Torah Ohr

“The heavens are My throne, and the earth is My footstool; what house…?” We must understand how it is applicable to say of Him, blessed be He, “My throne” and “My footstool.” After all, He has no bodily form, and He is not within the category of space. As it is written: “Behold, the place is with Me,” meaning that He is the place of the world, but the world is not His place. However, to understand the matter: the Torah is from heaven, as it is written, “For from heaven I spoke to you.” This means that Torah is the aspect of “heaven,” for shamayim, heaven, is composed of esh and mayim — fire and water. So too, regarding the Torah it is written: “From His right hand, a fiery law for them.”

Now, it is written: “You shall guard My statutes and do them.” The word is written otam — “them” — but it may be read as atem — “you.” This teaches that the person is the one who “makes” the Torah. Similarly, in the blessing Ahavat Olam — “With an everlasting love You have loved us” — we ask: “to guard, to do, and to fulfill.” First comes “to do it,” and afterward “to fulfill it.” This is accomplished through the request: “Merciful Father, have mercy upon us, and place understanding in our hearts.” From the level of supernal mercy, rachamim elyonim, there is drawn down binah — understanding and contemplation — into the heart. Through this understanding in the heart, and by means of it, the Torah is “made” and brought into being.