|
The word ‘hasket’ implies: Make yourselves into groups [kittot] to study the Torah, since the knowledge of the Torah can be acquired only in association with others, as stated by R. Jose b. Hanina; for R. Jose b. Hanina said: What is the meaning of the text, 'A sword is upon the boasters [baddim] and they shall become fools?' A sword is upon the enemies of the disciples of the wise who sit separately [bad bebad] and study the Torah.
Another explanation of ‘Attend [hasket] and hear, Israel’. Cut yourselves to pieces [kattetu] for words of Torah, as was said by Resh Lakish. For Resh Lakish said: Whence do we learn that words of Torah are firmly held by one who kills himself for it? Because it says, This is the Torah, when a man shall die in the tent.
Another explanation of ‘Attend and hear, O Israel’: Be silent [has] and then analyse [kattet], as stated by Raba; for Raba said: A man should always first learn Torah and then scrutinize it.
Brachot 63b
|
A few weeks ago, (in Parashat Va'etchanan), we saw the text for Judaism's most central prayer, the Shma. The phrase: Shema Yisrael, Hear O Israel actually appears in the Torah a total of 5 times (all in Deuteronomy). The two words appear in this week's parashah for the last time, only this time, the phrase is prefaced with the unusual word: hasket. The word is difficult to translate because it appears only once in the whole Bible (the technical term: hapax legomenon). Rashi cryptically adds a one word comment: k'targumo- "as per the Aramaic translation" [which renders it as 'listen']. Ibn Ezra acknowledges the difficulty because the word is a singleton, but also understands the word to mean listen. Robert Alter translates it as 'Be still'. The JPS translation has: Silent!
The rabbis see it as a compound word and relate the first syllable to the onomatopoeic Hebrew word 'hass' (rhymes with bus) which does appear (Judges 3:19) with the same meaning as the similar English word 'hush'. The Talmud then comes up with three imaginative etymologies: Seeing the word 'kitot' (classes) in hasket, they learn that the Torah must be learned in community. The second explanation offered is that we have to "cut ourselves to pieces" over the Torah. Unfortunately, today religious fundamentalists of all stripes take the idea that we should "kill ourselves" for our ideas/beliefs literally. I'm not sure what Resh Lakish intended, but Rashi understands this figuratively, like when I complain to my piano teacher that these scale exercises are killing me, she knows what I mean- no homicides are involved. It means that we sometimes have to 'crush ourselves' to make the effort and self-sacrifice required to learn new things. Another possibility is that to 'break ourselves' over the words of the Torah means that only when we are prepared to acknowledge what we don't know something, and that we are not perfect, is there the possibility for personal growth and self improvement. The person who is convinced that they already know everything cannot learn.
Raba suggests a third meaning: learning Torah has two parts: first we should learn it, and then we should analyze it. In other words, first we have to learn the material (by heart), and only then can we 'crack' it. Too often I encounter individuals in class who want to express their opinion before they have learned the material. We can be critical only after we have attained mastery.
If hasket means to be quiet, it is suggesting that before we can listen, first we have to have quiet. I learned from Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi this idea, hinted in the word 'shma' itself. In almost all languages, the sound 'sh-sh' means to be quiet. In order to 'hear' the first thing we have to do is stop talking. Be silent. Sh-sh. Listen. The second sound of the Shma is 'mmmm'- the only sound we can make with our mouths shut! Again, mmm is an almost universal signal for something that tastes good. Before saying the Shma, first quiet yourself: shhhhh. Then think of how good life tastes: mmmmm. Then, the enjoyment: Ahhhhh.
Shhhhh--mmmmm-ahhhhhh.
Lessons for Today
The unique word hasket has lessons for us in the coming year: find a hevruta (study partner) to learn Torah (you can find one at a Kolel class). Sometimes it feels like you have to 'kill' yourself to learn something new (like finding time in your schedule to fit in a class). While 'kill' is too strong a word, we know that effort is required to learn something new (no pain, no gain). Again, at Kolel, we try to make learning as pain-free as possible. Thirdly: first cover/absorb the material, then apply your analytical skills. As the school year begins, and we return to a full semester of learning at Kolel, we welcome you to find a place to study in the coming months.
And you have to be still- listen.
Shabbat Shalom
|
