D’var Torah by Rabbi Kasriel Gewirtzman
“And now write for yourselves this song,
Devarim, 31:19
and teach it to the Children of Israel, place it in their mouth,
so that this song will be for Me a witness for the Children of Israel.”
In this verse, God instructs each person to write their own Sefer Torah, but when He describes
the Torah, He calls it a Shirah – a song. Why is the Torah called a Song? There is a powerful
explanation that can be a great inspiration to get off the sidelines and get into the Torah
Game! Rav Yitzchak Herzog gives a novel explanation: In virtually all fields of study, a person
who is uninitiated in that discipline does not derive any pleasure from hearing a theory or an
insight concerning that field of study. For example, a physicist will derive great pleasure from
hearing a novel interpretation or understanding in the field of physics, since it is his field of
expertise. However, someone who has no significant knowledge of physics will be unmoved
by the very same insight. This concept applies to many other areas.
However, an exception to this concept is found in music, for music can be appreciated on
many levels. As Rav Yissachar Frand explains: “When Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony is played —
regardless of whether one is a concertmaster or a novice — there is something one can get
out of it. Music is something that everyone on his or her level can enjoy. Everyone can relate
to music.”
Rav Herzog says that this is why the Torah is called “Shirah”: A song. Everyone on his/her level
can appreciate the Torah. On the one hand, a great Torah Scholar can learn the opening verse
in the Torah, “Bereishis Barah Elokim…In the beginning, G-d created” and see great wisdom.
Yet, on the other hand, a five-year-old child just beginning to read who learns the very same
words, “Bereishis Barah Elokim…” can also gain something from it. Every person on their own
level can have an appreciation for and benefit from the Torah. Therefore, the verse aptly
refers to the Torah when it says, “And now, write for yourselves this song.”
Join a class, set up a study partner! Whatever your level, the Torah has something you can
learn from. As we say at JET, there’s something in it for you!
Shabbat Shalom and Gmar Chatima Tovah
Rabbi Kasriel Gewirtzman
