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Introduction Blessed is He Who gave us the Torah of truth and implanted eternal life within us. The Tur (Orach Chaim Siman 139) explains that this phrase, which is recited by one who receives an Aliyah to the Torah after his section has been read, contains a reference to both the Torah SheBichsav, the written Torah, and the Torah SheBaal Peh, the Oral Torah; the words Toras Emes, the Torah of truth, describe the former, while the words VeChayai Olam Natah Bisochainu, and He implanted eternal life within us, refer to the latter. This explanation is quoted in the Shulchan Aruch (Ibid. Sif 10) as well. In explaining the second phrase, which mentions a nitiyah, an implanting, must be referring to the Torah SheBaal Peh the Tur (Ibid.) cites a Posuk in Koheles (12:11), which is also quoted by the Mishnah Berurah (Ibid. Sif Katan 34), that compares the words of the Chachomim, meaning that which is part of the Oral Tradition and is not written, to nails that are implanted, or well driven in, and are thus permanent, as explained by Rashi (Ibid. s.v. U'KMishmaros). Rashi (Ibid.) also notes that just as something which has been planted grows and multiplies, so too do the words of the Chachomim grow and multiply when examined and investigated. The Netziv, in his introduction to his commentary called Ha'amek She'eilah on the She'iltos of Rav Achai Gaon (Kadmas HaEmek, Perek 2 Ot 8), explains that this Posuk in Koheles (Ibid.) makes reference to two different types of Gedolei Torah in every generation. There are some, called Chochomim, scholars, who are able to extract Halacha through a penetrating, in-depth analysis of Pesukim, and there are others, called Baalei Osufos, masters of collection, who are able to gather Halachos that are scattered in different places and organize them in an orderly fashion. The Netziv (Ibid.) then notes that it is the words of these masters of collection that are likened to implanted nails because nails are banged in an organized manner and are thus functional; so too are the words of these masters because, when collected and well-organized, they are more easily remembered and understood. The Sdei Chemed (Klalim, in Hakdamah L'Maareches HaLamed, Hisnatzlus HaMichaber), in a similar vein, indicates that it is important for one who has many Seforim (or who has access to many Seforim) to collect worthwhile information from them and present it clearly to others. The Sefer Pele Yoetz (Chelek 1, "Asefah") writes of the great service performed by those in every generation who prepared anthologies and digests of Halacha, saying that they prevent the Torah from being forgotten, and referring to the Gemara in Berachos (64a. See Rashi there s.v. LiMari) which implies that such works are indispensable. It is thus obvious, as the Netziv (Ibid.) concludes, that there is great value to organizing and clearly presenting Halacha, and that works which successfully accomplish this are an integral part of the Torah SheBaal Peh, which is described as Chayai Olam, the eternal life, as mentioned above. It is worth noting that the Kaf HaChaim (Orach Chaim Ibid. Ot 54) points out that this Beracha, which makes reference to the Torah SheBaal Peh, as stated above, is recited by one who receives an Aliyah specifically after his portion of the Torah has been read because after one reads (or hears someone else read) from the Torah SheBichsav, he understands clearly that it is impossible to properly comprehend the Torah SheBichsav without the Torah SheBaal Peh, and he thus must recite a Beracha which refers to the Torah SheBaal Peh. There is a long-standing practice among Jews to spend time on Shabbos studying Halachos, as taught by the rabbinic leaders who transmit the Torah SheBaal Peh. According to the Midrash cited in the Yalkut Shimoni at the beginning of Parshas VaYakhel (Chelek 1 Remez 408), Hashem Himself instructed Moshe Rabbeinu to assemble the people and to publicly teach them the Halachos of Shabbos, so that the leaders of future generations will see this example and learn that they too must gather the people on each and every Shabbos and assemble them in the Beis HaMidrash where they can teach Torah and Halacha. Along these lines, the Chofetz Chaim (Sefer Netzach Yisrael, Perek 38) documents the importance of learning Torah on Shabbos. It appears from the Tosefta in Sanhedrin (Perek 7 Halacha 1) that there was a Beis HaMidrash on the Har HaBayis, the Temple Mount, which was used for this purpose; the Gemara in Sanhedrin (88b) likewise indicates that the members of the Sanhedrin would sit in this part of the Har HaBayis, and implies that they were available on Shabbos (and Yom Tov) to address questions in Halacha, since they would not actually judge cases on those days, as noted by Rashi (Ibid. s.v. Yoshvin). The Rambam (Hilchos Sanhedrin Perek 3 Halacha 1) also writes that the members of the Sanhedrin would Sit on Shabbos and Yom Tov in the Beis HaMidrash on the Har HaBayis. It is clear from the comments of Rashi on the Mishnah in Shabbos (115a s.v. Bein SheAin) that the primary focus of learning on Shabbos, particularly for people who worked all week and had little time to learn, was in the area of Halacha, as stressed by the Mishnah Berurah (Orach Chaim Siman 290 Sif Katan 6) the Gemara in Berachos (6b) implies that people would run to hear the Shiur, known as the ~, which examined this subject. It seems from several sources that the specific Halachos discussed on a particular Shabbos, as noted by the Kaf HaChaim (Ibid. Ot 9) were connected to the Parshas HaShavua (See the Introduction of Harav Shmuel Kalman Mirsky to HaSheiltos D'Rav Achai Gaon, Machon Sura edition, Perek 2), excepted around Yom Tov time when the Halachos of Yom Tov were focused upon, as indicated by the Gemara in Pesachim (6a), among other places, and codified in the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim Siman 429 Sif 1 and see Poskim there). This may be based on the idea expressed by the Gemara in Sanhedrin (101a) which speaks highly of someone who studies something in its proper time. It would seem from all of the above that it is highly appropriate today as well to study topics in Halacha on Shabbos, particularly topics which relate to the Parshas HaShavua. If you have any questions or comments, please click here
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