Visitors to Colorado often become dehydrated without realizing it. The dry climate and intense sun, especially in the mountains, can rapidly deplete the body’s fluids. That’s why many tourist maps and signs urge people to drink plenty of water.
Our sages understood water as an important metaphor for
Torah. This comparison is from Isaiah: “Ho, all who are thirsty, Come for water (Isaiah 55:1).” The Talmud, Baba Kama 82a,
explains this as a spiritual thirst, all who seek it should drink of Torah’s
refreshing teachings.
Midrash Shir Hashirim expands this water
metaphor for us.
Just as rain water comes down in drops and
forms rivers, so too with the Torah; one studies a bit today and some tomorrow,
until in time it becomes like a flowing stream.
Just as water has no taste unless one is
thirsty, so too, Torah is best appreciated through great effort and yearning.
Just as water leaves a high place and
flows to a low one, so too, Torah leaves one whose spirit is proud and remains
with one whose spirit is humble.
Water is a great equalizer, no matter your
station or class-all can drink water. So too, a scholar should not be ashamed
to say to a simple fellow, “Teach me a chapter, a verse, or a letter.”
Just as water is a source of life for the
world, as it says, “A fountain of garden, and well of living waters” (Song of
Songs 4:15), so the Torah is the source of life for the world.
Just as water restores the soul, so does
the Torah.
Just as water is cleansing, the words of
Torah are purifying.
Song of Songs (Midrash Rabbah) 1:2
We can’t live without water. Nor can we
truly live without Torah. It nourishes
our souls, it has the power to change lives, and gives each and every one of us
the power to reach our full potential and become the people we were meant to be. Monday night June 10 we begin our celebration of the
holiday of Shavuot with a Tikkun L’al Shavuot study opportunity. Come quench
your thirst and be all that you can be.
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