A good educator clearly and systematically explains the concepts that he is teaching. He wants his students to thoroughly understand the reasoning behind the concept so that their minds will grasp, accept, and internalize the idea. After he has proven his wisdom and integrity to his students, he will occasionally present them with a concept without explaining it. He wants his students to accept it based on the trust that he has earned. HaShem is the "master pedagogue." He supplies a thorough and deep explanation for most of the Mitzvoth in the Torah. However, he also deliberately concealed the reason for a few of the Mitzvoth. For instance, HaShem did not reveal the understanding of the Mitzvoth of "The Red Heifer." Since most of our study involves the Mitzvoth that HaShem did explain, the more we study them, the more sweet they become. Once we have developed the great love for the Mitzvoth, HaShem presents us with a few Chukim, (i.e., Mitzvoth that HaShem has not revealed the reason.) We accept the validity of the Chukim based on our deep appreciation of the truth and beauty that we have learned concerning the other Mitzvoth. In summation, there is a relationship between understanding Torah and building trust in HaShem. The brilliance and perfection of the Mitzvoth that we understand encourages us to trust in HaShem and His Torah. The purpose of Chukim is to extend our trust in HaShem, even in Mitzvoth that we do not understand. In this way, we will perform all of the Mitzvoth with trust in HaShem's wisdom. King Solomon said, "They are sweet to my palate, they are all delightful." The phrase, "They are sweet to my palate," refers to the Mitzvoth that we understand. Meaning, the Torah's explanation of the Mitzvoth makes them very "sweet to my soul." Whereas the phrase, "they are all delightful" refers to the Chukim. Even though we do not understand them, "they are all delightful." Since we know the revealed Mitzvoth of the Torah are "sweet," we are confident that the unrevealed Mitzvoth are just as "delightful." [Based on Da'as Torah of Rav Yerucham HaLevi] |