Today on Rosh Chodesh Sivan the light of Matan Torah begins to emanate. ביום הזה באו מדבר סיני– it was on this day in history that our ancestors arrived at Har Sinai in anticipation of receiving the Torah. And as the Derech Hashem writes, the same spiritual energy that existed then comes back every single year. At that time, Hashem told us ואשא אתכם על כנפי נשרים ואביא אתכם אלי - and the Netziv explains, this refers to the fact that Hashem deals with us above the rules of nature. As we approach the awesome day of Matan Torah, it is incumbent upon us to appreciate this blessing of being above nature, which came about directly as a result of the zechut of Torah. The purpose of all the miracles in Egypt, as well as Kriyat Yam Suf, was to bring us to the ultimate goal of תעבדון את האלוקים על ההר הזה – to receive the Torah on Har Sinai. At Kriyat Yam Sum, Chazal tell us, the Jewish People were able to point with their fingers and say זה קלי ואנוהו – this is my G-d and I will glorify Him. Even the lowest amongst them had prophecy greater than Yechezkel HaNavi; how much more so the pure ones. Nevertheless, the pasuk הביאני המלך חדריו , which means that the King brought me into His inner chamber was not stated regarding Kriyat Yam Suf, but rather regarding Matan Torah.

To explain with a parable, imagine a king who appeared to his people in all of his glory during a procession that they held for him. Then afterward he went back to his palace. All the people there would return to their homes. But what if the king invited some of those people to come with him back to his palace? Everyone would wish that they got the same invitation. And what if some people were given special keys to the palace doors with which they could enter at any time they wanted? Those people would be the envy of the entire kingdom.

The Gemara teaches us in Masechet Shabbat daf 31 that if somebody has Yirat Shamayim, it’s like he is given the keys to the outer room of Hashem’s palace. And if he has Yirat Shamayim and Torah study, then it’s like he has the keys to the inner room of the palace as well. At Kriyat Yam Suf, the Jews attained Yirat Shamayim like it says ’ וייראו העם את ה . And on Har Sinai they were given the Torah and, hence, הביאני המלך חדריו – the King brought them into His inner chamber. The Torah is what brings us to the closest places we can be to Hashem. It is the greatest means that we have to achieve kirvat Elokim and we must take advantage of it.

Chazal tell us there are four things that constantly need chizuk, and Torah study is one of them. We know how important it is, but somehow it gets neglected. If someone wants to take upon himself to do something as a zechut, a seder in Torah study is the best thing he could choose. This is how he will connect to Hashem, this is how he will purify himself and it will make all of his tefilot better as well.

Now is the time to strengthen ourselves in Torah. We could show our appreciation to Hashem for this wondrous gift by accepting upon ourselves to learn it more.

More lectures from Rabbi David Ashear

The Greatest Gift

Shavuot of Peace

Mishna Berura Yomi 41B מסימן ל''ב סעיף ג' עד סעיף ד'

Tests of Money

Mishna Berura Yomi 41A מתחילת סימן ל''ב עד סעיף ג'

The Inner Key