What is a Ben Torah?
In the yeshiva and religious world someone who is called a “Ben Torah” is considered someone who is serious and dedicated to the Torah, who follows its laws earnestly.
What does this phrase mean and where does it come from? How does it apply to all of us in our ives, no matter where we are holding at this point?
Literally speaking a “Ben Torah” translates as a son of the Torah. That just arouses more questions though. How is someone a “son of the Torah?” Is someone who studies math called a son of math?
Where does this Phrase Come From?
We find this phrase of “Ben Torah” in the Talmud. The Talmud was discussing a question of law and found a way to be lenient. The Talmud commented that this leniency should not be sent to a certain place since they are not “Bnei
[plural form] Torah”. The famous Talmudic commentator, Rashi, explains that since they are not "Bne Torah" they will be too lenient.
The Torah is Our Pedagogue
We find in the teachings of the sages that they refer to the Torah as a pedagogue. The word Torah in Hebrew is from the same root as the word to
teach. The Torah is our teacher and guides us a father to a son. The Torah is rearing someone who learns and follows the Torah. The Torah guides us
through every aspect of life. Someone who learns Torah in such a way to apply what he learns and live according to the dictates of the Torah is like a son of the Torah. The Torah has reared him into what he is in all areas of his life.
We were not the Only Nation Offered the Torah
How does one achieve this? Our nation received the Torah at the Mount Sinai from G-d, as discussed in the book of Exodus. The sages tell us, though, that we were not the first and only ones offered the Torah. Other nations were offered it. Why then did they not receive the Torah? We are told that when the Torah was offered they asked what is in it. They wanted to see if the Torah met their present life style. Since it did not they rejected the offer.
How to Accept the Torah
When we were offered it our nation replied unanimously, “We will do, and (then) we will hear.”
This is a strange, even a bit bizarre, answer. How can one do before he hears? Rabbeinu Yona, an early commentator who lived about 900 hundred years ago, explained this in a fundamental way that still applies to our approach to Torah. When ones accepts to follow the words of the Torah and the teachings of the sages even before he actually does or knows what to do, it is
