The month of Sivan is best associated with the theme of Torah learning - the highlight of this month is Shavuot, which our sages call "Zman Matan Torateinu" (the time of the giving of our Torah).
There is another reason to identify this month with Talmud Torah. Sivan is the month in which we observe the Yahrzeit of Rav Chaim of Volozhin - the modern day personification of Talmud Torah (14 Sivan 5581). Today's diverse Torah citadels worldwide, including BMG in Lakewood, Telshe in Chicago, Ner Yisrael in Baltimore, RIETS in New York and Brisk and Mercaz Harav in Yerushalayim are rooted in the one Yeshiva that Rav Chaim - the leading disciple of the Vilna Gaon - founded in 1802. Rav Chaim's Yeshiva in Volozhin was groundbreaking in its style and structure, and has shaped the entire Torah world until today.
One key feature of the Yeshiva was its focus on Torah learning for its own sake. Although Volozhin produced hundreds of practicing Rabbis, its goal was Torah Lishmah - Torah for its own sake. In his magnum opus, Nefesh Hachaim (Shaar 4, Perek 3) Rav Chaim Volozhiner defines Torah Lishmah:
But the truth is that the concept of "lishmah" means "for the sake of Torah," and this means, as the Rosh z"l explained Rabbi Elazar ben Tzadok's comment (Nedarim 62a): "'Do things for the sake of their Maker' – for the sake of the Almighty, who made everything for His own sake; 'and speak in them for their sake' – all your speech and discussion in words of Torah shall be for the sake of the Torah, such as in order to know and understand, and to increase knowledge and analysis, and not for contention or to pride oneself."
He [the Rosh] was careful to explain the shift in Rabbi Elazar ben Tzadok's terminology. Regarding performance [of mitzvot] he said, "for the sake of their Maker," whereas regarding speech he said "for their sake." Therefore, with respect to performance he [the Rosh] explained, "for the sake of the Almighty, who made everything for His sake," and with respect to learning, he explained "for the sake of the Torah."
Torah Lishmah was the raison d'être of Rav Chaim Volozhiner and his Yeshiva. It epitomizes our experience of Shavuot. On Shavuot we have no practical Mitzvot that are specific to this Chag that we do "for the sake of our Maker." Rather we embrace Torah study "for its own sake." Many of us stay up late into the night - not because we are cramming for an exam - rather because this is how we express our love of learning for its own sake. We use our time of Zman Matan Torateinu to embrace our Torah in its most noble form: Torah Lishma.
This Shavuot, we invite you to be part of something extraordinary. The Kollel is proud to offer over thirty inspiring venues for meaningful, uplifting Torah learning throughout Yom Tov. Join us in celebration of Matan Torah with an outpouring of Torah across Chicago.
We look forward to learning with you!
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