Gan HaTorah
THE BURNING BUSH
ויאמר משה אסרה נא ואראה את המראה הגדול הזה, מדוע לא יבער הסנה
“And Moshe said: Let me turn aside now and see this great sight – why will the bush not be burned?” The Torah tells us that Moshe noticed that this thornbush was “burning” yet was not being consumed. Why does the Torah then tell us that Moshe wanted to understand why the bush was not being consumed?
(Chagigah 27a) The fire of Gehinnom has no power over Torah scholars. This can be derived from a kal v’chomer from the salamander, a creature created out of fire that is immune to its effects and whose blood is fireproof. If a salamander, which is merely a product of fire, and nevertheless, when one anoints their body with its blood, fire has no power over them, all the more so, fire should not have any power over Torah scholars, whose entire bodies are fire, as it says in Yirmiyahu 23:29 “הלא כה דברי כאש נאם ד'” – “Surely My words are as fire, Hashem says.” The words of the Torah Hakdoshah become part of the talmidei chachomim’s very beings, a part of their bodies, and thus they are immune to fire. We learn out a great mussar from this, that just as fire has no power over a salamander according to nature, so too, a talmid chachom, who is infused with the Torah Hakdoshah, which is complete fire, is also saved according to the rules of nature, and it is not called a miracle.
This is similar to the Maharsha who says that when one is mispallel for something, if it occurs, it does not decrease his zechuyos, for it is considered part of the natural order of the world that tefillah helps. Similarly here, part of the natural order of the world is that the Torah supersedes everything, for the world receives its chiyus from the Torah. It is the true life source of the world. Thus, one is naturally saved from evil in the zechus of Torah, and it does not diminish his zechuyos. (חתם סופר)
Moshe Rabbeinu noticed that there was something miraculous occurring. This was the test for Moshe – would he take notice of the burning bush not being consumed? In order to see Hashem, one must see what is around him. While nature is also Hashem, there are times that Hashem performs actions that are not part of nature, and it is always done for a reason. Moshe noticed the burning bush not being consumed, and he wanted to understand it.
Hakadosh Boruch Hu is life itself, and He infuses chiyus, life, into the world every moment. If chas v’shalom, Hashem would stop, the world would turn into nothingness. Moshe was exceedingly humble, and he recognized that there is a Creator of the world, and He can do as He pleases. Moshe Rabbeinu knew that Hashem, the Torah, and Klal Yisroel are one. The message of the burning bush was that no matter what, Klal Yisroel or the Torah Hakdoshah would never be consumed. Torah is like a fire, a fire that burns but does not consume. It is a fire that does not need gashmiyus as fuel for life, for it is life itself. Moshe was being told that he was going to be the messenger to take Klal Yisroel out of Mitzrayim so that they could receive this most precious gift, the Torah Hakdoshah, and no harm would come to him. The Torah protects us from everything – for Torah is life itself.
RABBI YAKOV YOSEF SCHECHTER
