Posted July 14, 1999 by Rabbi Judy Abrams. Please refer to
Maqom's home page for information about previous passages.
BH
A picture of Rabbi Akiba is emerging of a man utterly in love with the Torah. Even though he knew it as well, indeed, probably better, than most members of his congregation he refused the honor of reading from the Torah scroll because he had not properly prepared the reading:
Another interpretation, "And God spoke [the Ten Commandments]
(Exodus 20:1)" This is what Scripture said, "Then he
saw it and told it; he prepared it and also researched it (Job
28:27)." And afterward [it says], "And he said to man,
'Behold the fear of God is wisdom and to turn from evil is understanding.'
(Job 28:28)" The Torah teaches you that if you are a person
of Torah, be not proud [and] say a word [of Torah] before the
public until you have practiced it by yourself two or three times.
A story is told of Rabbi Akiba that the cantor publicly called
him to read from the Torah scroll before the congregation but
he did not wish to rise [to the honor]. His students said to him,
"Our master, did you not teach us, 'it [Torah] is your life
and the length of your days'? so why did you hold back from going
up [to read from the Torah]? He said to them, "[I swear by
] the [Temple] service [that] I wouldn't have held back from reading
except that I had not gone over the portion two or three times
and a person is not permitted to say words of Torah before the
public until he has practiced them two or three times to himself."
For thus we find of the Holy One blessed be He, that he gives
an answer in the language of human beings and the Torah was revealed
before Him like a star. And when He came to give it to Israel,
it is written of Him, "Then he saw it and told it; he prepared
it and also researched it (Job 28:27)." And afterward [it
says], "And he said to man, 'Behold the fear of God is wisdom
and to turn from evil is understanding.' (Job 28:28)". And
so it is written, "And God spoke all these words (Exodus
20:1) [that is] to Himself, and [only] afterward [does it say
that He spoke, "saying (Exodus 20:1). (Tanchuma Yitro 15)
One of the interesting features of this passage are that it portrays even God as practicing before reciting Torah; that's how important an act it is. To participate correctly in such a holy moment as reading the Torah for the community, one must be prepared practically (i.e., be able to say the words), intellectually (i.e., be able to understand them and explain them) and spiritually (i.e., be able to receive their true message).
Discussion Questions