In the previous Halacha we have explained that Tu Be’av (the Fifteenth of Av) is a great day for the Jewish nation and for this reason we do not recite Viduy and Tachanun (supplication prayers) on this day.
The Gemara in Masechet Ta’anit (31) tells us that Rabbi Eliezer the Great said that from the Fifteenth of Av and on, the power of the sun diminishes (i.e. by the daytime hours becoming shorter and the nighttime hours becoming longer) and tree branches were no longer cut down for the pyre of the alter from this point on for they were not as dry and there was concern that due to its moisture it might have been infested with worms and such branches are invalid for use on the pyre. The Gemara continues: “Rav Menashia said: From Tu Be’av and on, one who increases his Torah study shall have his life lengthened, as the verse states, ‘Through Me shall your days be multiplied and they shall add for you years of life.’ However, if one does not increase his Torah study, he shall, G-d-forbid, have his life shortened.”
Maran Harav Shlit”a therefore writes that one should take care to increase his Torah study at night from Tu Be’av on, as the Gemara in Masechet Eruvin (65) states that night was only created for Torah study. Similarly, the Midrash Rabba writes that Rabbi Yochanan said that the joy of Torah study is only experienced at night, as the verse states, “Awaken and rejoice at night.” Indeed, the Rambam writes (Chapter 3 of Hilchot Talmud Torah, Halacha 13), “The majority of one’s knowledge is acquired at night. Thus, if one wishes to merit acquiring the crown of Torah one should us all of his nights to the maximum and not waste even one of them eating, drinking, and the like; rather, one should use them for studying Torah and knowledge, as our Sages tell us that the joy of Torah is only experienced at night.”
We remember that even during the period of time when Maran Shlit”a would spend his nights during the month of Elul travelling all over Israel to many different cities disseminating Torah and fear of Heaven among the Jewish nation, when he would return home late at night he would not neglect his learning; instead, he would complete the hours of his daily learning routines on the account of his hours of sleep all because of what we have discussed. Only a small glimpse of his diligence and holiness in Torah for entire nights all throughout his life is recorded in the biography on Maran Shlit”a entitled “Abir Ha’Ro’im” (Hebrew edition, to be followed by an English edition) coming soon to a fine Judaica store near you.
One is therefore obligated to set aside more time for Torah study during the winter nights so as not to, G-d-forbid, be included in the curse of our Sages. It is also quite important for women to encourage their husbands in a pleasant manner to increase their Torah study and fear of Heaven and by doing so their reward will be very great. They should also make sure to learn the laws of the Torah that apply to them which they are indeed obligated to learn as we have explained elsewhere.
Let us now quote the words of Maran Harav Shlit”a related to this matter which are printed in the introduction to his “Taharat Ha’Bayit,” his magnificent work on the laws of Niddah (family purity), which he wrote with tremendous dedication while being heavily involved with his rabbinical and communal responsibilities: “I remember that quite long ago I had contemplated minimizing my public appearances so that I would be able to spend more time learning, writing, and publishing my works, for if not now than when? I had indeed fallen asleep pondering this thought. That night I dreamt that Hagaon Rabbeinu Yosef Haim of Baghdad (the saintly Ben Ish Hai) had come to visit my home and his face shined like the sun. He entered the library and had a seat by the table. Before him on the table lay one of the books I had authored and he began to randomly skim through it. When he had concluded, he looked at me and told me, “Very good.” He then asked me if I continue to appear in public lecturing about words of Torah and Mussar as I had been doing until now. I replied that indeed, I continue to appear in public and give Torah speeches and the like and that I usually do so alongside my dear friend Hagaon Harav Yehuda Tzadka (zt”l, a relative of Rabbeinu Yosef Haim). However, I complained to him that this hinders me from preparing my works for publishing and the like. He replied to me with a soft and pleasant demeanor that I should continue writing and publishing my works but I should not halt my public appearances either, for Hashem is pleased when one brings merit to the public by infusing them with words of Torah and Mussar and causing them to repent fully. Indeed, every person that repents is an entire world. I then awoke and behold, it was all a dream.
