A chassid of the Beis Aharon of Karlin lived in Teveria. He was Reb Yisrael Ber Shochet (Heller), a nephew of Rav Shmuel Heller of Tzefas. Once, as he was preparing to return from Karlin to Eretz Yisrael, the Beis Aharon gave him a missive: I am making you a shaliach mitzvah to inform the yungeleit in Eretz Yisrael that by learning the Midrash in Parashas Terumah, one can be transformed into a chassid.
The Midrash speaks about the great gift that the Ribbono shel Olam has given us in that we are able to learn even one word in the holy Torah. When a Yid learns this Midrash, it indeed elevates his Torah learning so much, and it enables us to appreciate what happens when we learn the holy Torah.
Selling Himself
The Midrash cites the words כי לקח טוב נתתי לכם, which are said regarding the pasuk ויקחו לי. The Midrash asks, “Is there ever a concept that when one sells something, the seller himself is sold along with the item? That he sells himself together with what he sold?”
The Ribbono shel Olam said to Klal Yisrael: I have sold you My Torah; כביכול, I have been sold along with it, as it says, ויקחו לי תרומה, And they shall take for Me an offering.
That is, when you received the Torah, you received—כביכול—the Ribbono shel Olam Himself, in His very essence, as it were. This is the meaning of “And they shall take for Me.” When a Yid takes the Torah, he takes the Ribbono shel Olam Himself.
Dwelling Among Us
The Midrash explains this with a mashal: A king had one beloved daughter. A neighboring king came and married her, wishing to return to his land with her as his wife. The father said to him: My daughter, whom I have given you, is my only one. To part from her—I cannot. To tell you not to take her — I also cannot, for she is your wife. Rather, do me this favor: Wherever you go, make for me one small chamber, so that I may dwell with you there, for I cannot leave my daughter.
So said the Ribbono shel Olam to Klal Yisrael: I have given you the Torah. To separate Myself from it—I cannot. To tell you not to take it—I cannot. Rather, wherever you go, make for Me a house in which I may dwell, as it says, ועשו לי מקדש, And they shall make for Me a sanctuary.
These are the words of this legendary Midrash that brings out the immense love that the Ribbono shel Olam has for the holy Torah and for the Jewish people.
Point to Ponder
When We Learn Torah, We Acquire the Ribbono shel Olam Himself
