Part III. His Torah, My Torah
Now, the more a person practices up thinking according to the Torah patterns, the more of a Torah mind he develops. Not only he’s thinking Torah thoughts but they actually become his own thoughts.
That’s what it describes in the beginning of Tehillim (1:2). It’s praising the man who םּׁ≈ ַ̆ה ַ̇רֹו ּ̇¿בֹוˆ¿פ∆ח – his desire is the Toras Hashem. That’s what he’s interested in knowing, the thoughts of Hashem. And then it goes on and says, הָל¿יָלָו םָמֹיו הּ∆‚¿ה∆י ֹו ָ̇רֹו ̇¿בּו – and in his Torah he ponders by day and by night. First it’s called םּׁ≈ ַ̆ה ַ̇רֹו ̇, Hashem’s Torah, and subsequently it’s called ֹו ָ̇רֹו ̇ – his own Torah.
So the Gemara (Avodah Zarah 19a) says like this: When you learn Torah, so at first it’s the Toras Hashem, it’s Hashem’s business. When you hear what the possuk says or what the Gemara says, alright, the Gemara is saying it. Of course, you’re a frum Jew so you’ll study the words, absolutely. You’re willing to do Hashem the favor and think along with Him. But still it’s the Toras Hashem – only that you’re good enough to keep His Torah.
But then what happens? After a while it begins to become Toraso, your own Torah; it actually becomes the way that you feel. The more you think about Torah ideals and Torah attitudes, the more they become your own ideals and attitudes. You become so imbued, so saturated with Hashem’s thoughts that they become your own thoughts.
It’s Our Will
You look around and you don’t see clouds and trees anymore – all you see is the devar Hashem. And not only that but it’s tov me’od – you feel that the world is actually very good! Every person is actually of infinite potential and every Jew is actually Hashem’s chosen child. All the Torah attitudes become your attitudes too.
That’s the real ָך∆נֹוˆ¿רּƒכ ֹנוֹוˆ¿ר הׂ≈ ֲ̆ﬠ – Make your mind like the Mind of Hashem. To think along until Hashem’s will actually becomes your will. And not only in the intellect; it’s bigger than that – what Hashem wants, that’s what you actually want! What He likes you like. And what He dislikes you don’t like.
Dovid Hamelech was describing a certain great man. סָ‡¿מƒנ יוָינ≈ﬠ¿ּב ה∆ז¿בƒנ – What’s scorned is disgusting in his eyes, „≈ּבַכ¿י 'ה י≈‡¿רƒי ̇∆‡¿ו – and he honors those who fear Hashem (Tehillim 15:4).
