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The Torah Belongs to Us All

 

The Gemara in Masechet Sanhedrin (91b) teaches: כל המונע הלכה מפי תלמיד כאילו גוזלו מנחלת אבותיו  - "Whoever withholds a halacha from a student, it is as though he steals from his forefathers' estate."

 

Meaning, if a teacher decides not to teach a certain student Torah, having decided that the student is either unworthy or incapable of being taught, then the teacher is guilty of "theft."  He is viewed as though he stole from that youngster.

 

To understand the meaning of the Gemara's comment, let us imagine a wealthy person who appoints someone to manage his estate and oversee its distribution after his passing.  A few years later, the wealthy fellow passes away, and the appointed administrator of his estate meets with the family.  He then decides that a certain child of the deceased is not worthy of a portion of the estate.  Does this administrator have the right to deny that son a portion?

 

It goes without saying that he does not.  The property belongs to all the children.  His role is to manage the estate – not to decide who is in and who is out.

 

The Gemara explains the aforementioned teaching by citing the famous pasuk, תורה ציווה לנו משה, מורשה קהילת יעקב – "Moshe taught us Torah, an inheritance for the congregation of Yaakov" (Devarim 33:4).  The Torah is an "inheritance" in the sense that it is given to the entire Jewish People.  No teacher has the right to decide that a certain student doesn't deserve a share in Torah, to write off a student and deny him the privilege of a Torah education.  The Torah doesn't belong to the teacher; it belongs to the entirety of Am Yisrael, including challenging students.

 

The Gemara then proceeds to state: כל המונע הלכה מפי תלמיד אפילו עוברין שבמעי אמו מקללין אותו  - "Whoever withholds a halacha from a student, even the fetuses in their mother's belly curse him." 

 

It seems that the Gemara here is imagining the response of an unborn child who sees a teacher decide not to teach students whom he considers incapable of learning.  The fetus will begin to fear that maybe he, too, will struggle.  Perhaps he will not have the sharpest mind, or will have attention issues, or will suffer from dyslexia or another learning challenge.  Does he want to come into a world where only the brightest and most talented kids are given the gift of Torah?  Of course not.  And so the fetus curses the teacher – because he wants to come into a world where all children are given the opportunity to shine and excel, each in his own way, at his own pace, and on his own level.

 

Rav Dovid Soloveitchik, the famous Rosh Yeshiva of the Brisk Yeshiva in Yerushalayim, was once asked if educators should give greater attention to the elite students, those with the potential to become the outstanding rabbinic leaders of the future.  Should educators invest more time and effort in these students, to help ensure they maximize their potential, or should all students be given the same amount of attention?

 

Rav Dovid replied, "Why do you assume that specifically the elite students will become gedolim?"

 

It was clear to him that educators must invest in all their students equally, because all students have the potential for greatness.  A youngster's performance in yeshiva says nothing about who he can or will become as an adult.  מורשה קהילת יעקב.  The Torah is every Jew's inheritance, and every Jew has the ability to achieve in Torah.

 

And just as we may not give up on any student, we also may never give up on ourselves.  No matter what a person's background is, no matter what he has done or hasn't done in the past, no matter his circumstances in the present – the Torah belongs to him.  He has a share, and he has the right, and the obligation, to receive his share.  A teacher must not deny any student his share in Torah – and a person must not deny himself his share in Torah.

 

Today, more than at any other time, there really is no excuse for not seriously engaging in Torah learning.  Modern technology – with all the spiritual challenges it poses – offers every Jew endless opportunities for intensive Torah study.  Classes and publications for Jews of all levels are available.  And every Jew owes it to himself to avail himself of these opportunities and take his rightful share in Torah.

 

As we celebrate זמן מתן תורתנו, our receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai, let us remember that the Torah was given to each and every one of us – to each and every child, and to each and every adult, and we all have the right and the obligation to experience the unparalleled joy and satisfaction that Torah brings. - Rabbi Joey Haber

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