אוצר היראהThe Storehouse of Awe

otzar ha-yirahIn Gamatria ↗

Wisdom stays only as far as awe has made room.

This does not mean study needs no fear of God: "if there is no fear, there is no wisdom" (Avot 3:17). Shabbat 31a calls fear of God the storehouse that holds all the orders of the Mishnah. The author adds a parable. A father handing out grain gives each son only what his storehouse can hold, and gives none to a son with no storehouse. God's hand is open, but wisdom stays with a person only as far as his awe can contain it. So before studying, one should pause briefly in pure awe and thoughts of repentance, and then learn.

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