IN THE PARSHA:
At the end of his life, משה רבינו told בני ישראל that every Yid has a מצוה to write a ספר תורה.
QUESTION:
Most Yidden throughout history did not actually write a ספר תורה on their own, nor did they hire a סופר to write one for them (this includes גדולי ישראל, and those who were able to financially afford it as well). How did they fulfill this מצוה?
ANSWER:
Every community must have a ספר תורה, from which we read on every Monday and Thursday, and on שבת and יום טוב.
When a ספר תורה is written on behalf of the community, the intention is not only for the community as a whole, but on behalf of each individual as well.
This is especially true since the purpose of writing a ס"ת is to learn in it, and there are many other ספרים from which people can learn. Therefore, the מצוה of writing a ס"ת can be fulfilled through the ס"ת that is written or bought by the community, which is also done on behalf of every individual.
Of course, it is even better to actively participate in the ownership of a ס"ת by purchasing a letter in a communal ס"ת.
Further discussion:
Why did Hashem give this מצוה specifically at that time when it was not practical for all of בני ישראל to actually fulfill it in the simple sense? (See אות יב in the שיחה)
Please note that the Rebbe’s explanation in the Sicha is more complex and detailed. This page includes only one point of the Sicha, as the heading indicates.
