“When you will come into the land and plant any food tree, then you shall regard its fruit forbidden; three years it shall be forbidden for you; it shall not be eaten” (Leviticus 19:24). “When you will come into the land and plant any food tree” – that is what is written: “It is a tree of life for those who grasp it” (Proverbs 3:18). Rav Huna said in the name of Rabbi Aḥa: Matters of Torah should not be in your eyes like a man who has a grown daughter and he seeks to marry her off to anyone.
Rather, “My son, if you would take my sayings and treasure my commandments with you” (Proverbs 2:1). If you merit it, take My sayings.1The verse does not state “take my sayings” but rather “if you would take my sayings,” which the midrash interprets to mean: if you merit it, you will take My sayings. The point is that Israel’s acceptance of the Torah is a privilege for them, not a favor, as it were, to God.
Rav Huna said in the name of Rabbi Binyamin ben Levi: This is analogous to a king who said to his son: ‘Go engage in commerce.’ [His son] said to him: ‘Father, I am afraid on the road due to the robbers and on the sea due to the pirates.’ What did his father do? He took a staff, hollowed it, placed an amulet in it, and gave it to his son. He said to him: ‘Let this staff be in your hand and you will not fear anyone.’
So too, this is what the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘Say to Israel: My children, engage in Torah and you will not fear any nation.’ Had it been stated: “It is a tree of life for those who toil in it,” there would have been no survival for the enemies of Israel;2This is a euphemism for the Jewish people. The point is that few people are able to toil in Torah, understood to mean intensive engagement in Torah study. rather, for those who grasp it.
Had it been stated: “[Cursed is the one] who will not study,” there would have been no survival for the enemies of Israel; rather, [the verse states: “Cursed is the one] who will not uphold [the matters of this Torah]” (Deuteronomy 27:26). That is why it is stated: “It is a tree of life for those who grasp it” (Proverbs 3:18). Rav Huna said: If a person falters and commits a transgression, he incurs liability for death at the hand of Heaven.
What shall he do to live? If he is accustomed to reading one page of the Bible, he shall read two pages of the Bible. If he is accustomed to study one chapter of Mishna, let him study two of Mishna. If he is accustomed neither to read [the Bible] nor to study [Mishna], what shall he do to live?
Let him go and become a leader of the community or a charity collector and he will live. Had it been stated: “Cursed is the one who will not study,” there would have been no survival; rather, “cursed is the one who will not uphold.” Had it been stated: “It is a tree of life for those who toil in it,” there would have been no survival; rather, “it is a tree of life for those who grasp it” – “for in the shelter of wisdom, in the shelter of money” (Ecclesiastes 7:12).3God shelters those who engage in wisdom, the study of Torah, and God also shelters those who provide the community with monetary support.
Rabbi Aḥa said in the name of Rabbi Tanḥum ben Rabbi Ḥiyya: If a person studied, taught, observed, and performed, and it was within his capability to rebuke but he did not rebuke, to uphold but he did not uphold,4If he could have rebuked others or supported them and thereby facilitated their Torah study or mitzva observance. he is included [among those who are] cursed. That is what is written: “Cursed is the one who will not uphold.”
Rabbi Yirmeya said in the name of Rabbi Ḥiyya: If a person did not study, did not perform, did not observe, and did not teach others, and he did not have the capability to uphold but he upheld, to rebuke but he rebuked, he is included [among those who are] blessed.