In this week’s Parsha, Shoftim, we read about the Mitzvah of appointing a king.
One of the laws a king must follow is that he must have two copies of the Torah scroll made for him. One to be placed in his treasury, and the other should accompany him constantly, “and he shall read it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear Hashem his G-d, to keep all the words of this Torah...”
Isn’t one Torah enough? Why did a king need two? What point is there in having one Torah kept in his treasury?
To be a king means to wield great power. Whereas every Jew is obligated to write a Torah, a king must write two. This act is an extra measure and different from other laws pertaining to kings, as it doesn’t make sense. The king goes through this experience merely for its humbling effect. This Torah is put in his treasury or literally Beis gnazav, his hidden place, a place the king goes to when important decisions need to made; going to war, taxes, major projects, etc. Seeing his Torah there (and possibly the Torahs of the kings before him) is a strong reminder that while the great power to make these decisions are in his hands, he should be humbled and bend to Hashem’s will, when making them.
We are all consider kings and queens, as Hashem empowers us to make decisions that affect our “kingdoms” big or small; yourself, your family, your wealth, your treatment of others, etc. You may be learning Torah on the outside, yet you must write it in the deepest recesses of your being. So that when making important decisions, you will bend to Hashem’s will.
Royalty fails in arrogance and succeeds in humility. A Jew is royalty, in dress, in speech, in thoughts and in action.
Now, in month of Elul, the King of kings is open to all of us. Get close to Hashem now. Go out to greet Him. He, in turn, will grant you a happy and sweet New Year.
