From the House of Prayer to the House of Study

17 Nissan 5782

“With this preparedness to surrender his soul to G‑d, one should begin to recite the morning benedictions: ‘Blessed are You…’ and so on, Similarly, with this preparedness, one should also begin a regular course of study immediately after prayer. In the words of the Sages, ‘From the House of Prayer to the House of Study.” (Lessons in Tanya, Likutei Amarim, middle of Chapter 41)

One should “begin a regular course of study immediately after prayer.” Our way from minyan should lead directly to a place of study, with books prepared to fulfill a fixed daily quota of Torah study–Chumash, Tanya, Mishnah, Halachas, Rambam–before we engage in the busyness of our daily lives.

“He shall place them on the he goat’s head, and send it off to the desert with a timely man.” (Vayikra 16:21)

The scapegoat can only be sent off to the desert with a “timely man.” Rashi explains this as “one who had been prepared for this from the day before.” Alternatively, according to Maskil LeDavid, it means a man who has undergone a process of preparation which takes a full day. In any case, only a man who has been prepared appropriately can be sent off to carry out this important task.

This teaches us that, just as the “timely man,” we must go out into our day prepared, by praying honestly and learning on a fixed daily schedule. With this we will be well equipped to carry out the important tasks of our life, elevating our surroundings and making our corner of the world into a dwelling place for G‑d.

“Fortunate is the man whose strength is in You; the paths to the Temple are in his heart.” (Tehillim 84:6)

By beginning our day as described above, we will inscribe the paths to the Temple in our heart. Our strength will be in Hashem. We will have the necessary focus and courage to spread meaningful positivity in our environment, inspiring our fellow Jews to follow in the ways of the Torah and bringing the light of truth into our world of spiritual darkness.