A Sichah from Maran HaGaon Rav Gershon Edelstein shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Ponevez - Vayera 5775 #132

his punishment is based on the fact that he scorned that

Talmud Torah K’Neged Kulam great reward.
Our primary obligation is to study Torah. This is The Gemara in Sanhedrin (99a) quotes the
also a great merit, as the Mishnah says (Pe’ah 1:1), Passuk, “For the word of Hashem he has scorned.” The
“V’Talmud Torah K’Neged Kulam.” This means that the Gemara says that this refers to someone who has the
reward for Torah study is greater than the reward for ability to learn Torah but does not do so. He is deemed a
performing all of the Mitzvos. Additionally, studying person who scorns the word of Hashem, and denigrates
Torah causes a person to become holier than he would the words of Torah, since he is not studying them. His sin
become if he would perform all of the other Mitzvos. is very great. I heard from my Rebbi, Rav Dessler zt”l, in
However, this is conditional upon his studying Torah the name of Rav Chaim Brisker zt”l, that this does not
without interruption. If he constantly interrupts his Torah only apply to a person who does not spend the proper
study, the Yetzer Hara is often able to cause him to be amount of time learning Torah. Rather, it also applies to a
Mevatel Torah. This distances him from Hashem, as the person who is intellectually lazy, and does not spend the
Sifri (Parshas Ekev) states, “Im Tazveini Yom, Yomayim proper amount of thought on his learning, in order to
Ezveka” – “If you leave Me for one day, I will leave you understand it. If a person does not use his analytical
for two.” abilities to learn Torah, and just reads the words without
Therefore, one must learn Torah diligently and thinking about their meaning, he is also called a person
without interruption. Even when one cannot speak words who denigrates the word of Hashem.
of Torah, his thoughts should be involved with words of We therefore see that while studying Torah is a
Torah. Words of Torah are supposed to be, as the Passuk very great Mitzvah, Bitul Torah is a very big Aveirah. We
says (Devarim 6:6), “Al Levavecha” – “on your heart.” must think how one can become a “Masmid” – “One who
One should not take his thoughts off of words of Torah, as is learning constantly.” This is very hard, as the Yetzer
the Passuk says (Yehoshua 1:8), “V’Higisa Bo Yomam Hara tries to stop people from learning in this fashion.
V’Laylah” – “And you will study it day and night.” Rashi While it is true that Torah study is the antidote for the
explains that “V’Higisa” specifically refers to thought, as Yetzer Hara, this only works while one is studying Torah.
we say at the end of Shemonah Esreh, “V’Hegyon Libi” – When one takes a break and stops studying Torah, he no
“And the thoughts of my heart.” Part of the obligation of longer has this antidote. How can a person ascertain that
Torah study is not to remove our thoughts from words of he will continue learning, and become a Masmid?
Torah.
On the one hand, this is the great reward and Davening for Torah
positive obligation to study Torah. On the other hand, The answer is that he must pray for success in
there is a great sin of Bitul Torah. This is as the Sharei Torah study. We pray constantly for this in davening. In
Teshuvah (3:16) states that just as the reward for studying Birkas HaTorah every morning we say, “Asher Kideshanu
Torah is greater than the reward for performing all of the B’Mitzvosav V’Tzivanu La’asok B’Divrei Sorah.” We
Mitzvos, so too the punishment for Bitul Torah is more ask, “V’Harev Na Hashem Elokeinu Es Divrei Sorasecha
severe than the punishment for performing all of the B’Finu” – “And please, Hashem our G-d, make the words
Aveiros. The Sharei Teshuvah explains that the reason for of your Torah sweet in our mouth.” We are
this is because if a person can get such great reward for a acknowledging this obligation and tremendous Mitzvah of
Mitzvah, and instead chooses not to perform that Mitzvah, constant Torah study. However, it is difficult to

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successfully perform this Mitzvah. We therefore ask says, “Yitzro Shel Adam Misgaber Alav…U’Mischadesh
Hashem to let us taste the sweetness of Torah, in order Alav Bechol Yom” -- “The Yetzer Hara of a person
that we should be able to study Torah diligently and fulfill strengthens itself against him…and renews (its attack) on
our obligation of Talmud Torah. Indeed, the Passuk in him everyday.” “Misgaber” – “Strengthens” refers to
Tehilim (19:11) says in reference to words of Torah strengthening desires that were already present.
