On a flight from New York to Frankfurt, a woman sitting nearby was engrossed in her book. She was riveted, swallowing page after page, not bothering with the meals or even looking up once during the entire flight. Her expressions changed according to the drama of the novel. When the long trip finally ended and we touched ground in Germany, the woman finally shut her book with a sigh. She left it on her seat.
“Madam,” I called after her. “You left your book behind.”
She looked back and replied, “Oh, it’s okay. I don’t need it,” and made her way off the plane.
I was taken aback at her reaction. During the entire flight, she seemed to be immersed in her novel and enjoying it very much. Why, then, upon finishing it, did she cast it aside? If she thought it was so interesting, why not pass it on to someone else to enjoy?
This is the attitude to falsehood and nonsense. When a person reads such triviality, even if he is not spiritually inclined, he ultimately rejects it. In contrast, one who studies works of wisdom and truth draws spiritual satisfaction from them and includes others in his discoveries.
All the more so is this true for one who merits studying Torah, the ultimate truth. The words of Torah are pleasant. One who merits revealing Torah insights or deciphering a cryptic topic will surely share his satisfaction with his friends and acquaintances.
