21 May PARASHAT BEHAR: EXPERIENCING THE SWEETNESS AND DELIGHT OF TORAH

The Torah in Parashat
Behar (25:37)
introduces the
prohibition against
lending on interest:
“Et Kaspecha Lo Titen Lo Be’neshech.”
The Or Ha’haim (Rav Haim Ben-Attar,
1696-1743) adds a deeper level of
interpretation, explaining that the word
“Kesef” (money) is associated with the
verb “K.S.F.,” which means “crave”
or “desire.” Money is called “Kesef”
because it is something which people
naturally crave. In this verse, the Or
Ha’haim writes, the Torah warns us
not to allow ourselves to be “bitten” by
our cravings, our desires for physical
enjoyment and delights. If we indulge in
physical pleasure without restraint, even
if they are all technically permissible,
then we will be “bitten” in the sense that
the “venom” of sin will be injected into
our souls.
The verse continues, “U’b’marbit Lo
Titen Ochlecha” – that we may not lend
people food on interest. The Or Ha’haim
explains the word “Marbit” as meaning
“excess,” referring to overindulgence,

such that the Torah here commands us
not to involve ourselves excessively in
“Ochlecha” – even permissible food.
In developing this concept, the Or
Ha’haim formulates a fundamental
principle about spiritual life. He writes
that when a person overindulges, and
instead of merely satisfying his natural
hunger, he eats excessively, he thereby
“darkens the light of the soul, because
when this one rises, this one falls – when
the sensual appetite increases, the spiritual
appetite decreases.” The Or Ha’haim
establishes that a person’s physical
and spiritual cravings are inversely
proportional to one another. The more
we focus our attention on experiencing
physical enjoyment, the less drawn we
will be to spiritual enjoyment. If we lust
after physical pleasure, we will lose our
desire for spiritual fulfillment.
This principle developed here by the
Or Ha’haim sheds light on his more

famous comments later, in Parashat Ki-
Tabo (26:11), in reference to the verse,

“Ve’samahta Be’chol Ha’tob Asher Natan
Lecha Hashem Elokecha” – “You shall
rejoice over all the good which Hashem

your G-d has given
you.” The word “Tob”
(goodness) in this verse,
the Or Ha’haim writes,
may be understood as
a reference to Torah
learning, such that the
Torah here speaks of the
unique joy of studying
Torah. The Or Ha’haim
explains that if people
sensed the sweetness of
Torah, they would “go
crazy” (“Mishtag’im”)
over Torah learning,
and no other enjoyment in the world
would amount to anything in their eyes,
as nothing would compare to the joy and
pleasure of Torah learning. We generally
find Torah study difficult and burdensome
because we are unable to experience the
unparalleled sweetness of Torah. The
reason why we do not enjoy the sweetness
of Torah is explained in the Or Ha’haim’s
remarks here in Parashat Behar. Our
preoccupation with physical enjoyment
and material delights compromises
our desire for spiritual enjoyment. By
placing too much importance on physical

delights, we undermine our ability to
experience spiritual delight.
Let us prioritize our involvement in
Torah, and to moderate our involvement
in physical enjoyment. While we of
course all have physical and material
needs that must be met, we must ensure
not to overindulge, that our mundane
pursuits do not become obsessive. If we
exercise moderation in our enjoyment of
physical and material delights, we will
better able to experience the unparalleled
joy and sweetness of Torah, and will be
drawn to engage in Torah study at every
free moment.