Q&A: Without Understanding
Without Understanding
Question
People say in the name of the Baal Shem Tov that reading Torah (or Talmud or something else) without understanding everything makes the Holy One, blessed be He, happy, like a baby babbling makes his father happy.
Really beautiful.
What do you think?
Answer
Very beautiful. The tree in my yard is also very beautiful. But what do made-up inventions like this have to do with Torah? Apparently nothing.
Discussion on Answer
Not exactly the same idea, but similar. It is brought in Song of Songs Rabbah 2:4:
Rabbi Acha said: An ignoramus who reads "for love" as "enmity," for example: "And you shall love" as "And you shall be hostile." The Holy One, blessed be He, says: "His skipping over it is love to Me." Rabbi Issachar said: A child who reads "Moshe" as "Masheh," "Aharon" as "Aharan," "Efron" as "Efran." The Holy One, blessed be He, says: "His mockery of Me is love to Me."
Rabbi Hunya said: In the past, if a person pointed at an image with his finger he would be harmed, but now a person places his hand on the divine name several times and is not harmed. More than that, the Holy One, blessed be He, says: "His touching Me is love to Me." And the Rabbis say: Even a child skips over the divine name several times and is not harmed, and more than that, the Holy One, blessed be He, says: "His skipping over it is love to Me."
The babbling of a beginner really does make God happy.
But if after years of babbling they keep on babbling without understanding what is written, that sends God into deep depression.
The midrash is also talking about an ignoramus, not דווקא a beginner
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