The Last Mitzvah-The Seal of Judaism
Rabbi Meir stated: A document is not complete unless it is signed. The Mitzvah of writing a Torah scroll is only considered a written Torah when it is completed and sealed. Moreover, the very concept of the Written Torah is one that is interwoven with the idea of a “seal;” G-d’s seal of truth. LIGHT FORM THE FUTURE – PARSHAS NITZAVIM-VAYEILECH LIGHT FORM THE FUTURE – PARSHAS NITZAVIM-VAYEILECH
Writing a Torah Scroll
The last Mitzvah of the Torah is the Mitzvah to write a Torah scroll. Every Jew is commanded to write a Torah scroll to facilitate learning its G-dly teachings.
According to many authorities, this Mitzvah can be fulfilled now by acquiring Torah texts, even if they are printed, since the objective of this Mitzvah is the study of Torah. However, all opinions agree that it is certainly desirable, meritorious and beautiful to have an actual Torah scroll written (either personally, or by delegating the Mitzvah to a scribe), to be used in the regular Torah readings in the synagogue.
Whenever a Torah scroll has been completed by one congregation it was a celebration for the entire Jewish community. Everyone joined in competing and welcoming the Torah scroll into its new quarters. It is arguably LIGHT FORM THE FUTURE – PARSHAS NITZAVIM-VAYEILECH Judaism’s most joyous ritual modeled after the celebration that occurs every year in Simchat Torah.
Dedicating a Torah Scroll
The Buffalo Jewish community has the privilege of witnessing the completion of this last Mitzvah. The community joined the Greenberg family in dedicating this Torah to the memory of my illustrious father, Rabbi Meyer Greenberg, whose life was the very embodiment of Torah.
My father’s name Meir ties in with this special Mitzvah in more than one way.
According to my father’s namesake, the Talmudic sage, Rabbi Meir, the word “write” mentioned in the context of written documents, suggests not simply the writing of a text but, more importantly, the signatures that are affixed to the end of the text and that confer legal status to the document. In Rabbi Meir’s words translated literally: “The [word] “and he shall write” does not mean anything but [and he shall] seal.” In other words, writing is only worthy of that term if it leads to its completion. In the case of a document, it is not complete unless it is signed by witnesses.
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This statement of Rabbi Meir, the Rebbe—in one of his landmark discourses recited at the completion of a Torah scroll; that was written with the express intention of giving it to Moshiach upon his arrival—applied to the Mitzvah of writing a Torah scroll, which is only considered a written Torah when it is completed and sealed. Moreover, the very concept of the Written Torah is one that is interwoven with the idea of a “seal.”
G-d’s Seal is Truth
Our Sages teach: “The seal of G-d is truth.” In Hebrew, the word truth, Emes, is more than the opposite of a lie. According to the Jerusalem Talmud, Emes comprises the first, middle and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. When we speak of G-d’s attribute of truth that is reflected in the Torah we are speaking of a truth that never changes.
Not only does Torah not change with the passage of time, but, more importantly, Torah—which originates in G-d’s “mind” and is inextricably bound with G-d Himself— retains its pristine G-dly nature even when it “descends” into the physical realm. Even when one writes a Torah scroll, with physical ink written on physical parchment, it is a reflection of its G-dly source.
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Two Characteristics of a Seal
A seal possesses two characteristics: It is the guarantee that what has been written will not be altered. Second, it is affixed to the document, which means that it is where the abstract concepts are translated into the concrete physical realm. These two ideas allude to the truth of Torah: Torah never changes and its Divine nature can be expressed even in the realm of the physical.
Moses was the first person to write a Torah scroll at the end of his life, empowering all of us who possess a spark of his soul within ours, to realize the ideal of Emes in our lives. Likewise Moshiach, who—according to our Sages— possesses the soul of Moses, must also write a Torah scroll, which might suggest that the Messianic Age—the seal of history—will be ushered in with the writing of Torah scrolls.
Whenever a Torah scroll is completed it helps to end our stay in exile. It infuses us with the power vested within Torah that will help bring Moshiach, whom we shall soon greet with this new Torah scroll along with all the other Torah scrolls that have ever been written.
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From the book Light from the Future: Parshas Nitzavim by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, published by the Jewish Discovery Center.
