A Taste of the Parasha

The yeshiva Today

In the final days of 1930, a large crowd gathered in Lublin for a historic moment — the grand opening of Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin. The majestic new building stood tall, and over its entrance, a large cloth covered the words carved into the stone.

When the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Meir Shapiro, arrived, he stepped forward and gently unveiled the inscription:

“לכו בנים שמעו לי יראת ה׳ אלמדכם”

“Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.” (Psalms 34:12)

He explained why he chose this verse over many others about Torah. Because the real goal of Torah isn’t just what happens inside the yeshiva — it’s what happens when you leave it. “Come, children” — even when you’re on the move. Not just when you’re near, but when you’re far and still listening — that’s when Torah has truly entered your life.

And that’s the message of this week’s portion: Parshas Naso, the longest portion in the Torah, with 176 verses. It always comes right after Shavuot. Why such a long parsha right after the giving of the Torah?

Because it’s a reminder: Shavuot isn’t the end — it’s the beginning. We don’t just celebrate receiving the Torah and go back to normal. The longest parsha teaches us that now is the time to invest more — to go deeper, stronger, further. If Shavuot really touched us, it shows in how we live and learn afterward.

2 pictures of the yeshiva before the holocaust