If you follow My statutes, and observe My commandments and perform them. (26:3) Rashi explains this Posuk, as there is a difficulty here: If you follow My statutes. I might think that this refers to the fulfillment of the commandments. However, when Posuk says, “and observe My commandments,” the fulfillment of the commandments is already stated. So what is the meaning of “If you follow My statutes”? It means that you must toil in the study of Torah.
The Maharal in his Sefer Gur Aryeh explains that the word “follow” literally means “walk,” which is a strenuous activity, toiling in Torah. Then Rashi continues: The reason you should toil in Torah, in order to observe and fulfill My commandments, learn the Torah in order to keep them in your heart and perform the Mitzvohs. To explain this Rashi we can give an insight based on a Gemara Sota 21a.
The Posuk in (Mishlei 6:23) says "this associates the mitzvah with a lamp and the Torah with the light of the sun." The reason is to teach that a transgression extinguishes a mitzvah, but a transgression does not extinguish the Torah as it is stated: “Many waters cannot extinguish the love, neither can the floods drown it” (Shir Hashirim 8:7). The Torah is compared to love. There are many interpretations to this Chazal. Talmidei Baal Shem Tov explain that a person who trangresses would still have his love for Torah, as it was evident by the Maskilim and reform movement, who desecrated the Shabbos, yet at the same time sat and learned Torah. Hence, we see that sinning doesn’t refrain a person from learning Torah. However, when a person trangresses, that extinguishes the desire to do mitzvohs. This is the meaning of the Gemara: a transgression extinguishes the desire to do mitzvohs, but a transgression does not extinguish the desire to learn Torah.
This only when a person learns Torah without toil. Rashi is teaching a lesson based on the Posuk “The reason you should toil in Torah, in order to observe and fulfill My commandments, learn the Torah in order to keep them in your heart and perform the Mitzvohs.” The Gemara says Baba Basra 16a “The Creator created the evil inclination, He created for it the Torah as a spice.” The Gemara Kiddoshin 30a says “And you shall place these words of Mine in your hearts” (Devorim 11:18). Read this as though it stated sam tam, a perfect elixir. The Torah is compared to an elixir of life. If you are engaged in Torah study you will not be given over into the hand of the evil inclination, as it is stated: “If you do well, shall it not be lifted?” (Bereishis 4:7). One who engages means toiling in Torah study, lifts himself above the evil inclination. A Sage from the school of Rabbi Yishmael taught: My son, if the evil inclination, encounters you, pull it into the study hall, go and study Torah. If it is a stone it will melt, and if it is iron it will break, as it is stated with regard to the Torah: “Is not My word like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?” (Yermiah 23:29). Just as a stone shatters a hammer, so too one can overcome his evil inclination, which is as strong as iron, through toiling in Torah study. The Posuk ensures us by toiling in Torah study will ensure that you keep the Torah in your heart and you will perform the Mitzvohs.
(Yehuda Z. Klitnick)
