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Does reading Torah (תורה) without understanding the words have any value? The Shelah HaKadosh distinguishes between Torah sheb'kesav and Torah sheb'al peh: written Torah retains value even without comprehension because the words themselves are holy, while oral Torah requires understanding to have meaning. This insight explains Rashi (רש"י)'s puzzling commentary on 'in your mouth and in your heart.'
This shiur examines a fundamental question about Torah (תורה) learning: whether there is value in studying texts without understanding their meaning. The discussion centers on a difficult Rashi (רש"י) in Parshas Nitzavim, where the Torah states that it is 'very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to do it.' Rashi explains that 'in your mouth' refers to Torah sheb'kesav (the Written Torah), which seems counterintuitive since we would normally associate oral recitation with Torah sheb'al peh (the Oral Torah). To resolve this difficulty, Rabbi Zweig presents a profound teaching from the Shelah HaKadosh that distinguishes between the nature of written and oral Torah study. According to the Shelah, Torah sheb'kesav possesses intrinsic holiness in its very words and letters. Therefore, even when a person reads or recites the written Torah without understanding its meaning, there is still spiritual value in the act itself. This applies to reading Chumash, Tehillim, or any biblical text - the Hebrew words themselves carry sacred power regardless of comprehension level.
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Parshas Nitzavim 30:14
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