10 Feb TORAH, THE TRUE H2O

“There are many
reasons given why the
Torah is compared to
water.”
In these parshious of Yisro
and Mishpatim, we are
given much information
about the Torah. A famous
metaphor for Torah is mayim, water, as in
the verse, “Hoy! Kol tzamei l’chu l’mayim –
Behold! All those who are thirsty should go to
water.” This verse is interpreted homiletically,
“Those who thirst for knowledge should go to
the Torah,” because “Ein mayim ela Torah –
The word water describes Torah.”
In Shir HaShirim Rabbah [1:2], there are many
reasons given why the Torah is compared to
water. I would like to share some of them with
you as they are very instructive.
First, the Medrash says that just like water
flows from high to low, so too the Torah is
most at home by one who is humble. This is
why it fits that Moshe Rabbeinu, who gave us
the Torah, was the humblest of all men. If a
person is full of himself and has a posture of
arrogance, it is unlikely that he will prosper in
true Torah scholarship.
Next, the Medrash continues that just like
water gives life to the world, so too Torah is
our very life. As Rabbi Akiva told Pappas
when he asked Rabbi Akiva why he continued

to teach Torah when it was a capital offence
by the Romans, Rabbi Akiva explained that
even if the water is dangerous, still a fish
would not leave the water to go upon dry land
for the water is its very source of life. So
too, the Torah is our very life’s essence. It is
interesting to note that a male is made up of
65% water. Hence, our lives should be, in the
majority, revolving around Torah.
Third, the Medrash tells us that just like water
is free (or at least it used to be), so too the
Torah is free. It is available for anyone who
wants to indulge in Its pleasures. This is also
why the Torah was given in the desert – which
is free to all.
The Medrash goes on to inform us that just
as water is the great cleanser, as we use it to
bathe our bodies and clean our clothes, so too
the Torah helps to clean one’s soul. As the
Yalkut Shemoni says, “Mah mikvah m’taheir
es tamei’im – Just as the mikvah purifies
those that are contaminated, Af divrei Torah
mi’taharin es hatemei’im – As well, the Torah
purifies those who are contaminated.” And
“V’lo od, ela sh’heim mikvah shel eish – The
Torah is a mikvah of fire.” One who immerses
himself in the Torah brings spiritual cleansing
to one’s spirit.
As a fifth metaphor, the Medrash points out
that just as water causes flowers, plants, and
trees to grow, so too does the Torah cause a

person to grow. When one has a regular diet of
Torah, It causes him to flourish and blossom.
Following this, the Medrash says that water
is unique amongst beverages in that it is only
beneficial if one is thirsty. With other drinks,
we might enjoy them even if we’re not thirsty,
such as a soda or juice. But water only has
value when we are thirsty. Rav Pam, zt”l, zy”a,
elaborates that this is true also for Torah. One
will not truly enjoy the taste of Torah unless
one develops a thirst for Torah. Learning
merely to ‘check a box’ is a true mitzvah but
doing so will not give a person Torah geshmak.
That satiation comes when a person develops,
what Rav Pam calls, cheshkas haTorah, a
passion for Torah.
The great Rav Baruch Ber, zt”l, zy”a, referred
to Bnei Torah as m’vakshei Hashem, those
who seek Hashem. Every morning in Birkas
HaTorah, we ask Hashem to help us taste the
sweetness of Torah. “V’ha’arev na, Hashem
Elokeinu, es divrei Sorascha b’finu – And
please make sweet, Hashem, our G-d, the
words of Your Torah in our mouths.” So too,
in our Birkas Krias Shema in the morning,
we ask Hashem for help, “Lilmod ul’lameid,
lishmor v’la’asos ul’kaiyeim es kol divrei
salmud Torasecha b’ahavah – That we should
be able to learn and to teach, to guard and to
perform and to perpetuate all the words of
Your Torah with love.”

May it be the will of Hashem that we should
often drink heartily of the wonderful beverage
of Torah, and in Its merit may we be blessed
with long life, good health, and everything
wonderful.