Why We Shukle When We Learn Torah

FOR PARSHAS BEREISHIS

Commenting on the first word of the Torah, Rashi quotes Chazal who teach us that Hashem created the world for purpose of the Torah study. As you begin a wonderful new year of Torah study ask yourself the following question: Why do we shukle (wave our bodies) when we learn Torah? The Aruch HaShulchan (48:3) gives one reason for this: As we learned from Rashi’s comment in parshas Zos Habracha on the verse מִימִינוֹ אֵשׁ דָּת לָמוֹ , Torah is called fire. And fire always waves.