study, “That are more coveted than gold and much fine “U’Mischadesh” – “And renews” refers to introducing
gold, and are sweeter than honey and the drippings of new desires to a person. In every generation there arise
honeycombs.” However, our request in Birkas HaTorah new desires in order to distract a person from Torah
that the words should be sweet, indicates that not learning. In previous generations, these new desires were
everyone merits tasting the sweetness of the words of books filled with heretical thoughts and blasphemy. In
Torah. This is why we must pray to Hashem that He grant today’s generation, the Yetzer Hara has created a desire
us the pleasure of tasting the sweetness of Torah. for forbidden technological devices. This is a terrible
We do in fact witness some people who do not temptation, and we need much Divine assistance to be
have this intent when they say Birkas Ha’Torah, and they saved from these devices.
generally do not pray that they should succeed in Torah .
study, and yet they do enjoy Torah study greatly. This is a The Silo of Yiras HaShem
kindness of Hashem towards these people. The only way to be saved from this, is
However, even though Hashem does display such strengthening our Yiras Shamayim. This is as the Gemara
kindness to certain people, their success in Torah is not in Shabbos (31a) quotes the Passuk, “V’Hayah Emunas
complete. A person who succeeds in Torah despite not Itecha Chosen Yeshuos Chachmas V’Da’as Yiras Hashem
having prayed for Divine assistance in his Torah study, is He Otzaro.” The Gemara teaches us that “Emunah” refers
certainly missing a certain amount of holiness that his to Seder Zeraim (the first order of Mishnayos). “Itecha”
Torah study could have given him, had he prayed for refers to Seder Moed (the second order of Mishnayos).
success in Torah study. This is as the Medrash Tanchuma The Gemara continues to explain that all six orders of
states (Matos ch. 5), “Hashem created three good gifts in Mishnayos are alluded to in this Passuk. However, the
the world: wisdom, strength, and wealth. If a person Passuk concludes, “Yiras Hashem Hee Otzaro” – “Fear of
receives one of them, he can take what is coveted by the Heaven is his storehouse.” The Gemara explains that the
entire world…This is true if they are given to him as a Passuk concludes this way in order to teach that even if a
present from Heaven, and they come from the strength of person learns all six orders of Mishnayos, he will only be
Hashem. However, his own strength and wealth (that he successful in Torah learning if Yiras Hashem is his
takes by himself) is nothing.” This teaches us that if a storehouse. In other words, just as a person requires a silo
person learns Torah because he is very smart and he does in order to properly protect and store his grain, so too a
not receive this as a gift through praying for Divine person requires Yiras Shamayim as a “silo” to properly
assistance in Torah study, his Torah does not come “from protect and store his Torah. Without this silo of Yiras
the strength of Hashem” and is therefore incomplete. Shamayim, a person’s Torah will not stay guarded within
The Nefesh HaChaim (1:3) says in the name of him. This is as the Mishnah in Avos (3:17) states, “If
the Zohar, that Torah study without prayer does not “fly there is no fear, there is no wisdom.” Through Yiras
above.” This means that if a person studies Torah and he Shamayim, one also has the ability to be protected from
does not have Yiras Shamayim, his Torah does not ascend the Yetzer Hara.
to the Heavens, and he is missing the amount of holiness A person is not born naturally with Yiras
that he would have had, if he prayed for success in Torah Shamayim. A person often has a small amount of Yiras
study. In order to be considered a person who is complete Shamayim from being raised correctly in a frum home.
in Torah, one must not only diligently study Torah, but However, a person primarily must work on his Yiras
must also have Yiras Shamayim, and pray for success and Shamayim on his own. The way to do this is to study
Divine assistance in his Torah study. Sifrei Mussar that strengthen and add Yiras Shamayim.
