A Dvar Torah from Rav Ben for Chodesh Sivan

The famous words of Rav Yosef can be heard quoted in many shmuzzen on Shavuos. Rav Yosef explains his practice of preparing an extravagant meal by saying, "If not for this day, there would be many Yosefs in the marketplace" (Pesachim 68b). Rashi fills in the blank—"[this day] that I've learned Torah and been uplifted."

The second day of Shavuos (chutz la'aretz) is the yartzeit of the Ger Tzedek, Rav Avraham ben Avraham, a Polish nobleman and heir to the Potocki family. Upon his death sentence (he was burned at the stake by his father’s hands), he sent correspondence to the Gr"a asking about the details of dying al kiddush Hashem, which he exclaimed was an opportunity to further glorify kvod shamayim. There are many stories explaining the background and lead-up to his conversion, capture, and sentencing. Ultimately, after the eyewitness testimony of the Yesod V'shoresh Ha'Avodah regarding his murder, we have a mesorah from the Gr"a that the kedusha that left the world with his passing was so powerful that it was able to eliminate certain tumah from this world (see the first footnote in Rav Nevenzahl's commentary on Mishnah Berurah, where he brings this l'halacha).

In yeshivos, the story of the Ger Tzedek is a permanent part of the Shavuos experience. It sheds light on the capacity we have to transform through Torah study. A hallmark of this man's journey was going from a nobleman of the Polish elite to a true nobleman. As Rashi commented on the gemara above: נתרוממתי!

As Rabbi Akiva noticed the water gradually making its mark on the rock (Avod d'Rebbe Nosson), he understood that our study of Torah is not merely an attempt to become intellectually enlightened by  the wisdom of its words. We were introduced to this study in the womb, where we were taught by a malach and then forced to vow that we would be righteous in our lifetime (Niddah 30b). The study of Torah is always and intrinsically connected to the expectation of enriching our human nature and transforming us into superhumans.

Rav Yosef was observing that all the knowledge and education the world has to offer would have made him just another Joe in the street. But the study of Torah elevated him, enabling and empowering him to rise above his nature and live up to the expectation he swore to in the womb. This was worthy of the grandest celebration.

It's not every day — or maybe even any day — that we feel truly uplifted or elevated by our learning. But it wasn't every day, or any day, that water was able to cut through the rock. Drip by drip, as long as the faucet stays on, Hashem should help us see the Torah slowly penetrating our hearts and shining through our being.

Chag Matan Torah Sameach!