Let My People Know

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz: “We are required to understand the Torah only to the extent that our finite capacities allow.”

 

God does not expect us to comprehend and grasp the Torah we study on its supremely sublime level, to apprehend its wisdom as it is manifest in the world of
 Atzilut .

Rather, God expects us to understand the Torah we study according to our limited capabilities.

This expectation parallels the act of a mitzva. Just as God requires us to perform a mitzva only according to our abilities (meaning, an action we can physically perform), so it is with regard to Torah study.

We are not expected to fully plumb the depths of the divine meaning and intent contained in the subject matter.

We are required to understand the Torah only to the extent that our finite capacities allow.

Yet we must not allow ourselves to be lulled into a state of laxity in our attempts to comprehend God’s Torah.

Instead, we must strive diligently to understand what is within our reach as precisely and perfectly as possible.

On this level of understanding we are able to form a complete, direct connection with God’s wisdom, and with God Himself.

In this sense, there is unique significance to the study of the revealed portion of Torah, particularly the seemingly mundane topics, regarding which it may be expected of us to attain a true, concrete understanding.

This is in contrast to the more abstract, spiritual subjects, which cannot be tangibly grasped, and thus are liable to lead us to untrue connections with God, illusions, false experiences, and self-deception.

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz