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    NASO: IF NOT NOW, WHEN?

    Towards the end of
    his life, the Imrei
    Emes zt’l said, “When
    I was young, there
    were many sections of
    the Torah and aspects
    of avodas Hashem that I
    planned to get to
    later in my life. But
    now I know that
    whatever one
    doesn’t grasp in his
    younger years, he
    will never end up
    getting.” Therefore,
    there is no time like
    the present.
    Sometimes people say, “I can’t Torah
    study in this place.” They say that this
    beis medresh, yeshiva, neighborhood,
    etc., isn’t conducive for studying Torah.
    They are mistaken because every place
    is conducive for Torah study.
    Reb Yisrael Salanter zt’l proves this
    from mattan Torah. The Torah was given
    in the desert – and not in Eretz Yisrael.
    Furthermore, we don’t know precisely

    where Har Sinai is located. This teaches
    us that the place isn’t important. Every
    place is a good place to learn Torah.
    Some people say that the time isn’t ideal
    for them to study Torah. Either they are
    busy, or they just started the day “on the
    left foot.” They just want the day to pass,
    with the hope that tomorrow will be a
    better day. People also blame their
    parnassah for not allowing them to
    devote time to Torah study.
    Reb Yisrael Salanter zt’l disproves this
    concept, too, from mattan Torah. There
    is a machlokes whether the Torah was
    given on the 6th or the 7th of Sivan. This
    means we don’t know precisely when
    the Torah was given. Furthermore, the
    Torah never tells us an exact date for
    Shavuos (other than that it is fifty days
    after the second day of Pesach). Unlike
    all other holidays, no date is stated for
    Shavuos. This is because the exact day
    doesn’t matter; every day is a good day
    for Torah.
    Reb Chaim Volozhiner zt’l asked
    someone why he doesn’t set aside time
    to study Torah. The man replied that he

    is busy working, and he doesn’t have
    time for Torah study.
    Reb Chaim Volozhiner told him that he
    is speaking like the nations of the
    world. Hashem offered them the Torah,
    and each nation replied that the Torah
    laws don’t let them live.
    When Hashem offered the Torah to
    Edom, and they heard that the Torah
    prohibits murder, Edom said, “Our
    forefather, Eisav, received the brachah,
    to live by the sword. If we accept the
    Torah, how will we live?” Similarly, all
    nations said that if they accept the Torah,
    they won’t be able to live.
    Reb Chaim Volozhiner told him, “You’re
    saying the same thing because you’re
    saying that if you accept the yoke of
    Torah, you won’t have parnassah, and
    you won’t be able to survive!”
    When one owns cattle, he can decide
    when he wants to shecht the animals –
    either immediately or in the future. There
    is no rush. But when it comes to milking
    a cow, he must milk the cows every day,
    or the milk will be lost. There’s a custom
    to eat milichigs on Shavuos. Perhaps this

    is to remind us to grab every opportunity
    for Torah and mitzvos.
    The Gemara (Shabbos 88.) tells that
    Hashem raised the mountain over the
    Jewish nation and said, “If you don’t
    accept the Torah, “You will be buried
    there.” The question is: It should have
    stated, “You will be your burial here.”
    Why does it say “there?”
    Reb Chaim Shmuelevitz zt’l answered
    that the Gemara is hinting that if a person
    will say “When I get “there” I will start
    learning Torah…” or “When times are
    better, I will devote myself to Torah” the
    attitude of “there” (pushing things off
    until he gets “there”) will bury him.
    Instead, he should grab the reins of his
    life and devote himself to studying
    Torah. There is no time like the present.