In other words, it is still the funds of Hashem and we should “al tazovu” (not abandon it). The phrase "lekah tov” (good offerings) is the Torah, which "natati lokhem” (I gave to you) and it means that Hashem gave us the Torah but we have to keep in mind that it is still considered as "Torati” (My (Hashem) Torah). In a similar way, we have an obligation to add to our Torah knowledge as we saw in Mishli 4:2 "ki lekah tov natati lakhem Torati al taazovu" - (I gave you a good offering, do not forsake My laws). The person who receives the money is not allowed to harm his friend by keeping the funds idle in a box and not invest it. This is similar to a person who gives another person a sum of money to invest in business and he is to receive part of the profits. Hashem gave the Torah to man as a "Torat iskah" - "Torah as an occupation" (or a business transaction) and it is to be regarded as a lifetime concern. (Ed: means orchard) and these are the pshat, remez, drash and sod (simple, hint, interpretation and secret (or deeper meaning) perushim (explanations). The Torah belongs to Hashem and is called (Torah of Hashem) and it was given to man so that he can study it and toil in it in order to discover its hidden passages through the four standard methods of perushim (explanations) which are known by their initials as pardes. In a similar way, a person may want to skip his Torah studies and keep it on the side of his daily activities and he is certainly within his right to do so but he is considered to be a fool. This person has every right to do so with his own money and he does not need to explain his actions to anyone. Hence, regarding Torah learning, we find the use of the word "sekhara" (to mean merchandise).Ī person may decide to keep his monetary fund’s idle in a closed box (and not invest them). On the other hand, with Torah studies, a person is guaranteed to increase his knowledge and wisdom). (Ed: In commerce, a person usually increases his wealth, however, this is not guaranteed. Just as a person who is involved in commerce usually ends up increasing his wealth, so is the person who is involved in the study of the Torah will find new explanations and will eventually increase his wisdom. He said that we have many examples in Tannakh, where the Torah is compared to funds as we saw in Mishli 2:4 "im tevakhenu kakasef vekhamatmonim tekhapesenu" - (if you seek it as silver and search for it as hidden treasures) and also in Mishli 3:14 ”ki tov sekhara miskhar kesef” - (For its merchandise is better than the merchandise of silver). Furthermore, what is the reason for the word “sheino” (it is not) in the phrase "vehatkein atzmekho" (to prepare yourself) to learn Torah? (Ed: simply stated, a person is like a keli (utensil) he must be prepared before he can accept Torah). The Ben Ish Hai zt"l questioned the relationship between Torah learning and the affection that a person should have towards the funds of a friend since they were lumped together in the same passuk. "Rabbi Yosi said: Let the funds of your friend be dear to you as your own, and prepare yourself to learn Torah because it does not come to you as an inheritance, and make all your actions for the sake of Heaven." In the first part of his book regarding parashat Tazriyah (it was joined to the next parasha Metzorah), the Ben Ish Hai zt"l referred to passuk 2:17 of Perke Abot (R' Yossi omer: yekhye mamon haverkha haviv alekha keshelkha: vhitkin atzmekha lilmod Torah sheino yerusha lekha: vehol maasekha yekhu lashem shamayim.)
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