10167 —התפקיד הייחודי של ילדים בלימוד תורה ובכניסת הארץ

B"H, Monday Shelach, 5731.

Brooklyn, NY.

Students of Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch Montreal, for their siyum celebration. May Hashem be upon them for life.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

With pleasure I received the news about your siyum celebration, and may it be at an auspicious and successful time.

To connect this with the weekly parsha, as is customary—especially since today's Torah reading includes the section: "Mivarchan Mineiha Kol Shita Yomin" (all six days are blessed from it)—including the day of your celebration: One of the points in this parsha is the slander of the spies—"Our children will be taken as spoils," which was their main argument as is evident from Hashem's response: "And your children who you said would be taken as spoils—I will bring them and they will know the land."

It is puzzling why the spies emphasized specifically "children" (and not "our youngsters" or similar), since surely their intent was all those not fit for battle (under twenty years old). Simply put, since small children are especially beloved and our love for them is more openly expressed, the spies sought to arouse compassion for them due to the danger posed by a strong nation of giants.

But since Hashem's answer and promise also emphasized "children," as above—"And your children...I will bring them and they will know..."—it proves that children have a special connection to entering and knowing the Land.

This relates to our Sages' statement praising Yosef that he provided bread "according to the children," because a child crumbles more than he eats and needs extra given to him. It is known that bread and nourishment for every Jew is our Torah, Toras Chaim.

There is a difference between adults in understanding and children or those small in understanding. For adults, Torah study is fixed as prescribed by halachah, leading to practical mitzvah observance with excellence. For children (in Torah understanding)—besides much of their energy being invested elsewhere—even their Torah study and mitzvos are sometimes mixed with ulterior motives; their learning lacks proper attention and effort, so it gets forgotten more than absorbed internally.

This was also part of the spies' slander about entering the Land: They feared that if they entered Eretz Yisrael and engaged in plowing, sowing, etc., work would become primary while Torah would be secondary; thus their understanding would remain small—like children—and they would become vulnerable to becoming like ordinary people.

The answer: "And your children who you said would be taken as spoils—I will bring them and they will know the land." For these "children"—anyone at an early stage of learning (still small in understanding) or those whose day involves much worldly activity—even so, when they set times for Torah study and perform mitzvos with excellence—this is more precious to Hashem than even those of the desert generation who had no obstacles. Those entering Eretz Yisrael have greater merit because of overcoming challenges and distractions, drawing down G‑d's unity into worldly matters—as explained on "a singular nation in the land," bringing Hashem's unity into earthly affairs.

It is well known that our Rebbeim—the founders of Tomchei Temimim—intended not only to raise students who learn Torah with awe of Heaven and fulfill mitzvos beautifully but also to be candles that illuminate others—to light up others with "a mitzvah is a candle and Torah is light," "the candle of Hashem is man's soul"—among all those who are still (for now) small in understanding; to kindle them until their flame rises on its own.

May it be G‑d's will that each graduate—and all Tomchei Temimim students everywhere—fulfill this mission completely; just as after promising about their sons He assured entry into Eretz Yisrael with offerings brought there, so may it be for us through our deeds at this end of exile—with true redemption and rebuilding of the Beis HaBechirah through Moshiach Tzidkeinu speedily in our days—as it says: "For the conductor; by David; to remember: G‑d save me; Hashem hasten to my aid."

Blessings for success and good news in all mentioned above.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that even those young or less focused in Torah have unique value when they persist despite distractions. Their efforts are especially precious before Hashem, illuminating themselves and others even amid worldly challenges.