Written by Elijah Soufer

On Shavuot, we read from Parshat Yisro. In this parsha, it is said that before we received the Torah, there was thunder and lightning. It then explained that after the matan torah, there were torches of fire. What is the significance of this? The commentary explains that thunder and lightning cannot be grasped, but fire can. It is also brought down that the fire is spreadable and one torch can light another. This shows that the Torah is like fire and that once someone learns Torah they can spread it to others and teach others to grasp it as well. The Torah is also like fire because it is so easily spreadable. The smallest effort, learning for just one minute a day, can change the course of one’s day-to-day life. This concept is very important as we learned in Tractate Makkot on daf י Amud ב:

 “בדרך שאדם רוצה לילך בה מולכין אותו”

This translates to, “A man is lead along the path he wishes to follow,” meaning that if one desires to go and create a better bond with Hashem, Hashem will help him do so, on the contrary, if one wishes to stray off the correct path, Hashem will also lead him down that path. This concept applies to here as if one truly desires to get closer to Hashem and learn the whole night of Shavuot, Hashem will help him achieve his desire. With the contagious fire the Torah possesses, Shavuot is the best time to spread the fire of the Torah not only to your Neshma but also to others. 

Chag Sameach