Ki Im BeTorat Hashem Cheftzo

6:01 PM - I need to be back down in the YUNMUN lobby for our group picture in a few minutes. I need a little Torah and I wish to write here...

On Shabbos Dr. Scott Goldberg quoted the Chozeh of Lublin as saying that, "It is impossible to tell people which way to take. For one way to serve G-d is through learning, another through prayer, another through fasting and still another through eating. Everyone should carefully observe what way his heart draws him to, and then choose his way with all his strength." (His source was Buber's first volume of Tales of the Chasidim, page 313)

6:28 PM - My team is not ready for their close up.

Rabbi, Dr. Meir Soloveichik addressed the YUNMUN assembly this morning right after Shacharis. He quoted and embellished a nice vort of the Malbim: When Moshe is asked "mah zeh beyadechah - what is in your hand?" he says that he is holding a mateh - staff. The thing is that as a shepherd, which Moshe was at the time, the word he should have used for what he was holding was a makeil. He did not use the terminology of his trade because he did not define himself by his professional occupation. He used a different word, a broader word, a word which implied stretching himself. This could be what caused G-d to choose Moshe as leader.

10:45 PM and Beyond - A lot going on. I have new sympathy for students retaining information. As advisers we've had two meetings and four lectures.

Some thoughts about Torah learning:

Rava (Yalkut Shim'oni on Tehillim) said "Le'olam yilameid adam Torah mimi shehu chafeitz." This is generally translated as, "A person should always learn Torah from someone that they want to learn Torah from." The last part of the English may or may not be inferred from the Hebrew. The literal meaning of the Hebrew is that "A person should always learn Torah from someone that they want." Something must be added for the sentence to make sense, but maybe it's something else. Maybe the blank that needs to be filled in is, someone that they want - to be around. Not just to learn Torah from but as a mentor, role model, friend, i.e. you should learn Torah from someone that you like.

On a related note, Rebbe said, "Ein adam lomeid Torah eleh bemah shelibo chafeitz," which is generally interpreted to mean that a person should learn the Torah that his heart desires. A careful reading can lead to this translation: "A person should learn Torah with that which his heart desires," which itself can be understood on various levels. It could mean that one should use all the helpful tools that you wish to use to help you successfully study Torah. It could also mean - take all that you are inclined toward in your heart, all that you're into, and apply it to to your absorbing of Torah. It is also possible that rather than being advice, as it's generally taken, this could be a description of reality. When one accepts Torah into their kishkas they are utilizing their natural inclinations. Also, on the conventional pshat level: one succeeds in learning Torah only when they connect with and enjoy that which they are learning.