The Torah enjoins the Melech Yisrael, Jewish King, to write two copies of the Torah for himself: one to keep in his treasury; and the other to keep with him at all times. The imperative that the Torah be a constant part of his life will serve as a reminder that, although he publicly holds an august position, he is a servant of Hashem. As such, he must adhere to all 613 mitzvos in the same manner as every Jew. He should not fall prey to the allure of power, wealth and fame. His position obligates him to take greater responsibility for the klal, community at large. No hierarchy exists in Judaism. We all adhere to the same Torah.
Notably, the pasuk begins in the feminine gender, v’haysah, “it shall be with him.” It continues in the masculine gender, v’karah (bo kol yemei chayav), “and he shall read from it all the days of his life.” Why does the Torah change gender midsentence? Simply explained, v’haysah imo teaches that the Torah should be absorbed within him. As a result, the king reads from it and understands if something is not in order. The Torah should shape the king’s perspective. Thus, when he confronts a situation, he views its resolution through the lens of Torah.
The Malbim explains that a person who is learned and has made the Torah his perspective will view everything through its lens. When David Hamelech cut Shaul Hamelech’s cloak, he stopped momentarily to decide if he should go further and render the ultimate punishment, or leave it as it is. His heart told him to cease and desist. David understood that, in accordance with the Torah, he was to go no further.
A distraught mother, who had recently been left bereft of her son, wept copiously to Rebbetzin Kanievsky, a”h, saying that she would not be consoled until Rav Chaim, zl, would confirm that her son’s neshamah, soul, was in Gan Eden. The Rebbetzin conveyed the request to her husband who replied, “He was a yeshivah bachur who was engrossed in learning. It makes sense that his neshamah entered Gan Eden.” The mother refused to accept this response until she was told where this idea was stated in the Torah. Rebbetzin Kanievsky replied, “If the Rav would cite one pasuk in the Torah, it would be just that – one pasuk in the Torah. If, however, he tells you emphatically that it is so, it is as if the entire (embodiment of the) Torah affirms it!”
A dialogue between Horav Dovid Povarsky, zl, Rosh Yeshivas Ponovezh, and its founder, Horav Yosef Kahaneman, zl, the Ponovezher Rav, conveyed a similar idea. The Rav was in charge of all aspects of the yeshivah, including the acceptance of prospective students into the yeshivah. Once the appointed day for closing registration had arrived, absolutely no one would be admitted. One day after enrollment was concluded, a wealthy supporter of the yeshivah called and asked that his grandson be admitted into the yeshivah. The Rav apologized that he could not accept him. Unaccustomed to receiving a negative response to his requests, he became adamant and threatened that, if he discovered that the Rav had allowed anyone else (with supposedly greater protektzia) into the yeshivah, he would no longer support the yeshivah.
Immediately thereafter, Rav Chaim Kanievsky came to intercede on behalf of a family member. The Rav accepted the bachur. Rav Povarsky was understandably startled. The Ponovezher Rav looked at Rav Povarsky and said, Rav Chaim iz der Torah alein! Im ken men nisht up zagan, “Rav Chaim is the embodiment of the Torah itself! I cannot refuse the Torah!”