However, even after a person prays to taste the They also contain advice on how to combat the Yetzer
sweetness of Torah study, and his prayer is indeed Hara.
answered, this is not enough. The Yetzer Hara has the It is known that Rebbi Yisrael Salanter said that
ability to draw people toward other things that they the way to combat the Yetzer Hara is, “Increase Yiras
believe are sweet. This is as the Gemara in Kidushin (30b) Shamayim and lessen one’s trials.” One must distance

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himself from situations where he may sin, in order to always speak in a pleasant manner, gently without
weaken the Yetzer Hara. Simultaneously, he must attacking, in a way that anyone who hears his words will
increase his Yiras Shamayim, so that if he is tested, he undergo a pleasant experience. This is as the Passuk in
will be stronger, and able to resist the temptations of the Koheles states (9:17), “Words of the wise are heard
Yetzer Hara. pleasantly.” Rashi explains this to mean that his words are
One must increase his Yiras Shamayim on a accepted by the people who hear them. “Words of the
permanent basis. Sometimes a person hears or reads wise” refers to words of wisdom. Even though the quality
words of Mussar, and with time he forgets them. A of the words alone make it worth it to hear them, one
person’s nature is to forget what he is supposed to should still make sure that he says them in a pleasant
remember. This is as the Passuk says (Devarim 4:9), manner, as they only have a positive effect if they are said
“Guard yourself, lest you forget Hashem your G-d.” This pleasantly.
is why one must have a permanent Mussar Seder every
day. The Sefer Maseh Rav (Hilchos Tefilah, letter Torah Tavlin
Samech) writes in the name of the Gra, that one must In order to merit all of these positive attributes,
learn Mussar multiple times a day. and to fully fulfill “Shivisi,” one must have a permanent
Mussar Seder. We have already said many times that
Shivisi Hashem L’Negdi Samid having a Mussar Seder is not a Middas Chassidus, but
The Rema (Orach Chaim 1:1) says in the name rather is an obligation. This is as the Mishnah Berurah
of the Rambam in Moreh Nevuchim, “Shivisi Hashem (1:12) quotes the Poskim as saying, “A person must have
L’Negdi Samid” – “I place Hashem before me always” is a set time when he learns Mussar Sefarim every day; even
a great rule in Torah and in the positive attributes of the if he only learns for a small amount of time. This is
righteous who walk before Hashem. One cannot compare because a person who is greater than his friend has a
when a person sits, moves, and does things at home when greater Yetzer Hara than his friend, and the antidote to the
he is alone in his house, to when he sits, moves, and does Yetzer Hara is the rebuke of the words of Chazal.” Even
things before a great king. His speech and his choice of though all Torah study is considered an antidote to the
words when he is among those in his household and Yetzer Hara; the study of Sifrei Mussar which deals with
friends, is not the same speech and choice of words as Yiras Shamayim, is an especially potent antidote to the
when he is in front of a great king. Certainly, when a Yetzer Hara.
person realizes that The Great King, Hashem, Whose Rebbi Yisrael Salanter zt”l indeed writes in his
Honor fills the entire universe, and Who is standing above Iggeres HaMussar that there are two types of Torah that
observing his actions…he will immediately feel fear and are antidotes to the Yetzer Hara. One is the general
humility, due to his fear of Hashem, and his constant antidote of any Torah study, as all Torah study sanctifies a
embarrassment from Him.” person, and saves him from sin. Even if a person learns
In other words, the way to increase Yiras Perek Shor SheNagach Es HaParah, it helps save him
Shamayim, is to constantly remember that Hashem is from the sin of Lashon Hara and other sins. However,
watching over us. Hashem is watching a person’s actions, there is a second type of Torah antidote, which is studying
and listening to what he is saying. If a person will the laws of each potential sin that a person can commit.
