"And they took him [Joseph], and cast him into a pit and that pit was empty; there was no water in it". (Gen. 37:24) Rabbi Yehuda opened [his discourse] by quoting: "The perfect Torah of G‑d [that one was occupied with in this world] restores the soul" [when the dead will be restored to life]. (Psalms 19:8) One should endeavor to study the Torah as much as possible, for whoever does so gains life in this world and in the world to come and merits both worlds. Even one who strives to study the Torah but doesn't do it for its own sake, merits reward in this world and escapes judgment in the world to come.

Come and see, it is written: "Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand are riches and honor". (Proverbs 3:16) "Length of days" refers to that person who endeavors to study the Torah for its own sake, for he has length of days in that world of long days [i.e. the eternal world to come]. And these long days are days of certain [existence]. There [in that world] is the trust of supernal holiness, that a man trusts in [G‑d while] in this world to study the Torah diligently to be strengthened in the world to come. "And in her left hand are riches and honor," for he [who is occupied in Torah for ulterior motives] receives good reward and peace in this world.

Whoever studies the Torah for its own sake will find that when he passes from the world, the Torah goes before him with proclamations and protects him from approaching accusers. When the body lays in the grave, it guards him and when the soul departs to ascend to its place [in the lower Garden of Eden] it precedes the soul. Many gates are thrown open before the Torah until it brings him to its place [in the Garden of Eden]. It stands by that person when the dead are resurrected, and speaks in his favor.

"When you walk, it shall lead you; when you lay down, it shall keep you and when you awake, it shall talk with you". (Proverbs 6:22) "When you walk, it shall lead you," refers to [the Torah that walks before one at the time he leaves the world]. "When you lay down, it shall keep you," refers to the interval when the body lays in the grave, for at that time the body is judged and sentenced and the Torah acts in its defense. "And when you awake, it shall talk with you," refers to the time at which the dead rise from the dust. "It shall talk with you" means it will speak in your defense.

BeRahamim LeHayyim: Why did the Ari and Chida include this and what do they want us to learn?

"She is a Tree of life to those who hold fast to her, and all of her supporters are fortunate".

Truly! We learn above that The Torah is alive, literally. And when we interact with her with complete attention, as we do with the one we love, She protects us here, and guarantees our future. Imagine what our lives would be like if we really took this seriously!

That every time we opened a Holy Book, we had the intention to completely engage ourselves in it and with it, to hear the Torah's voice, and to speak Her words out loud with awe and love, and with love and awe. Ignoring the reward, just for the sake of being present, in the now.

Just a thought.

What does this mean to you, and why is this text being revealed to you now?

Bracketed annotations from Metok Midevash and Sulam commentaries
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