23 May SHAVUOT: YES, THE TORAH IS FOR US

The Mishna in Pirkeh
Abot (3:14) teaches, “Man
is precious, in that he
was created in the image
[of G-d]… Yisrael are
precious, in that they were called children of the
Almighty… Yisrael are precious in that they were
given a beloved vessel [the Torah]…”
For each of these three statements, the Mishna
brings a verse to prove the point being made. The
statement that people are created in G-d’s image is
supported by the verse, “for He made man in the
image of G-d” (Bereshit 9:6). The statement that
Am Yisrael are G-d’s children is supported from
the verse, “You are children of Hashem your G-d”
(Devarim 14:1). And the statement that we have
been given a “beloved utensil” is supported with
the verse in Mishleh (4:2), “For I have given you
good teaching; do not abandon My Torah.”
The Netivot Shalom (Rav Shalom Noach
Berezovsky of Slonim, 1911-2000) raised the
simple question of why this Mishna is included
in Pirkeh Avot, which is a collection of practical
ethical and religious teachings. The Mishnayot in
Pirkeh Abot give us instructions and guidance for
living our lives as Torah Jews. For what purpose
are we told in Pirkeh Avot that we are “precious”
both because we are human beings and because we
are members of Am Yisrael?
The answer, the Netivot Shalom explains, is that
this Mishna seeks to bolster our self-esteem, and
reassure us that we are “precious” in the eyes of

G-d. One of the common obstacles to religious
commitment is shame and a lack of self-worth.
Many people look at themselves, their behavior
and their lives and conclude that G-d has no
interest in them, that the sanctity of the Torah has
no relevance to them. The Mishna therefore comes
along and assures us that no matter who we are and
what we have done, we are “Habib” – “precious,”
both because we are human beings endowed with
the divine image, and because we, as Jews, are
princes, the children of the King of the world.
The Netivot Shalom explains on this basis why the
Mishna chose specifically the three verses it cited.
The verse, “for He made man in the image of G-d”
actually appears in the context of the prohibition of
murder. G-d warns that one who murders another
person will himself be killed, because every person
is endowed with the image of G-d. The Mishna
chose this verse, the Netivot Shalom explains,
because this verse makes it absolutely clear that
every human being, for all time, has the image of
G-d within him, and it can never be lost. If a person
murders somebody else, he is liable to the death
penalty regardless of who the victim was – because
all people have a sacred spark within their souls, no
matter what mistakes they have made.
The second verse cited by the Mishna – “You are
children of Hashem your G-d” – introduces the
prohibition against self-mutilation in response to
personal tragedy (“Lo Titgodedu”). The Mishna
could have cited an earlier verse to prove that Am
Yisrael are Hashem’s children – G-d’s message to

Pharaoh, “Yisrael is My firstborn son” (Shemot
4:22). It didn’t cite that verse, the Netivot Shalom
writes, because one might have then assumed that
only in those times, when G-d brought Beneh
Yisrael from Egypt, we had the status of His
beloved children. And so the Mishna cited the
verse, “You are children of Hashem your G-d”
which introduces a command which is eternally
binding. This verse demonstrates that for all time,
and under all circumstances, we are the Almighty’s
beloved children.
Finally, the Mishna proves that we are precious by
virtue of our having been given the priceless gift of
the Torah, citing the verse, “For I have given you
good teaching; do not abandon My Torah.” This
verse speaks to each and every person, in each and
every era, assuring him that the Torah has been
given to him, it is relevant to him, and it is binding
upon him.
Each morning, we recite a special Beracha –
“Birkat Ha’Torah” – thanking Hashem for giving
us the Torah. This Beracha concludes, “Baruch
Ata Hashem Noten He’Torah” – “Blessed are You,
Hashem, who gives the Torah.” This Beracha is
formulated in the present tense – “who gives the
Torah” – because the Torah is given to us anew,
each and every day, no matter what situation we
are in, and no matter what spiritual level we are on.
This is something to reflect upon as we prepare
for Shabuot, when we celebrate Matan Torah. It is
a mistake to think that Matan Torah was relevant
only to previous generations, when Jews lived

on a higher level, when they did not have the
distractions and temptations that we face in our
time. This is incorrect. We must remind ourselves
that the Torah is for us – yes, even us. Let us not
belittle ourselves. As the Mishna teaches us, we are
G-d’s beloved children, eternally. He wants us to
serve Him and to build a relationship with Him to
the best of our ability, no matter what we have done
in the past.
The Gemara relates that when the Romans
entered the Bet Ha’mikdash, just before they set
the building ablaze, they entered the Kodesh
Ha’kodashim – the most sacred chamber, where
the Aron was kept – and they saw the two
Kerubim (cherubs) on top of the Aron embracing
one another. This symbolized G-d’s embracing
the Jewish People. Even at that moment, when
G-d was angry at His nation and destroyed the
Mikdash, He showed us how much He loves us.
G-d’s love for us is eternal and unconditional, and
so our commitment to Torah must be eternal and
unconditional.
Yes, the Torah is for us, on whatever level we are
on, because no matter what, Hashem wants us to
have this most precious of all gifts – the sacred
Torah.