constantly remember this, he will act differently, as if he When a person learns the laws of each sin, he obtains a
is a person who is constantly standing next to a great king. specific antidote that weakens the Yetzer Hara he
He will not act as he would in the privacy of his home, possesses to commit this sin. For example, if a person sins
where he does what he wants. Rather, he will act as he by speaking Lashon Hara, he must learn the Sefarim of
would in front of a great king with embarrassment (from the Chafetz Chaim and Shemiras HaLashon to know what
performing inappropriate actions), humility, and fear. he may and may not say. When people learn and know the
The trait of humility is the best positive trait. This laws of Lashon Hara, they sin less frequently.
is as the Gemara in Avodah Zarah (20b) states, “And
Anavah is greater than all of them.” The Igeres Shemiras HaLashon
HaRamban discusses at length how to merit the trait of It is indeed very difficult to refrain from speaking or
humility. He begins by saying, “You should accustom accepting Lashon Hara. At the end of Shemonah Esreh,
yourself to saying all of your words in a pleasant manner we ask in Elokai Netzor, “Netzor Leshoni Meira” –
to everyone (whom you speak with).” A person should “Guard my tongue from evil.” This prayer was composed

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by the Amoraim, as stated in Berachos (17a). Even the ingrained in him, he can immediately tell when someone
Amoraim, who were so holy that they were all able to is telling him something that is foreign to his nature.
raise people from the dead (see Avodah Zarah 10b), had When a person lives a Torah life, and he is
to ask for Divine assistance that they should not commit careful that his speech and actions are according to the
the sin of Lashon Hara. The Gemara in Bava Basra (165b) Torah; he will have a very happy life. I have already
indeed says that everyone commits the sin of “Avak related that many people have told me that since they
Lashon Hara” – “dust of Lashon Hara” (Rabbinic started studying Mussar, and conduct themselves
prohibition of Lashon Hara, such as saying “there is according to the Mussar Sefarim, they have a much
always a fire on in his house”) every day. This shows that happier and fulfilled life. Anyone who has good Middos is
it is something that everyone can easily transgress. happy with his lot, and he does not demand things from
However, once someone gets accustomed to speaking other people. He also does not need much, and knows that
in a manner that does not transgress Lashon Hara, it is no whatever he has, is due to the kindness of Hashem.
longer so difficult to refrain from sinning. On the
contrary, a person who is used to being careful not to Clinging to Torah
speak or hear Lashon Hara, does not even tolerate that this A person is complete when he masters three main
type of speech should be said in his presence! I indeed things, as the Mishnah says in Pirkei Avos (1:2), “The
knew a person who passed away, who was extremely world stands on three things: Torah, Avodah, and Gemilus
meticulous in guarding against transgressing Lashon Chasadim.” This means that the world, including a
Hara. When he sat with people who would begin speaking person’s own spiritual world, rests on Torah, davening,
Lashon Hara, he would get up and warn them that if this and having good Middos (that translate into acts of
conversation will continue, he is going to leave the table. kindness).
He indeed carried out his threat if the conversation The main things that we practically must do is
continued. His behavior not only ensured that he would learning Torah diligently, praying with proper intent,
not transgress Lashon Hara, but also influenced others not having good Middos, and realizing “Shivisi Hashem
to speak or listen to Lashon Hara. L’Negdi Samid.” Through learning Mussar Sefarim and
We also say in Elokai Netzor, “U’Sfasai MiDaber strengthening our Emunah, this is indeed possible. These
Mirmah” – “and (Hashem should help) that our lips not are the main things we must do, and praised is one who
speak deceit.” This is not referring to Lashon Hara, but will indeed do so! May we merit Divine assistance to do
rather any type of deceitful talk which is not completely these things!
honest. This is a request for Divine assistance that we
should be truthful people.
It is a great thing to be a very truthful person. The
Gemara in Sanhedrin (97a) relates that because the people
of Kushta were very truthful people, the Angel of Death
was unable to kill them. I believe I have seen in a certain
Sefer that if a person is a very truthful person, he cannot
be deceived by false statements. Since the truth is so