Why Engrave?

Why do people spend so much money on getting their names engraved when imprints can do the job just as well?

The Alter Rebbe, the first Chabad Rebbe, explains that the word chok (statute) comes from the root chakikah, which means to engrave, teaching us that when we learn Torah, it should be like letters carved out of stone, not like letters of ink written on a paper.

When you write on paper, the ink and the paper become one, showing the oneness between one’s Torah learning and his actions - his actions reflect his learning. However, paper and ink are still two separate entities. They’re bound together, but they’re still two things.

A letter engraved in stone is totally one with the stone and always was! The letter is the stone, and the stone is the letter. Similarly, one who learns Torah on a level of “Chakikah” becomes totally one with the Torah. His self disappears, and his essence becomes solely Torah.

High goals, but study by study, and it’s achievable.

Shabbat Shalom!

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