Torah itself and not ourselves. Love for it, and not curiosity.
***
*
From the community archive of Mishpetei HaRav Kook — studying Rav Kook's teachings since 2011.