The opening verses of Parashat Behukotai describe the beautiful blessings that G-d promises to bestow upon Beneh Yisrael in reward for their compliance with the Torah’s laws. The Torah introduces this section by saying, “Im Be’hukotai Telechu, Ve’et Misvotai Tishmeru” – literally, “If you follow My statutes, and you observe My commandments…”

The Or Ha’haim Ha’kadosh (Rav Haim Ben-Attar, 1696-1743), remarkably, offers forty-two interpretations of this verse, uncovering for us the deeper layers of meaning behind this seemingly straightforward sentence.

In presenting one of these explanations, the Or Ha’haim cites the Mishna’s famous teaching in Pirkeh Abot (2:5), “Ve’lo Am Ha’aretz Hasid” – “An ignoramus is not a pious person.” The plain meaning of the Mishna is that one cannot properly observe the Misvot without educating himself, without investing time and effort into the process of learning so he knows what the Torah wants of us. The Or Ha’haim adds a deeper reading of the Mishna, explaining that it refers to acts of piety and measures of stringency beyond the Torah’s strict requirements. The Or Ha’haim writes that a person cannot be a “Hasid,” a devoutly pious person, who observes additional stringencies, without learning Halacha, without properly understanding his basic obligations. If a person decides to adopt stringencies without learning, the Or Ha’haim writes, these stringencies might actually lead him to grievous transgressions, because the person will not know what Halacha allows and what it doesn’t. As an extreme example, the Or Ha’haim writes that there was a person who decided to be “pious” by limiting marital relations to sacred occasions, Shabbat and Yom Tob. In his observance of this practice, this so-called “pious man” had relations on Yom Kippur, when, of course, relations are strictly forbidden. This demonstrates the grave dangers that one exposes himself to by being “pious,” accepting additional stringencies, before being educated about basic Halachic requirements.

The Or Ha’haim explains on this basis the opening verse of Parashat Behukotai. The phrase “Im Be’hukotai Telechu,” as Rashi famously writes, refers to the study of Torah. The second phrase, “Ve’et Misvotai Tishmeru,” speaks of additional safeguards and stringencies, as the root of the word “Tishmeru” – “Sh.M.R.” – means “guard” or “protect.” The Torah here teaches us that only “Im Be’hukotai Telechu” – if a person devotes time and effort to the study of Torah – is it then appropriate for him to take on voluntary stringencies (“Ve’et Misvotai Tishmeru”). Piety must be pursued only with knowledge of Torah law. A person who thinks he can decide for himself how to be “pious,” how to be holy and G-d-fearing, he will end up making terrible mistakes and transgressing grave violations.

The Or Ha’haim here conveys to us the message that there is no substitute for knowledge. If we want to achieve spiritual greatness – which, of course, we all should – then there are no shortcuts. Our intuition and “gut feelings” are not good enough. We cannot serve Hashem by doing what seems right to us, what we intuitively sense is noble and spiritual. We need to learn, to ask questions, to consult with Torah scholars, to seek guidance, and to make the time to acquire the knowledge we need to act the way the Torah wants us to act.

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