Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the book of Deuteronomy, opens our eyes to just how deeply Torah can impact us.
It starts with a verse from Proverbs (4:22): “For they are life for those who find them…” And the rabbis, in their beautiful way, unpack what that really means. Rabbi Ḥiyya suggests it's not just metaphorical. It's a salve for the eye, a remedy for a wound, a tonic for the gut! He connects it to verses like, "The commandment of the Lord is pure, it enlightens the eyes" (Psalms 19:9), and "It will bring health to your body" (Proverbs 3:8). It's as though the wisdom within the Torah has the power to heal us, body and soul.
But it gets even more interesting. The Rabbis play with the Hebrew word lemotzeihem ("to find them"). They suggest it also refers to "one who issues them [words of Torah] out of his mouth." In other words, studying quietly isn't enough! We need to speak the words, wrestle with them, let them resonate aloud.
There's a story about a disciple of Rabbi Eliezer ben Yaakov who learned everything in an hour, but silently. He fell ill and forgot it all! Only after Rabbi Eliezer prayed for him and his learning was restored did he realize the importance of vocalizing the words of Torah. It’s a potent reminder: learning isn't passive; it's an active, engaging process.
And it doesn't stop there. Motzeihem can also mean "for one who imparts it to others." Torah isn't meant to be hoarded; it's meant to be shared, discussed, and taught.
Then, there's the interpretation that motzeihem refers to someone who "completes all the mitzvot (commandments)." What does it mean to complete all the mitzvot? Devarim Rabbah connects it to the verse, "All the mitzvah" (Deuteronomy 8:1), suggesting that it means to strive to fulfill every single commandment.
But what happens if you start a mitzvah and don't finish it? Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba has a strong view: it can lead to hardship. He uses the example of Judah, who convinced his brothers not to kill Joseph, but didn't go far enough – he didn't insist on returning Joseph to their father. Because he only partially completed the mitzvah, the text implies, he suffered the loss of his wife and children. A pretty stark warning, right?
However, Rabbi Levi, in the name of Rabbi Ḥama bar Ḥanina, offers a different perspective: if you start a mitzvah and someone else finishes it, the credit goes to the one who completed it. He uses the story of Moses and Joseph's bones. Moses took Joseph's bones out of Egypt (Exodus 13:19), a significant act of loyalty and remembrance. But because Moses didn't bring them into the Land of Israel, the honor of finally burying them in Shekhem (Joshua 24:32) went to the children of Israel.
The text then adds a fascinating layer, comparing the brothers selling Joseph to thieves who steal wine: “Enjoy it, but… after you drink the wine, return the barrel to its place.” God essentially tells them: You sold him from Shekhem, now return him to Shekhem.
So, what do we take away from all this? It seems to me that Devarim Rabbah is urging us to engage fully with Torah – to speak it, to share it, and to strive to complete the good deeds we begin. It’s a reminder that our actions, even the incomplete ones, have consequences, and that the act of completion can be incredibly powerful. It's a call to not just be students of Torah, but active participants in bringing its wisdom to life.