Acharei Mot-Kedoshim: Torah, in All Its Forms, Goes Forth From Zion

 by Rav Yosef Carmel, yeshiva.org.il, translated by Hillel Fendel

Speaking last week about the weekly Torah portion, we noted that on Israel Independence Day, Yom HaAtzma'ut, we should thank G-d not only for the historic formation of the State of Israel in our generation, but also for the fact that Israel today is a Torah powerhouse, the likes of which we've never seen in any generation. The number of Torah students today is the largest ever, and the amount of hours spent studying Torah is the largest ever – all this mainly thanks to the State of Israel. The level of Torah study here in Israel is also the highest in the entire Jewish world. (We also stated that we must increase our in-depth Torah study, which is the most important part of our engagement with Torah.)

Aside from the sociological and economic support provided by Israel for Torah study, another reason for this welcome situation is the technological advancement that the world is enjoying – and the State of Israel is a leader in this field as well. These advancements provide us with more leisure time, afford easy access to vast Torah literature for anyone with an internet connection, and enable the dissemination of Torah in many different ways at all hours of the day.

This is thus the beginning of the realization of the prophecy of Isaiah (2,3): "From Zion, Torah shall go forth, and the word of G-d from Jerusalem."

If we look carefully at this verse in context, we will see that the dissemination of Torah from Zion will not be limited only to the Nation of Israel in the Land of Israel, but will be spread throughout the world and to all the nations. Let us see how these words of the prophet are coming true to the broadest extent in our very times.

The concept of "Torah" need not mean only the Five Books of Moses, the rest of the Bible, and/or the Oral Torah. "Torah" is also a framework of values that the Nation of Israel can communicate and impart to the peoples of the world. Among these many values, let us consider some examples:

• The sanctity of life. This involves the obligation to be extra cautious not to harm or take life, unless Jewish Law permits it (such as in self-defense, or a national war according to the Halakhic rules thereof, etc.). Where there is a fear that life will be endangered, all mitzvot are overridden, except for the three gravest sins: bloodshed, incest and certain other forbidden sexual relations, and idol-worship. [A law was passed in Israel some years ago obligating drivers who witness an accident to stop and offer help.]

• Helping the weak. The Torah repeats dozens of times, and the Prophets repeated and emphasized as well, that one must help the infirm, widows, orphans. All forms of kindness to those who need it are of course mandated by Torah law. The State of Israel is a technological leader in many areas related to saving lives. For instance, Israel is the "homeland" of the well-known stent procedure - an invention that brings relief and actually saves the lives of millions around the world who suffer from heart and vascular problems.

Israel, and especially its capital Jerusalem, lead the international revolution of autonomous cars, which are expected to bring about a dramatic decrease in the number of car accidents and deaths on the roads. With self-driving vehicles, the number of cars on the roads is expected to decline greatly [if the vehicles are accessed and used only in an on-demand manner], thus improving quality of life in many ways. (This could also lead to less Sabbath desecration; the rabbinical authorities will have to relate to the questions raised by autonomous cars, and guide the generation in these issues.)

Other examples of helping those in need include the formation of water from the moisture in the air, and the formation of electricity even where there are no power sources. Both of these fields, in which Israel is a world leader, would clearly help many millions of people around the world who suffer greatly from grave shortages of water and electricity.

It barely needs to be said that Israel is generally among the very first to send aid to calamity-stricken areas around the world – and often the most efficient. Israel is also a superpower in the area of aids for the visually impaired. An Israeli company has invented an amazing pair of special glasses that enables those suffering from vision problems to read newspapers and books merely by pointing at them. And the list goes on and on...

Let us take advantage of this week of Israel Independence Day to truly appreciate the abundance of Divine goodness manifest in the establishment of the State of Israel. Let us take a moment to recognize the great privilege afforded us to live in a country that helps fulfill the vision of the Prophets in its broadest form: "For from Zion will go forth Torah, and G-d's word from Jerusalem."