Rabbi Yochanan on Doing Torah Truly and Making Yourself

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Ki Tavo 3:3

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

"So you shall keep and perform them" (ibid., i.e., Deuteronomy 26:16). Rabbi Yochanan said: Whoever performs the Torah for its own sake, it is reckoned for him as though he had made himself, as it is stated, "And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you [statutes and ordinances for you to perform them]" (ibid., that is, Deuteronomy 4:14). "To perform" is not what is stated, but rather "for you to perform them." From here, it is reckoned for him as though he had made himself.

Themes

TorahKingsLawCommandmentsFaith

Biblical References

Continue Reading

Legends of the JewsHow the Nations Reacted to Each CommandmentDid they just shrug it off? Were they curious? Intrigued? According to the Legends of the Jews, they had some pretty strong opinions, actually. So, the story goMekhilta DeRabbi YishmaelThe Word Good in the Torah Always Points to Torah ItselfRabbi Yehudah ben Betheira noticed something peculiar in (Deuteronomy 8:10): "You shall eat and you shall be satisfied and you shall bless.. for the good land."Mekhilta DeRabbi YishmaelWearing Tefillin Counts the Same as Studying TorahThe Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael derives a striking equivalence from the verse "and as a remembrance between your eyes, so that the Torah of the L-rd be in your moMekhilta DeRabbi YishmaelThis Statute Refers Specifically to Tefillin Not All Commandments(Exodus 13:10) commands, "And you shall keep this statute at its appointed time." The word "statute", chukkah, could theoretically refer to any number of commanMekhilta DeRabbi YishmaelRabbi Elazar Hamodai Reveals a Chilling Detail About Amalek's AttackRabbi Elazar Hamodai reveals a chilling detail about Amalek's attack. The Israelites were protected by the Clouds of Glory, miraculous formations that surroundeMekhilta DeRabbi YishmaelThere shall not be unto you any other gods before My presenceRabbi Shimon ben Yochai reads the second commandment, "There shall not be unto you any other gods before My presence," as the conclusion of a divine dialogue th