The word “Torah” is widely translated “instruction” or “teaching”. Besides the laws which form the basis of halacha, we can learn much from the plethora of characters in Tanach, as well as from the many events and incidents that occurred throughout our journey from creation to nationhood, and beyond. By studying these personalities and stories we gain many insights into human nature, people’s strengths and weaknesses, their challenges and sacrifices, triumphs and downfalls. We also learn about the needs and responsibilities of a nation. And of course, we see the Hand of God in history; in the lives of individuals, the Jewish nation, and the world at large. We see how God engineers situations and we witness how His creatures respond, as well as the consequences of their response.

I would like to focus on a few personalities and events in Torah and Nach in order to derive specific lessons that can provide “food for further thought.”

Let us begin with the first human beings—Adam and Chava. What can we learn from the Torah’s account of the happenings in Gan Eden; of Chava’s decision to eat from the Tree? What can we learn from God’s response—to expel them from the Garden of Paradise?
As the first man and woman on earth, Adam and Chava set the prototype for humanity and for human nature. God had instructed Adam to eat freely from the trees of the Garden, except from the Tree of Knowledge (Genesis 2:16-17). And what do we see happen? The snake (symbolic of the Yetzer HaRa-evil inclination) successfully entices Chava to eat of the tree; after all, it looked delightful—both for the physical and intellectual taste buds! Moreover, not only does Chava partake of the fruit, but she invites her husband to share the experience with her!

Perhaps one lesson we can learn from this story is that by nature, human beings have a desire to search and explore. We also see the human desire to rebel when we are told not to do something; not only that, but we want others to join in our adventures!

Evidently, life in this paradise-type existence was not to last. As human beings, we needed to leave this environment and learn about ourselves in what we may term “the hard way”. Perhaps Gan Eden serves as the “ideal” state, what we yearn for once we have been through the hardships and challenges of life. It is perhaps only after having been through these challenges and having grown from them that we will be able to appreciate a Gan Eden existence once again in the Time to Come.

Moving on to Avraham, the first Patriarch. Avraham lived at time when idol worship was rife; he really did not stand much chance of discovering the true God. However, his thirst to investigate and search for meaning led him to discover God’s existence and consequently he influenced many in his generation, and beyond. As the prototype “explorer” Avraham set the example to humanity to always question and explore, regardless of ones environment, in order to reach the truth. It was because of his determination and endurance throughout all the trials that God set before him that Avraham connected to his God-given inner wellsprings of strength to advance in his new journey of life. Thus Avraham became a true Av Hamon Goyim – a role model for all of humankind.

In the Book of Exodus we are introduced to Moshe, who we may describe as the prototype leader (Moshe Rabbeinu). Like Avraham, Moshe seemingly did not stand much chance of becoming an influential Jewish leader; after all, he was quite alone in his early days, without his mother and father, and growing up in Pharaoh’s palace.

However, what seemed to be an outlandish start in a less than ideal environment was actually the exact recipe that was required in order to fulfill the role that God set for him: to lead his brothers out of Egypt. By living in the Egyptian palace Moshe developed a strong awareness of his true identity. This awareness and understanding imbued within him an intense feeling of love and comradeship for his brothers—the Israelites. Furthermore, Moshe simultaneously gained familiarity with Egyptian leadership. It was these two main ingredients that proved vital in his later role as leader. Thus we see how God engineers life circumstances for our benefit in order to provide us with tools necessary to fulfill our mission in life.

The Torah describes Moshe as the most humble person of all (Numbers 12:3). Perhaps it was because Moshe was fully aware of his identity and his strengths, and recognized that they were all God given, that he felt humbled before the Almighty and, in turn, was able to function as a sincere leader for the Jewish nation. Moshe thus sets an example to us all, and specifically to all world leaders.

The book of Exodus also teaches us about the birth of the Jewish nation and how our development as a People was a self-discovery process with many “ups and downs”. Interestingly, it was while in the darkness of the Egyptian exile that we cried out to God (Exodus 2:23). The Egyptian exile thus set the example for future exiles and sufferings of the Jewish people: even in the most crushing of situations, the spark of the Jewish soul is never extinguished. The Jewish soul still has faith in God and hopes and prays for salvation. Indeed, Hashem did hear our cries and prayers and ultimately redeemed us from Egypt and gave us the gift of the Torah. The exile experience set us in shape to endure and grow from all the suffering that was to come in the future, and to keep praying and yearning for redemption.

Just like the Egyptian exile caused us to cry out to God, we find this pattern repeated in the Book of Shoftim (Judges).
During the era of the Shoftim the temptation to worship foreign gods was strong and the Jewish people kept falling, and forgetting God. Consequently, God removed His providence from Israel, allowing enemies to enter our land and oppress us. In this way we were jolted back to reality—to recognize God as the true All-Mighty, and thus, from the midst of our suffering, to beseech His mercy. In response, God chose a judge/leader to encourage us to repent and subsequently the enemy was successfully overpowered and expelled. Following this, Israel would dwell in peace for many years until they fell once again and the cycle repeated itself, again and again. Nevertheless, we see that throughout the era of the Shoftim, the Jewish people never lost faith in God.

Furthermore, amongst the Shoftim there were many different types of personalities, each with his or her unique qualities and capabilities. Take for example, Gideon (Judges 6-8). Israel had been oppressed by Midian for seven years. Finally they cry out to God and God responds by sending Gideon to save them. When an angel appears to Gideon to tell him that God is with him (and thus that he will be the one to redeem Israel) Gideon, feeling the pain and suffering of his brothers and sisters, challenges the angel (6:13) why all this suffering has came upon Israel and why God deserted the People of Israel. God then speaks to Gideon directly and assures him that Israel will be saved through Gideon.

Perhaps it was Gideon’s deep love and concern for his brothers, and his readiness to humbly challenge God (as we see also with Avraham arguing for Sodom (Genesis 18:23-32) and Moshe, for the Jewish People (Exodus 32:32) that made him befitting for the job of saving the people. Furthermore, we see later in the story that Gideon always brings God into the picture. For example, when Gideon and his men are about to go to war with Midian, Gideon instructs the soldiers to cry out, “For Hashem, and for Gideon!” (7:18). Gideon recognized that although he was a great warrior, the source of his and his army’s energy, strength and victory, was God. Similarly, after the enemy had been expelled and the Israelites requested that Gideon rule over them, Gideon declined, responding, “I shall not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; Hashem shall rule over you!” (8:23)

Gideon thus serves as a role model, especially for the military. God is the source of everything and we must pray to Him for help and strength and thank Him for our military victories.

Finally, not only do we learn from the great characters such as Avraham, Moshe, and Gideon, but also from characters such as Korach, who rebelled against Moshe, and the meraglim (spies). Concerning the latter, who spoke slander against the Land of Israel, we learn that because the Jewish nation cried “for no reason” (fearing the spies’ account as true), God, in turn, “gave us something to cry about” later in history. Hence, Tisha B’Av, the fast of Av which commemorates the destruction of both the First and Second Temples, and all the other calamities that befell us as a nation. Thus we learn from the story of the spies about the power of our thoughts, actions and words, and how we can effect future generations—for better or for worse.

In conclusion, the Torah provides every single one of us with many messages about life and human nature. Each of the characters in Tanach and every story and detail comes to teach us something about life. We learn from the heroes and the triumphs but also from the rebels and the downfalls. We learn about the immense potential of every unique human being and also about our responsibilities, and the effects of our actions.

Ki MiTzion Tetze Torah: From Zion comes forth the Torah; From Zion come forth the teachings and lessons for life. May we be blessed to study well and imbibe its many lessons.